Shannon Reece

Where did you earn your undergraduate degree and what was it in?

I earned a bachelor of arts in communications and graphic design from Hannibal LaGrange University and an associate of arts in industrial design from the Arts Institutes Colorado.

Why did you choose to earn an MA in sustainable design at MCAD?

It was the perfect fit for what I was looking for. I needed a program that was exclusively online and I was looking for a way to tie my design background with sustainability.

How did you hear about MCAD?

I actually found out about MCAD through a Google search online while I was living in Zambia.

What was your biggest takeaway from the program?

Leaning the importance of adopting a whole-systems view of everything—learning how to see pieces and parts (including all stakeholders that stand to gain or lose) that contribute to a design challenge and its solution.

How has the MA impacted your career?

I wouldn't have the job I have now had it not been for my MA. However, it took at least a year and a half to land this job. I'm glad to have the job I do though I'm still carving out my own space. One of my instructors said, "It's easier to work for change within an industry you already know than to go to something completely different and try to peck your way in from the outside." I think that's totally true.

What advice do you have for current MCAD students?

A number of my fellow alumni that I talked to since graduation said, (and I agree), that we all felt like we had to lower our sustainability standards after leaving the program and going into the work world. I think we were all pretty idealistic. You have to learn to keep plugging away and celebrate the smallest victories even though it can be discouraging knowing that there has to be greater shift in the way people live and see the world and the way corporations do business.

Describe what you do for work and how you feel about it.

I help architects, developers and construction companies design and build environments that improve life. As a sustainable building consultant I manage projects and guide clients through a health and wellness-oriented certification process called Fitwel. I also help the in-house marketing team with data visualization and copywriting. Though I get a little bogged down in the details and wish my role was more creative I like the company and the people I work with. The company culture is fantastic.

How did you get your job? 

I found out about the company through a friend of a mutual acquaintance actually. It's a great example of the power of "weak ties."

What inspires you/your work?

Human movement and huge natural spaces.

Current obsession?

How biophilic-designed environments can entice more human movement and mobility.

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