The courage to stand up for your team: Redefining leadership and advocacy | Kala Fagan of OTJ Architects

In this episode, Kala Fagan, a Senior Associate and Design Director at OTJ Architects, joins us for an honest and energizing conversation about what it means to lead in design today. From navigating post recession pressures to pushing back on unrealistic timelines and race to the bottom fees, Kala speaks candidly about advocating for people, protecting teams from burnout, and why designers must reclaim the value of their ideas. We explore leadership as an act of care, the importance of industry wide community over competition, and how designing for humans starts with how we treat our own. This is a must listen for designers, leaders, and anyone passionate about shaping a healthier, more valuable future for the profession.

Key Insights

1. Workplace design must address the whole human experience, including exhaustion, trauma, focus, ethics, empathy, and employees’ need for spaces to step away.
2. Beautiful spaces alone are no longer enough; successful environments must support organizational goals, employee retention, well-being, and meaningful human connection.
3. Strong professional networks encourage open conversations about unrealistic timelines, limited resources, rising costs, and the pressures contributing to industry burnout.
4. Approaching peers with curiosity instead of competition can help architecture and design firms establish healthier expectations and move the industry forward together.
5. Designers should be involved from the beginning because their holistic perspective helps coordinate functionality, technology, permitting, sustainability, wellness, and aesthetics.
6. Interior design is fundamentally people- and process-centered, with designers serving as the “composers” who bring every contributor and project requirement into harmony.
    

Recorded at the Designing for People, Place, and Purpose Retreat

Held over two days at OFS headquarters in Huntingburg, Indiana, this gathering brought together design leaders from across the country. Through immersive activities, behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturing and innovation, and candid conversations with host Maria VanDeman, guests explored how people, place, and purpose shape their work, careers, creativity, and the future of design.

Learn more about Kala Fagan
Kala Fagan, NCIDQ, IIDA, is a Senior Associate and Director of Design at OTJ Architects, where she creates thoughtful, human-centered environments that reflect each organization’s culture and goals. Her work balances functionality, wellness, technology, and visual appeal to develop workplaces that support different work styles and strengthen the employee experience. Fagan is also passionate about guiding emerging designers, sharing her perspective on career growth and the many opportunities available within the commercial design industry. Connect with Kala on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Maria VanDeman
Maria VanDeman is the Director of Design Strategy at OFS, where she brings together design, strategy, and storytelling to create spaces that support people and inspire connection. With more than 17 years of experience in the commercial design industry, Maria has built a career spanning interior design, strategic sales, thought leadership, and advocacy for equity in the workplace. As the host of the Imagine a Place Podcast and the author of Design Your World, she is passionate about elevating the design profession and inspiring the next generation of creatives. Recognized with the 2022 HiP Leadership Award from Interior Design magazine, Maria is known for her thoughtful leadership, commitment to mentorship, and belief in the power of design to positively shape the human experience. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.

Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World.

Read More about Maria in the Imagine a Place Journal

Learn more about Imagine a Place
Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives. Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn.

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