Gensler Principal Lena Kitson to Present Hyde Lecture on the Business of Design
Lena Kitson, principal in Gensler's Chicago office, will present the next Hyde Lecture, "Business of Design," at 4 p.m. Oct. 14 in Architecture Hall West, Room 127.
As a principal at one of the world's leading architecture and design firms, Kitson works with multidisciplinary teams to guide projects from concept through completion. She is recognized for helping clients translate vision into successful outcomes through thoughtful leadership, strategic planning and collaboration. Her portfolio includes award-winning work for Edelman, BP, Chicago Trading Company, the University of Chicago and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.
In addition to leading complex projects, Kitson serves on Gensler's Global Inclusion Committee and helps advance operational excellence and strategic performance across the firm's regional studios.
During her lecture, Kitson will explore how successful design extends beyond creativity and aesthetics to create value for clients, organizations and communities. Drawing on her professional experience, she will examine the intersection of design, business strategy and innovation, highlighting how architects and designers balance creativity with project management, client relationships, budgeting and long-term planning.
The lecture will also discuss how design influences branding, user experience and organizational success while demonstrating the growing importance of sustainable, user-centered design in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Attendees will gain insight into how business principles and design thinking work together to transform ideas into impactful, real-world solutions.
The Hyde Lecture Series is the College of Architecture's long-standing, endowed public lecture program. Each year, the series welcomes nationally and internationally recognized leaders in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and planning to inspire dialogue around the issues shaping the future of the design professions.
