If the fountain of youth is hard work, then it makes complete sense why Charrisse Johnston, ASID, LEED AP, Assoc. AIA, looks so ridiculously young. This Interior Designer / Associate at Gensler in Los Angeles began her career on Wall Street after earning a BA in Behavioral Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University and a MBA in Management and Marketing from Columbia Business School. And before she went on to become class valedictorian in her UCLA Extension Interior Design Program, she managed to start, establish, and sell an immensely successful event planning business. Did we mention that she had some children along the way? So if you are feeling a bit exhausted these days, take a quick breather and absorb some of Charrisse’s extra energy by osmosis.
To say that you have taken a circuitous path into our industry is an understatement. What on earth led you from Wall Street to interior design?
OK, this is a rather long story, but it will make sense in the end, I promise!
While I was working in the financial services industry, I got engaged and looked for someone to help me plan my wedding – I was working full-time, commuting to Manhattan every day, really busy. But at that time (early 90’s), the only wedding consultants I could find were for wealthy society folks, or they were coordinators who worked at specific churches. So I ended up researching and planning my wedding myself.
A few months after I got married, another bride came and asked if I would share my research with her and help with her wedding. This happened a few times, and then I decided to start an event planning business on the side. Before long, I was planning $250,000 weddings from Main Line Philadelphia to the Hamptons, and I had a staff of four, as well as a baby daughter. I quit my Wall Street job to concentrate on growing the business, which by then had expanded to include corporate events and parties as well as high-end weddings.
Eventually I realized that I only enjoyed certain aspects of the business: meeting clients, designing a concept tailored for them, putting together a team to execute the vision and making it a reality. What I did not enjoy was the drama and babysitting, and going to events every single weekend.
By 2001, I’d sold my business and moved to Santa Monica when I got a postcard about UCLA Extension’s Interior Design Program. I was going a bit nuts at home with a 3-month-old son so I thought I’d take a course at night, since I’d always enjoyed decorating and subscribed to a ton of shelter magazines.
Well that first course opened up a whole new world to me, when I realized that interior design was an exciting profession that required artistic creativity, analytical skills, client management and business acumen – everything that interested me. Five years later, just before my son started kindergarten and my daughter started middle school, I graduated from the Program.
You now work for Gensler in Los Angeles. What kinds of projects do you work on and what is your role on them? Do you ever have a typical day?
I started in Gensler’s Workplace studio where I designed all sorts of work spaces, from corporate offices to creative media studios. Last year I made the move to our new Education practice where I’m the sole interior designer, and now I design spaces for both K-12 private schools and higher education facilities. I work together with technical staff, architects and project managers – none of us are relegated to a rigid role on a project. And, we’re usually staffed on 2-5 projects at any one time, each at a different stage of design.
So, on any given day you can find me meeting with the team to brainstorm ideas; doing CAD and/or Revit on the computer; making a client presentation; meeting with the contractor at a job site; going to the Building Department for plan check. I also spend a lot of time on office initiatives such as pro bono projects or our intern committee.
What skills and knowledge that you gained from your former career do you regularly draw upon for your current position?
I can honestly say I use everything I’ve ever learned. My Behavioral Biology background really helps me understand the psychological and physiological impact of the built space. My experience on Wall Street makes me very comfortable presenting to CEO’s and speaking with decisions makers. Planning high-end weddings taught me how to manage teams of artisans and workers. And being a mom… well, that helps me try to see things from other perspectives, and to be patient!
As a former student chapter president, a former member of the Student Advisory Council, a former member of the national Board of Directors, and a current member of the Emerging Professionals Advisory Council, you have been extremely active in ASID. Please explain what role ASID has played in your professional development and why you continue to serve in leadership positions.
There’s no question that ASID has enriched my professional development. The relationships I developed as a direct result of my active participation in ASID not only got me my job, but have also given me the opportunity to connect with hundreds of people I never would have met otherwise, from world-class design leaders to fellow designers to students. Because of ASID, I was asked to contribute an essay to a scholarly survey of the profession of interior design and help develop a national standardized exam for high-school interior design students.
Every time I was asked to serve, I knew it would require a lot of work, and frankly I always groused beforehand that I shouldn’t have made yet another commitment. Yet every time I finished, invariably I would feel so grateful for the opportunity, as I always got back a ton more than I contributed.
It sounds terribly corny but ASID has not only made me a better interior designer, but it’s also made me a better person. I’d encourage everyone to become an active member – and active is the crucial word here, because simply joining isn’t enough.
You have mentioned that you come from a traditional Chinese family who would have preferred that you take a more conventional path – i.e., doctor or lawyer. What do they feel about your success in the interior design field, and do they really understand what kinds of things that you do?
My parents are both very happy for me and proud of me now. They can see how much I enjoy what I do, plus they can both relate – my parents are both artistic and they designed our family home, and my father always wanted to become an architect. What I haven’t yet been able to do is take them on a visit to an actual space I designed. But I definitely plan to do so in the future.
What are your top two strategies for balancing career and family – specifically raising children?
Find a job with a firm that truly values your contribution and judges you by your results. Gensler recognizes how hard I work and how well I do my job and doesn’t micromanage where and how I get my work done. And they are very family-oriented – most of the office leaders are parents too so they understand that constant balancing act.
At the same time, my children know without a doubt that they will always come first. I’m very aware that my time with them is limited, especially with my daughter who will be heading to college in two years. So I try very hard to enjoy the time we have together.
What’s the best advice that you could give new interior design graduates?
Besides join ASID? Read! Read everything you can get your hands on, not just design-related but also about business, culture, science, politics, music… everything. Because the more literate and informed you are, the better you’ll be able to relate to others, and interior design is 100% about people.
Is there any other information that you would like to mention that we haven’t covered here?
Universal design is not a trend or a specialty – it should be an integral part of every design, just like sustainability. Rather than thinking of ADA requirements as a hurdle or a nuisance, minimum standards that must be met out of necessity for the wheelchair-bound, think of them instead as basic guidelines for comfort for everyone.
Now for the lighter side…
While you were a high-end wedding planner, what was craziest and/or most frivolous request ever made by one of your clients?
Wow, I’ve had a lot of zany requests but always thought there was a tasteful way to incorporate them. I guess it’s similar to when a client wants to display a truly awful piece of art or use an old Barcalounger, and with nice framing and lighting or new upholstery, you make it work. One of the most memorable requests was from the couple that wanted to use the theme song from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast as their first dance. And, the groom sang the lyrics to the bride as they danced. Somehow, it was almost touching… almost!
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I used to be an early bird and now I’m frequently a night owl out of necessity, but truth be told, I would love to go to bed early and sleep late!
What are your resolutions for the New Year?
You know what? I don’t do New Year’s resolutions because they seem very arbitrary and invariably I start resenting them. But I will tell you that in general I’m trying to be more mindful and appreciative of the present and less worried about what will happen in the future. This is a huge change from my attitude 20 years ago!
What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions and/or dishes?
I’m Chinese and we always had Peking duck growing up during the holidays, not turkey! So I am not picky at all. That said, I made a really good cranberry relish last year, and I am looking forward to making it again. And I love dark meat so save me a drumstick if at all possible.
What the one thing that you wish you knew more about?
Impact of spatial experiences on neurobiology – the intersection of architecture/interior design with psychology and physiology. I’ve bought tons of books on the topic but haven’t had time to read them. My dream would be to take a sabbatical in order to study this topic at a university level. Also, knitting. I used to knit for fun, and now I’m fascinated by the mathematics of the process. Yup, I’m definitely a nerd!
Lastly, are there any personal, educational and/or charitable links websites that you would like to share with readers?
- for design: contemporist.com & dezeen.com
- for inspiration: publicarchitecture.org
- for productivity: evernote.com & dropbox.com
