Cheryl Durst of IIDA and host of The Skill Set Podcast an Imagine a Place Production

Imagine a Place Productions launches, The Skill Set, a new podcast with IIDA EVP and CEO Cheryl Durst.

by Aaron Estabrook

Imagine a Place Productions launches, The Skill Set, a new podcast with IIDA EVP and CEO Cheryl Durst.

CHICAGO — In collaboration with OFS and Imagine a Place Productions, International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA is pleased to announce the launch of her new podcast, The Skill Set with Cheryl Durst.

With its first episode launching on Sunday, June 12, The Skill Set will explore the life experiences, earned wisdom, and surprising skills of a broad range of talented professionals across all industries. Designed as a series of insightful, in-depth conversations that highlight the unique talents and skills that allow individuals to thrive and succeed, The Skill Set will feature guests whose lives and professions might be wildly different—but who share a fascinating skill set not readily evident on traditional resumes or in job descriptions. Sunday’s inaugural episode features neurosurgeon Dr. David Langer, chair of neurosurgery at New York City’s Lenox Hill Hospital, and country singer Alison Asarch, winner of Netflix’s Sing On!. In conversation with Durst, they discover a surprising commonality.

““Not only is it crucial to recognize the skills we all possess as professionals and as human beings, but it is also important to investigate how those intrinsic, under-the-radar qualities make us successful at what we do,” said Durst. “In working closely with design leaders, I’ve seen how often the keys to success for brilliant, creative people are these unexpected skills. This podcast gives me the chance to explore that idea in the design world and beyond—and frankly, it taps into my lifelong love of a great back story. I can’t wait to share my guests’ stories with listeners.””
- Cheryl Durst

As home to four podcasts surrounding creativity and design, Imagine a Place Productions functions as an arm of industry product design leader OFS. With 25 years of experience at IIDA, Durst’s experience in the design industry creates a natural collaboration with OFS and Imagine a Place’s desire to tell the stories of the industry and its people from the inside out.

““Cheryl Durst is one of the most well-respected voices in the field of design, and she’s also a champion for education, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts across industries,” said OFS VP of Research and Insights and Host of the Imagine a Place podcast, Doug Shapiro. “Among many other things, Cheryl is known for her quick humor and way with words, but she's also an incredibly gifted interviewer. These combine to create a show that entertains just as much as it teaches."”
- Doug Shapiro

New episodes will be available monthly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast streaming platforms.

Listen to The Skill Set with Cheryl Durst:

ABOUT IIDA

IIDA is the commercial interior design association with global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. We advocate for advancements in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of interior design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people’s lives every day. IIDA.org.

ABOUT OFS

OFS is a family-owned contract furniture manufacturer dedicated to crafting experiences and products that contribute to places where people want to be. Founded in 1937, OFS provides furniture and logistics solutions for office, healthcare, education, lifestyle, hospitality, government, and home office markets worldwide, offering seating, tables, casegoods, and open plan products. The brands, Carolina and Bryan Ashley are OFS companies. OFS is based in Huntingburg, Indiana.

ABOUT IMAGINE A PLACE PRODUCTIONS

Imagine a Place Productions gathers industry-leading voices that have the power to inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place Productions is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.

For media inquiries, please contact aestabrook@ofs.com.