International President of IIDA Julio Braga Expands the Association's Global Presence in His First 120 Days

News provided by

Nov 24, 2014, 01:00 ET

NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Now in the fourth month of his term as International President of IIDA, Julio Braga, IIDA, LEED AP, has embarked on a whirlwind world tour. The past four months since his appointment were the planning phases of what will be a busy fall and winter season. A large part of Julio's duties as President are being the voice of IIDA at their events nationally and internationally. His international design experience and expertise, as stated earlier this year by IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, LEED AP, "make him an ideal candidate to lead IIDA into its next 20 years." His travel itinerary sees him representing IIDA throughout Europe from the end of 2014 through the better half of 2015.

International President of IIDA Julio Braga, IIDA, LEEP AP

Julio kicked off his international tour in late October at Orgatec, which included a visit to the Vitra campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany. He participated in a panel moderated by Cheryl and featured IIDA Board of Directors Scott Hierlinger, IIDA, LEED AP, Marlene Liriano, IIDA, LEED AP, ID+C, and Felice Silverman, FIIDA. The panel, called "The Culture of Work: A Global Perspective," focused on how designers analyze the factors that affect how the workplace functions, and how to reconcile a new generation of workers into that equation. This was the third year that IIDA had a presence at Orgatec, and the positive effect of their continued presence was evident in the great attendance and lively discussion. The panel concluded with an open floor Q&A.

Julio did double duty at Orgatec, representing IIDA and IA Interior Architects. As a Principal and Design Director at IA, it was important for him to report on the design trends he noticed, and found it valuable to have the perspective of the European workplace designers. Visiting the Vitra campus with IIDA was equally inspiring. The campus consisted of buildings designed by the likes of Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, Tadao Ando, and Nicholas Grimshaw. As Julio shared, "Experiencing in person buildings you have read about for so many years was fascinating."

The panel at Orgatec is a great example of the international expansion and involvement IIDA has worked to build over the past decade. One of the newest chapters of IIDA, IIDA Milan, started two years ago as a result of a relationship between IIDA and Salone del Mobile. "The idea was to connect with other organizations and groups, and exchange ideas," said Julio on the genesis of how the two organizations collaborated.

In December, the IIDA Milan Chapter will host an Italian industry roundtable—the first of its kind—titled "The Business of Design: A Global Conversation." For this roundtable, IIDA invited interior designers and architects to engage in a day-long discussion about the workplace, global business practices, and the dynamics of cultural variances.

In addition to the Milan Chapter, IIDA has two chapters in Mexico, one in Mexico City and one in Guadalajara, as well as a Japan Chapter. Having these four international chapters is a positive development for IIDA because of the valuable exchange that comes from working with practitioners across the world. Says Julio, "I think [it is very valuable] for the members to be able to connect with other practitioners. These forums bring attention to the design community in a different place and explore how it functions and how people practice, which is important. I think it's a very good step in the direction of expanding IIDA's presence. IIDA doesn't go somewhere and identify the next location, then send someone to start doing the work. Instead, we connect with the local communities and work with them, facilitate professional exchange between members, and offer support. It's organic."

The first international trip for Julio in 2015 will be to Maison et Objet in January, where the IIDA Global Excellence Awards winners will be announced at an official event. Julio always finds Maison to be a compelling design show and is looking forward to its diversity of offerings. "Because Maison is a European show that blends residential and contract design, it's always full of creative people who are eager to learn," said Julio. "Seeing these products in person, interacting with them, and experiencing their multiple applications is invaluable. Having IIDA at this show creates awareness in design communities that we don't always reach, and lets us connect directly with people we usually communicate with virtually."

About Julio Braga: In Julio's more than 25 years in the profession, he has directed a broad range of projects both domestically and internationally. Before joining IA Interior Architects 10 years ago, Julio worked at WalkerGroup/CNI's Environmental Branding Studio as Design Director, and then established Braga Oris Associates only five years later. His numerous accolades include Institute of Store Planners' Specialty Store of the Year Award in 2002, for his Ford new-concept store; IFMA Design Excellence Award for his design of the IA Interior Architects offices in New York; and Interior Design magazine's Best of the Year award for his headquarters project for Bancolombia in Medellin, Colombia, in 2009. His Bancolombia project also earned him the CoreNet CA Chapter Innovation Award, the IIDA NY Chapter Lester Dundes Award, and the IIDA Global Design Excellence Award.

About IIDA
IIDA is the Commercial Interior Design Association with a global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 13,000+ Members across 50 countries. IIDA advocates for advancements in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of Interior Design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people's lives every day. www.iida.org

About IA Interior Architects
Founded in 1984, IA Interior Architects is the first and largest global architectural firm focused exclusively on interior architecture and workplace strategies. IA helps clients in diverse markets worldwide align their business strategies and core values with the dynamic use of space. IA has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, Orange County, Portland, Raleigh, San Francisco, Seattle, Silicon Valley, and Washington, DC and has partner affiliates in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia and Australia, Canada, and Latin America through the IA Global Alliance. For more information, visit www.interiorarchitects.com.