FIT Newsroom

The Nature of Work

Let’s face it: We’re living in fractious, distracting times, and anything that makes our workspace more like a spa (or at least less like a conventional office) would be welcome. The director of interiors and styling at the architecture firm Cookfox, Hilary Catterall thinks a lot about what makes employees happier and healthier. With her steady voice and patient demeanor, she embodies the soothing, empathic qualities of a wellness-centered environment. “The key to being a good designer,” she says, “is thinking of every kind of person who walks into a space, how it impacts their life, and how they can thrive.”

WWD’s Footwear News turned to professor Ellen Lynch, founder of FIT’s Footwear and Accessories Design department, for her take on the resurgence of boat shoes. “In the age of comfort where slip-on shoes are the most popular styles out there,” says Lynch, “the boat shoe is a perfect addition to one’s wardrobe both for men and women.”