“I am the left brain. I am a scientist. A mathematician. I love the familiar. I categorize. I am accurate. Linear. Analytical. Strategic. I am practical. Always in control. A master of words and language. Realistic. I calculate equations and play with numbers. I am order. I am logic. I know exactly who I am.”

“I am the right brain. I am creativity. A free spirit. I am passion. Yearning. Sensuality. I am the sound of roaring laughter. I am taste. The feeling of sand beneath bare feat. I am movement. Vivid colors. I am the urge to paint on an empty canvas. I am boundless imagination. Art. Poetry. I sense. I feel. I am everything I wanted to be.”

A few months ago we came across this fantastic Mercedes-Benz ad, it now hangs in our space and is a great conversation starter. What about you? Are you left or right brained?

Antron created an incredible installation with a discotheque vibe with floor to ceiling tassels made of carpet fiber.

We loved these dresses made of oversized paint swatches at Benjamin Moore.

Bentley Prince Street took us back to the golden era of Hollywood with their 1940′s regency style showroom with the theme L.A. Story: Art, Culture, Fashion.

Davis created miniatures of all the featured furniture in their space.

InterfaceFlor lined a hallway with a giant chalkboard encouraging attendees to “Make Your Mark”

This sweet Sparkeology booth didn’t just catch our eye, it won Best Booth Design for NeoCon 2011

Can we get this awesome seating area/snowboard rack  from Turnstone for the fathom office?

Katherine Bennett, Associate Professor in the Graduate Industrial Design Program and an Art Center College of Design faculty member, discussed the methods and challenges of teaching Design Research to design students, as well as the need for a greater emphasis on design research across disciplines. Check out Katherine’s blog, Design Investigations.

Doris Sung is Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Architecture and Principal of dO|Su Studio Architecture. Doris explores the phenomenon of architecture as an extension of the body by using complex digital software to build innovative architectural research that incorporates materials in unconventional ways. She presented her vision for the future of architecture as well as her work on responsive design and the development of smart thermobimetals, materials that allow building skins to respond and mediate between our two natures: man and the environment.

Sean Brennan, Senior Strategist & Envisioner with the Next Group at Continuum, the global innovation consultancy, uses words and visuals to translate consumer insights into ideas that resonate with the right people. Sean uses his understanding of culture and obsession with trends to envision “what’s next.” Really interesting stuff.

Have you been inspired by any great speakers lately? We’d love to hear about it.

Synergy, collaboration, connection, prestige, identity, community, place – just a few of the key words describing the driving ideas behind the new Florida Atlantic University College of Arts and Letters, Culture and Society Building.

fathom was utilized in the pre-design process to determine the deepest needs of students, faculty and staff. Through one-on-one interviews, photo documentation and ethnographic research, the fathom team provided insights that were instrumental in the design and led to an environment that responded directly to the users’ needs. Colors — a major contributor to the space in the building – were established by the pre-design research process and resulted from the main themes of balance, connection, renewal and control.

No where does this hit closer to home for me than the presentations I’ve given over the years. Looking back, I’m horrified to see slide after slide filled with bullet points and garish color combos like lime text on an emerald background. I once presented a single slide on which I had crammed a map, three diagrams showing statistical distributions, and a table of percentages with about 30 entries! Needless to say, I watched as the audience’s eyes glaze over as the experience of my presentation became harder and harder to endure.

But I have learned much at design school (fathom). A much more recent presentation was much cleaner and more focused, complementing my talk rather than smothering it. I not only helped my audience to understand my argument but also enabled them to feel it on a deeper level. And they both embraced my ideas and were moved by them–a success for any presenter.

In the fall, I will start teaching anthropology at Franklin & Marshall College, where I hope my newly acquired designer’s eye will create an exciting and engaging atmosphere for my students. As long as I can avoid the lime text on an emerald background, I think I’ll do alright.

The construction of the healing garden is happening alongside a fathom project to create a conceptual designs for The Children’s Institute facility’s interiors, including art, way-finding and signage. We are thrilled to be working with such a wonderful organization in so many ways.

Thanks to LeadershipPittsburgh for organizing this wonderful TEDx event!