Blog + Buzz: Keeping You Informed & Inspired
Friday, June 22, 2018
BLOG: From Intern to Designer - Robyn Hadfield, NCIDQ, Assoc. IIDA
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Article written by Marketing Intern, Abbye Schmitz, with assistance from Marketing Coordinator, Amanda Koneski.
Life Before CPL
From soothing, nature-inspired healthcare centers to fun, bright and playful elementary schools, Robyn Hadfield, NCIDQ, Associate IIDA has done it all. A true workhorse with a keen eye for functional and modern design, she has been a trusted member of the interiors team in CPL’s Rochester, NY office since her early days as an intern.
From a young age, Hadfield knew interior design was her calling; one might even say it’s in her DNA. Her mother, an art teacher, and father, who taught math and technology classes, maintained a side business flipping houses throughout most of her childhood and Hadfield was always along for the ride. Artistic parents who dabbled in repairing and reselling real estate was the perfect recipe for an early introduction to the design industry. Hadfield’s family introduced her to Computer Aided Design programs (CAD) and encouraged the cultivation of her creativity.
When the time came to begin thinking about interests in a more practical sense, Hadfield’s mother suggested interior design as a college major and future career. Hadfield’s high school allowed her to shadow a designer throughout the school year, officially hooking her on the idea. She left her hometown in Utica, NY marching into her freshman year at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) certain that she would stick with this career path throughout college… and she did!
“I never switched my major or thought about changing my mind. It’s something I had always been around growing up and really enjoyed being a part of,” Hadfield said.
Life as a CPL Intern
Hadfield began interning at CPL the start of her junior year at RIT. She maintained this position for two years—part-time during the school year, coming in 2-3 days a week, and full-time during the summer.
As an intern, Hadfield enjoyed a lot of opportunities like creating a variety of design boards and even taking on a few of her own projects. Hadfield quickly recognized that the level of opportunity offered by CPL was rare compared to the experience of her friends entering the same field. She got the chance to work on the University of Rochester Medical Center Imaging Building, as well as projects at Highland Hospital and Rochester General Hospital during her time as an intern.
After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design from RIT, Hadfield returned to CPL, who welcomed her back with open arms.
“The transition was very smooth, and everyone was understanding and willing to help whenever needed,” she said. “I never experienced any challenges regarding my day to day routine, from intern to a full-time team member.”
Life at CPL Full-Time
Hadfield’s to-do list currently consists of 10 projects under construction, and five in design. She says she keeps three words in mind to stay afloat: organize, prioritize and multitask.
“Deadlines are crucial. Everything is important, so it is about what is most pressing at the time,” Hadfield said. She further explains that the most pressing project is simply determined on what decisions are attached to the earliest deadline.
“Projects under construction always take precedence over those still in the design phase and from there, design items with difficult installations or products with long manufacturing lead times get the most attention,” she added.
Hadfield said her favorite project is the Clara Barton School No. 2 in Rochester, NY, which she describes as colorful, dynamic and modern. She is excited for the new materials in play for this project, including modern light fixtures, fun wall tile patterns and black metallic wall panels. The completion of this project is expected in December 2019.
As a designer, Hadfield is always learning, expanding her skillset and keeping up with modern trends and techniques. CPL recently sent her to the IIDA Commercial Design conference, NeoCon, in Chicago. This international event spans over three days consisting of touring a 19-story building open for floor design walkthroughs with different layouts in each room. Hadfield said she was grateful for the chance to attend various seminars by famous architects and interior designers. One that stood out to her was Arthur Gensler Jr., FAIA, FIIDA, RIBA who lectured on the importance of knowing when to stop designing, as to not exceed budget or upset the balance of a room.
Life Out-of-Office
Even outside of the office, Hadfield is passionately involved with integrating her design talents into various community projects. Until January 2018, she was the Director of IIDA NY’s Rochester City Center Chapter. She has since stepped down to allow herself to contribute in other, more hands-on areas of the program. She is currently the Financial Chair and Co-Founder/Programmer of the chapter’s student exploring program. She also organizes and teaches half of the program’s studio classes, which introduce high school students to the basics of interior design as a profession.
Additionally, Hadfield is the Deisgn Chair for DISH-IT-OUT, a fundraiser supporting The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children/NY Region. The DISH-IT-OUT gala partners 16 chefs from popular restaurants in the Rochester area with a local celebrity to compete in a gourmet cooking competition. She has played a role in this gala for five years, creating table displays and layouts to enhance the visual appeal of the event. In 2017, the event raised approximately $300K. Hadfield says she is excited to continue her work with this organization!
All work and no play? No way! Hadfield, occasionally, closes her planner to fuel her love for sports. She is currently on the CPL Kickball Team and is participating in her fifth year in the CPL Golf League. It is activities like these that allowed her to quickly make friends at the office when she was an intern and grow these relationships even further when she began full-time.
Looking Ahead
What’s next for Robyn Hadfield? The interior designer has just closed on her very first house, so the exciting venture of designing her own home is in full swing.
“Honestly I don’t know how it’s going to go. It is a lot more difficult designing your own house than working for a client,” she said. “Clients usually have a feel for what they want, allowing me to propose what I know will work in the space.”
Hadfield hinted toward possible eclectic themes and neutral walls with bright pops of color in furniture for her home.
Key takeaway
For current and future interns preparing to join the workforce full-time, Hadfield offers this advice: “Work hard and learn as much as you can. Absorb everything, and remember: Organization is key!”
