Speaking Opportunities
As an esteemed international speaker, Nicole shares insights on biophilic design, combining her design proficiency with a deep-rooted commitment to wellness. She draws on 200-hour yoga instructor training and work as a Nature & Forest Therapy Guide to intertwine embodiment practices with her design philosophy. Nicole’s dedication to meditation enhances her holistic approach to well-being, adding a unique perspective to her speaking engagements.
SPEAKING TOPICS INCLUDE:
The topics listed below are a small sampling of what Nicole can cover in a speaking engagement. Groups are encouraged to work with Nicole for a topic tailored to their specific needs. The focus of most talks is biophilic design, forest therapy, or nature connection experiences.
ELEVATING WELLBEING THROUGH BIOPHILIC DESIGN:
Creating Nurturing Environments
Length: 1 hour, 1 learning hour IDCEC
Format: virtual or in-person
Discover how making small changes to your physical surroundings can promote wellness. This talk helps participants understand how identifying and addressing stressors can unlock the key to nurturing emotional well-being in designed spaces. We will explore how stress manifests in the body and its impact on emotional states. Attendees will learn the potential of incorporating biophilic design elements to enhance well-being, reduce stress, and improve the human experience. Gain practical techniques to integrate biophilic and nature-inspired elements, creating environments that foster emotional well-being.
CALM THE CHAOS:
Enhancing Emotional Wellbeing with Biophilic and Nature-Based Practices
Length: 1 hour, 1 learning hour IDCEC
Format: virtual or in-person
Free your mind and focus on your senses as we learn to calm the chaos we all experience. Biophilic design and nature immersion practices address the human response to natural surroundings, demonstrating that people thrive in nurturing environments. These principles can be applied to our comfort, well-being, and healing, helping us become our best selves personally and professionally. Participants will engage in an embodiment exercise to understand how we process and experience stress in our physical bodies and its impact on our emotional bandwidth. Learn tools to recognize and manage stressors and take away easy-to-adopt nature-based practices that can help you feel more grounded and authentic.
Extended Session: 1 or 2-Hour Workshop:
Extend the talk with an immersive workshop that delves deeper into the transformative power of biophilic and nature-based practices to enhance your emotional well-being. Building on the keynote insights, we will explore designing with biophilia in mind and integrating these principles into all aspects of life. Through guided discussions and interactive exercises, you’ll uncover how your surroundings impact your sense of safety and comfort, recognize stress manifestations, and learn practical techniques to infuse biophilia into your life. Gain tools and insights to create nurturing environments that support your emotional well-being and help you flourish authentically.
THE POWER OF NATURE:
Deepening Wellness and Nature Connection Through Forest Therapy
Length: 1.5-3 hours
Format: virtual or in-person
Experience the transformative power of forest therapy (also called forest bathing). This nature immersion practice is a place where wellness and nature connection intertwine. This guided practice immerses you in the natural world, enhancing mental clarity, emotional well-being, and a profound sense of peace. In our constantly changing and connected world, forest therapy offers space to be present, reducing stress and fostering a deep bond with nature. Engage all your senses to lower stress, boost your immune response, and remember that deep down, we are nature.
FOSTERING COMFORT, WELL-BEING, AND HEALING
using Biophilic Design Principles in Healthcare
Length: 1.5-2 hour session
Format: virtual or in-person
Biophilic design addresses the human response to natural surroundings, demonstrating that people thrive in nurturing environments. Research shows that integrating nature into built environments can reduce stress and enhance performance, healing, satisfaction, and productivity. This course includes an immersive outdoor exercise to connect participants with sensory experiences, followed by group analysis. In this session, we will step away from technology and research and into the outdoors, gaining awareness of how our natural environment affects us. Discussions will integrate evidence-based design research and healthcare case studies to explore how biophilic principles, including the concept of reciprocity with nature, can improve environments and the human experience.
FIRE BELOW, SUN AND STARS ABOVE:
Biophilic Lighting
*Joint session with Lauren Schwade
Length: 1 hour session
Format: virtual or in-person
From fire to candles, gas lanterns, and the first electric light bulb in 1879, humans have evolved around warm wavelengths of light. Our bodies are accustomed to the positions of our natural light sources, like fire on the ground or daylight high in the sky during midday. The invention of the fluorescent lamp however, made cooler and brighter light sources available from above throughout the nighttime environment. Fluorescent lighting allowed humans to work late into the night which disrupted sleep patterns, and therefore interfered with our bodies biological recovery time. Understanding human development in the context of our natural environment is the heart of biophilic design. This discussion will inspire shaping our environment around our biological needs, utilizing electric and smart lighting for biophilic designs, and fostering well-being while deepening our connection with nature.
Availability and Cost
Contact the Biophilic Design Institute for rates and availability.
Testimonials
"Nicole has presented and discussed the built environment with our studio on several occasions, and we feel that every meeting was worthwhile and educational. I would highly recommend that you invite Nicole in for a discussion about Biophilia as it relates to the built environment, human health, and the role of the designer."
Joe Galbraith | Partner at Galbraith Carnahan Architects
"Nicole facilitated a series of workshops at our architecture firm revolving around biophilic design. The insights gained by our attending staff members interweaved well with their understanding of wholeness-based design, a philosophy practiced by our firm.Nicole is passionate and knowledgeable, clear in her presentation and well organized. Nicole followed up on questions that couldn't be answered within the confines of the workshop and has a strong handle on referenced examples. I highly recommend Nicole for her research and workshops regarding biophilic design."
Tom Kubala | Architect & Co-Founder at The Kubala Washatko Architects
“From the moment she started presenting I knew Nicole was extremely passionate in her field. Adding a nature walk where the audience experiences a connection to nature was thinking outside of the box and deeply appreciated by everyone in our group.”
Lauren S. | Senior Lighting Designer & Senior Associate, Mazzetti
"I have been to multiple presentations of Nicole's on Biophilic Design and Living Building Challenge. She has opened my mind to the importance of incorporating elements of nature into our buildings, workspaces, and living spaces. She is a great presenter, very engaging and extremely informative on the topic of Biophilic Design. Her research on the topic and the studies she has done are extremely significant to the design profession. I would highly recommend all the design professionals to go to one of her talks!"
Taruna Gupta | Project Designer at Groth Design Group
“Your talk was almost intuitive to my soul and love of beautiful, healing, inspiring spaces. I have a deep appreciation for the outdoors, meditation, yoga, and all things earth. I’m also a feeler with a curiosity for the technical, which is hard to mesh in much of the day-to-day life. In the last few years, I’ve felt a true yearning to learn how to fuse these on a personal and professional level. Your presentation spoke directly to this which was very inspiring. The bottom line is I admire that you are doing what you love (which is obvious) and contributing to the world in such a unique, authentic way. I look forward to having an opportunity to hearing one of your talks again.”
Stacy P. | Sales Support, First Light