Beyond Interior Design: A Career in Occupancy Planning

Duration: 1 - 1.5 Hours
Format: In-Person or Virtual
Ideal for: Professional Practice, Workplace Design Courses

Discover how occupancy planning brings design, data, and strategy together and why an interior design education provides a strong foundation for this career path.

About this Talk

When I graduated with a degree in interior design, I thought I knew what a career in design looked like. Occupancy planning wasn't on my radar. In fact, I had never even heard of it.

In this talk, I share the unexpected path that took me from interior design into occupancy planning and introduce students to a career that sits at the intersection of people, space, data, and business strategy. We'll explore what occupancy planners actually do, how the skills developed through a design education translate to the profession, and which technical and analytical skills can help students prepare for this type of work.

I'll also share practical advice from my own career, including how to identify opportunities beyond traditional design roles, approach the job search, build a professional network, and use mentorship to open doors.

Students will leave with:

• A clear understanding of occupancy planning and where it fits within the workplace industry

• A better understanding of how their interior design skills can translate to a career in occupancy planning

• An introduction to the technical and analytical skills used by occupancy planners

• Practical advice for exploring career opportunities, approaching the job search, and building a professional network