“Don’t confuse Motion with Action” Hemmingway once admonished Marelene Dietrich. How often do you catch yourself mired in ineffective “busy work”? Are you waiting for the economy to recover so you can do business as usual, or are you taking concrete steps to find new clients?

Convergence of the economic crisis, demographics, and technology have affected the priorities and spending habits of the consumer. In demand are cost effective homes that cater to the aging population, designed “green” from the start. For our interior design profession, great strategies will be to:

• Market “green” through industry certification, such as becoming a LEED Professional, or enrolling in GREENLeaders training for the GREEN AP designation
• Be an expert in Universal Design to help baby boomers age in place
• Take the statewide CASp exam and become a Certified Access Specialist

This is the time to take action to re-invent ourselves to meet the needs of the new consumer. I invite interior designers in the Silicon Valley and Bay Area to register for our Technical Green Tour on February 26. Check out the event at https://bit.ly/86LMVl.

It is a presentation created especially for our ASID California Peninsula Chapter by Iris Harrell, CEO of the award winning firm Harrell Remodeling. The green home tour and presentation will give you practical insights and resources for the design/build of green homes. As a bonus, the project is also an elegant showcase for aging in place!