Amanda Meady is a designer at Shepley Bulfinch with a passion for buildings, humanity, and the environment. She is inspired by interior spaces due to their intimate connection with people and their potential to positively contribute to both human and environmental well-being. She is skilled at facilitating deep conversations to uncover the goals and desires of her clients and approaches her projects collaboratively and iteratively. 

Read more about how she integrates her eternal optimism with the complexities of interior design.  

Why interior design? 

As a child I was always fascinated by the arts and enjoyed anything that allowed me to be hands on and creative. I equally enjoyed taking things apart and learning how to put them back together; a complete nightmare for my mother. When I started school, I was interested in everything relating to the built environment–especially the relationship between architecture and nature–but I soon realized I was most passionate about people and creating spaces that positively impact their experience. 

People are naturally connected to the built environment–we spend 90% of our lives indoors. Interior spaces have a profound influence in our daily lives. We as designers have an amazing opportunity to positively impact the experience, health, and well-being of people, their communities, and the environment–and I find that to be such an exciting responsibility. 

How do you approach the projects you work on? 

I think of design like a puzzle–a puzzle of visions, requests, and constraints–and you’re always trying to find a solution that works well for everyone while doing something beautiful and reflective of the project’s goals. For every problem, there’s a myriad of different solutions, so ultimately it comes down to really good communication and understanding the client’s priorities. I love starting a project from the programming phase because you gain such insight from both the users and client that allow you to fully understand the magnitude of project goals and creates a strong foundational knowledge for making thoughtful, informed design decisions throughout the project. 

I’m passionate about sustainability and inclusive design and layer those principles into my projects naturally. I’m currently working on a higher education project where the university and their students are advocating for sustainability and inclusive, accessible design as part of their campus experience. It’s exciting to create and advocate for spaces that positively impact human health and the environment and are accessible and welcoming for all.

How do you overcome challenges? 

I view obstacles as opportunities. I’m an eternal optimist and believe that there’s always a way to move forward, sometimes it just means finding a different path.   

It’s also so important to have a mentorship and close colleagues to collaborate with. We don’t always have to find solutions alone. At Shepley I’m lucky to work with an amazing group of people, always willing to tackle problems together and support one another. Amanda Vigneau has been a mentor and invaluable resource–her passion for education and mentorship is unmatched and will always take time out of her busy schedule to help others. She also has a different design perspective from me, which helps me see other solutions that I may not have found alone. It’s beautiful to see how we as colleagues and professionals can help each other grow by sharing our knowledge and unique experiences.  

What do you envision for the future of the industry? 

There is a lot of ongoing advocacy for professional Interior Designers that will make major impacts in our industry. We’ve been working on advocating for legislation in Massachusetts that will allow Interior Designers to become registered. This is so important because it brings uniformity to our profession and allows for greater and more diverse professional growth opportunities.   

I’m also hopeful the industry will continue to push forward sustainability regulations. Healthy, sustainable choices are no longer optional as we work towards a more resilient future, and they need to be made more accessible to clients and communities.