{"id":216155,"date":"2023-09-12T11:37:59","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T15:37:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/?post_type=id_news&p=216155"},"modified":"2023-11-02T14:17:11","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T18:17:11","slug":"gensler-ken-baker-be-original-americas","status":"publish","type":"id_news","link":"https:\/\/interiordesign.net\/designwire\/gensler-ken-baker-be-original-americas\/","title":{"rendered":"Gensler’s Ken Baker Says No to Knockoff Designs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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September 12, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n

Words: <\/span>Carlene Olsen<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photography: <\/span>Courtesy of Gensler<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Gensler’s Ken Baker Says No to Knockoff Designs <\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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For Ken Baker, managing principal of Gensler<\/a>‘s<\/em> North Central region, there are clear lines when it comes to identifying authentic design\u2014either its an original piece, or it’s not. “Our firm has a policy that we don’t do knockoffs, we don’t specify knockoffs, and we don’t create knockoffs,” the designer says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baker is uniquely positioned to ensure these policies are strictly followed given his leadership role in the firm’s product development practice. Working closely with manufacturers to create custom pieces for various projects, Gensler’s team ensures that each design is original. “We need to be vigilant when creating new product,” he says. “We do our due diligence to make sure we’re not inadvertently using details that another product has and we’re constantly adding oversight on that.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the impact and size of Gensler, which currently employs more than 6,000 designers across 53 offices, the firm’s policy regarding authentic design has a vast reach. “Our designs are well in alignment with what is a stated in our compliance policy, but mistakes get made and when we find out, we fix it right away,” Baker adds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mindset aligns with the mission behind Be Original Americas<\/a>, a nonprofit that stresses the value of original craftsmanship with the help of committed partners, such as Gensler. The group, cofounded by Beth Dickstein of <\/a>BDE <\/a>along with David Rosenkvist, chief commercial and creative officer at Louis Poulsen<\/a>, works to protect authentic designs and actively stop the spread of knockoffs while offering resources to members, from designers and architects to newly established makers. “We open our doors to Be Original Americas,” shares Baker, noting that the firm has invited members and board members to host talks and mentorship programs. “It’s something we believe in as a firm and it’s something I believe in as an individual, and we have compliance issues built around it,” he continues. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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