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Interior spaces gained attention during the pandemic as waves of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders responded to the increase of infection rates across the globe. The protocols implemented during the pandemic were reactionary, but there is a need to understand how interiors can be reshaped to proactively prepare for yearly viruses and new health risks.

With lessons learned from the pandemic, this event, organized by Lois Weinthal, ARIDO, (Educator Registered Member and Professor with TMU's School of Interior Design) shares knowledge to develop design strategies to create healthy interiors.

Online Symposium
October 27 & 28, 2023

In-person Workshop
October 29, 2023
School of Interior Design | Toronto Metropolitan University

This two-day symposium and one-day workshop brings together twelve presenters and six moderators representing interior designers, scientists, engineers, epidemiologists, visualization designers, and public health experts whose work investigates infectious disease transmission made more imminent when confined indoors.

Session topics will inform designers and anyone with an interest in shaping healthy interiors to understand how infectious respiratory particles are transmitted from the body, how far particles travel, pathways into respiratory systems, infectious surfaces known as fomites, how to protect the individual and community, and what steps can be taken to mitigate transmission. Following the two-day symposium is a one-day workshop with teams consisting of interior designers, academics and students to integrate the content from the symposium into design problems to produce strategies that reimagine healthier interiors.

The symposium and workshop are free and open to the public. Please visit the website for session descriptions, program, and registration link to Eventbrite.

Dates and Locations:
Symposium Day 1
Date: Friday, October 27, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 5:15pm (EDT)
Location: Online

Symposium Day 2
Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm (EDT)
Location: Online

Workshop Day 3
Date: Sunday, October 29, 2023
Time: 9:00am – 6:00pm (EDT)
Location: School of Interior Design, TMU