< PreviousLast word commercialinteriordesign.com June 2022 50 IN THE STUDIO WITH Simona Giacalone, architecture and design manager, Herman Miller Middle East and Africa S imona started her career with Herman Miller in 2017. She was based in Milan, before moving to Dubai in 2021 and later joining the fi rm's APMEA Racial Equity Team, as Marketing & Communications Manager. Commercial Interior Design (CID): What was it like moving from Milan to Dubai? Simona Giacalone (SG): Every job change, every relocation, is a leap in the dark: you know what you're leaving, but you never know what you'll fi nd. I love new challenges and getting out of my comfort zone, so I jumped into a new adventure without overthinking it. In Italy, Herman Miller has a small team made up of Italians only. Meanwhile, in Dubai, the team is bigger and more multicultural. CID: Describe your studio. SG: We recently refurbished the Dubai offi ce, so that it's perfectly tailored to the teams' activities and daily tasks. Apart from workstations – you can choose between assigned and non-assigned – we have many collaborative areas and I often use these. Plus, we're on the 28th fl oor of Marina Plaza, overlooking Dubai Marina and the sea. That's a great setting for inspiration! CID: Are there any special initiatives you're working on as Marketing and Communications Manager of the APMEA Racial Equity Team? SG: I was so happy to jump into this role, as Dubai is one of the most multicultural places I've ever been. We just fi nished working on an internal project that saw Herman Miller personnel from India, China, Japan, Lebanon, Philippines and Italy share the challenges they faced in life due to cultural racism. I'm now planning on creating an event Working with designers for Dubai's design community, whereby different cultures will intermingle, speaking about common cultural traits, fun facts and challenges that are unique to their countries. CID: How and where do you seek inspiration/motivation? SG: It depends. When I'm stressed and overwhelmed, the thing that gets my cortisol down is going to the gym. When I want to be inspired and recharged, however, I'll go to the sea. It might be the smell of salt and sea; it might be the constant fl ux of the waves; whatever it is, when I leave, I feel much more inspired and positive. CID: When does your day end? SG: Every day is different. It often fi nishes in the evening, around 6.30 pm. I'll have a walk around the Marina. My days sometimes fi nish after dinner or even later; at least once a week I have client dinners or drinks, or I have events to go to. I simply love the energy and engagement that my work brings me.THE MARKET LEADING PLATFORM FOR THE INTERIOR DESIGN AND FIT-OUT INDUSTRY COMMERCIALINTERIORDESIGN.COMTOLL FREE 800 GLAZE (45293) | TEL: +971 6 5353 123 (SHARJAH) | TEL: +971 2 5502 390 (ABU DHABI) | MAIL: info@glaze.ae www.glaze.ae/ MARBLE | GRANITE | QUARTZITE | ONYX | TRAVERTINE | LIMESTONE | PRECIOUS STONE Surface Solutions, Designed By NatureNext >