Changing Lives by Design: The Story of Designs for Dignity

Sept. 23, 2020

In this episode, Designs for Dignity CEO and i+s Designer of the Year Jennifer Sobecki and D4D founder Susie Fredman discuss the non-profit's mission of empowering lives through pro bono design work. Find out how you can help support and celebrate D4D's 20th anniversary of changing lives one project at a time.

Robert Nieminen

In this episode, Designs for Dignity CEO and i+s Designer of the Year Jennifer Sobecki and D4D founder Susie Fredman discuss the non-profit's mission of empowering lives through pro bono design work.

Find out how you can help support and celebrate D4D's 20th anniversary of changing lives one project at a time.

Listen now.

About our Guests:

Jennifer Sobecki, CEO, Designs for Dignity As the Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer is responsible for all fiscal and operational functions of Designs for Dignity (D4D). During her tenure at Designs for Dignity, Jennifer has led the effort to grow D4D’s impact over the past 15 years.

Jennifer has overseen the growth trajectory of the organization—with the expansion of project capacity and warehousing of in-kind donations to nearly quadrupling the operating budget of the agency since it’s founding in 2000. She was also named interiors+sources 2020 Designer of the Year.

Susie Fredman, founder, Designs for Dignity Susan Fredman remains one of Chicago’s most prominent residential interior designers. Susie believes that design matters for everyone and that led to the foundation of Designs for Dignity, an industry non-profit dedicated to transforming environments through pro-bono interior design services and in-kind donations. Through creating spaces of hope, dignity, and comfort, Susie continues to empower and transform lives near and far.

Susie has earned many awards over her four decades in design and some of her favorites include the nod as one of the 100 Women Making a Difference by Today’s Chicago Woman and her Fearless Leader award from the Ms. Foundation. Her work has been featured in Traditional Home, Chicago Tribune, Chicago magazine, Chicago Home + Garden, LUXE, CS, CS Interiors, HGTV, and NBC-TV among others.

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About the Author

Robert Nieminen | Chief Content Director

Robert Nieminen is the Chief Content Director of Architectural Products, BUILDINGS and i+s, sister publications of Smart Buildings Technology. He is an award-winning writer with more than 20 years of experience reporting on the architecture and design industry.