The Keeping it Real series is your chance to hear from Allen & Shariff staff on life, lessons, and leadership, straight from the trenches. Sometimes literally.
Name and Title: Alpha Sallah, Mechanical Designer
Office location: Columbia Headquarters
Years at Allen & Shariff: 1 year
What’s the one skill that you would say is essential to being a great designer?
Empathy. Not the sunshine and rainbows connotation of empathy, but the ability to step back and look at a problem from various perspectives in order to solve it in a wholistic manner. For one, this centers the design around the building occupant. The designer should assess how every decision will affect the health, comfort, and mental well-being of those who will spend time in the building. Two, empathy helps team relations because the designer will keep an open mind to suggestions and compromise. This cooperation allows a team to flourish and maximizes productivity. Read the full post →
