DCP Doctoral Student Lesa Lorusso has been invited to feature her multi-sensory environments (MSE) Dementia research at the AIA National Convention on Architecture 2017 in Orlando April 27-29.
“The AIA is quite selective in choosing presenters at its annual conference, which is expected to draw 20,000 attendees,” Assistant Professor of Interior Design Sheila Bosch stated. “Lesa’s research is sure to be well-received by the design community.”
Lorusso met Matthew Welker from AIA at the Vital by Design (VbD) symposium last fall and he remembered her presentation there. When Welker found out AIA’s creative director, Scott Livingston, was looking for dementia research to feature at their convention, he gave Lorusso’s name to his colleague. Livingston and Welker then contacted Lorusso to offer an invitation.
“The AIA will feature three stories at their main exhibit under the headings of communication, knowledge and advocacy and I will be the knowledge presentation,” Lorusso said. “We are collaborating with Southpaw, a leading manufacturer of sensory and neurodevelopmental products, to design and create a multi-sensory (MSE) for people with dementia. The MSE will highlight the products used in my dissertation study and I will provide a short presentation on my ongoing MSE research with the VA. People will be able to walk through and experience the MSE, which is really exciting.”