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First things first - thank you! To all our members, our volunteer leaders in chapters and national committees, and of course our industry partners: thank you. To those who we can always count on to answer the call, and to our new leaders and partners: welcome to the ASID family. The last 12 months as your National Board Chair have been both exciting and challenging, rewarding and thought-provoking. Together, we have navigated dynamic changes shaping our lives and practices. From economic pressures and shifting trade relations to advancing sustainability and designing places of belonging, practitioners, educators and students alike are adapting to new ways of learning and responding to extraordinary times. |
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Authentic human interaction is also what GATHER is all about, and this year’s event was so personally meaningful as I transition from Chair to Past-Chair during our 50th anniversary. I am deeply grateful for my long-time ASID friends who have shaped my journey, and equally inspired by the new connections I make each year when we come together. And—I’m excited to welcome all y’all to my home state of Texas when we GATHER in Dallas next year! Looking back, our 50th anniversary gave us the chance to honor where we’ve been, and how far we’ve come. We celebrated people and projects that have made a lasting impact on the profession, explored new research in the poster gallery, and glimpsed the future through the induction of our new cohort of Ones to Watch. That spirit of “celebrating our past, designing our future” was on full (and sometimes exuberant) display at GATHER in Atlanta, the site of ASID’s very first meeting in 1975. It was inspiring to see so many of our distinguished Fellows in attendance, alongside emerging professionals, students, and everyone in between—a true reflection of our diverse membership. We also celebrated our collective wins. ASID advocacy continues to lead the way, securing critical legislative successes in Pennsylvania and Nebraska and new protections in four states. Today, thanks to the dedication of our advocacy volunteers, ASID has helped achieve licensure or regulation protecting our profession and the public we serve in 30 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
ASID’s visibility is stronger than ever. With appearance in more than 3,000 media articles, including Architectural Digest, Forbes, The New York Times, Business of Home and Veranda, and representation at leading industry events such as SXSW, our reputation as thought leaders and trusted voices for the profession continues to grow. And we are already designing the future we want to see. Our new and updated NCIDQ prep course is equipping the next generation of designers to earn licensure. The ASID Foundation is investing in scholarships and research that propel the profession forward and expand design’s positive impact on the world. Yes, this is a time of transition and uncertainty, but it is also a time of opportunity. When change feels destabilizing, ASID remains a steady foundation: a community, a resource, and a reminder of our shared purpose. Our core principles and collective passion for impactful design ground us and give us strength. Together, we take risks, make bold choices, and challenge assumptions. You have the power to design the future you want to see. And when we go together, we can go farther than any of us can alone. Serving as your Chair has been an honor and a career highlight I never imagined. I am deeply grateful to those who encouraged and supported me along the way and to all our members who design inspiring and inclusive spaces that prove, time and again, that design impacts lives. I can’t wait to see what the next 50 years will bring! With Gratitude, David Euscher, ASID |