Virtual Design: Webinars, podcasts and panel discussions by New Orleans preservation groups and design pros, plus stylish Zoom backgrounds

If there is any group well-suited to creative solutions to problems big and small, it’s the design community. New Orleans design pros are no exception and have continued to hum along amid COVID-19 shutdowns and mandates, finding resourceful ways to serve clients and the public. If you’ve been craving a design fix, today’s post has you covered with webinars, podcasts and panel discussions, all available online or on your devices.

• The Preservation Resource Center always has a full calendar of classes, discussions and other events. When COVID struck, it quickly moved everything online. For example, today (May 13) from 2 to 3 p.m., take the free Zoom webinar “Managing Moisture: How to Identify and Repair Damage Caused by Water Intrusion” taught by Bill Robinson of Train2Build. At 7 p.m., the Preservation Resource Center and Octavia Books are hosting a Zoom release of Richard Campanella’s newest book, “The West Bank of Greater New Orleans: A Historical Geography.” The event includes a live discussion with Campanella.
• Your twin loves of design and podcasts merge in The Swarm Podcast, hosted by architects from Studio CICADA. It launched in 2018 and features discussions about architecture with designers from all professions.
• AOS is hosting “Workplace Resilience Panel” a virtual discussion on Friday (May 15) from noon to 1 p.m. Greg LaCour from LSU, Mike Siegel of Corporate Realty, Melissa Tokar of Baker Donelson, Steve Dumez of EskewDumezRipple and Riley Kennedy of Woodward Design+Build will cover “internal workplace planning, evolving client needs and how the future of design and construction is challenged to address the rapidly changing workplace.” Email your name and address to events@thinkaos.com to register.

Lagniappe

Whether you aren’t keen to have colleagues, clients and random virtual event attendees see the inside of your house or you just like to have fun swapping out the look of your environments on Zoom, click here and here for collections of stylish backgrounds. Happy Zooming!