In many education spaces today, the set-up and product applications are not necessarily designed for all students to thrive. The intersection of body-conscious design methods and educational furniture solutions has potential to positively influence student learning outcomes. Join us to hear two experts share their insights on how to optimize learning environments by applying attention research and body conscious design principles. Through examples of products conforming to BIFMA safety and sustainability standards, we illustrate how purposeful furniture choices can positively impact student well-being. Educators and designers alike will gain insights and practical strategies for creating dynamic, student-centered spaces that foster engagement and success.
Eva Neri is an always-evolving design practitioner, visual artist, MFA graduate, writer, yogi, somebody, nobody, and everything in between. Her graduate research at Florida State University is concerned with understanding the critical threshold of multisensory exposure to nature needed on a university campus to see positive impact on students’ attention spans. Drawing from thirteen years of experience – informed by her time as an interior design student and work with the architectural firm Corgan designing airport lounges and terminals in Dallas, TX and Orlando, FL – her relationship with design has always captured a common thread of uncovering the nuances of being and interacting with physical space while championing an authentic approach to style. Her expanding curiosities have aligned her purpose as a designer with creating “lightning in a bottle” moments through intentional body-conscious experiences in public spaces. Eva is a Project Coordinator at Corgan and maintains membership in the Association of Body Conscious Designers (ABCD), Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture Center for Education (ACE), Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA), Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA), and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).
President of OM Seating Wilson Chow is known for his analytic thinking and refreshing candor. With over 20 years’ experience in the contract seating industry, Wilson has a deep appreciation for the way a body wants to move and play through a host of functional and necessary seating experiences.
Wilson was named EVP of OM Seating in 2010 and President in 2014. He has guided the company through a transformative design strategy, shifting the brand’s focus from a resource for simply smart office chairs to a maker of truly innovative, design-forward, appealing seating solutions. Known for his team-first approach, relentless curiosity, and humor, Wilson has spearheaded the design and production of multiple award-winning products, while fostering a workspace known for its deep respect, playful imagination, and focus on wellbeing. Wilson graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in English, with a specialization in Business Administration. He then obtained his MBA from USC. He lives in Southern California, with his wife and two precocious children.