Todd Heiser, FIIDA, is Co-Regional Managing Principal for Gensler’s North Central Region. He brings over 30 years of experience crafting immersive, human-centric environments across multiple sectors. At Gensler, he’s recognized for pushing design boundaries and mentoring emerging talent. His portfolio includes high-profile projects such as the Willis Tower repositioning, Knoll’s Chicago flagship, and Uber’s Chicago headquarters.

Here are his top three obsessions right now:

Hotels as Cultural Hubs

Places like Estelle Manor or Soho Farmhouse are more than hotels, they’re communities. They blur the lines between work, leisure, and social connection. In doing so, they influence how we now view workplaces: not as single-purpose environments but as lifestyle destinations.

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The Power of Radical Materials

From carbon-neutral concrete to mushroom-based textiles, Todd draws inspiration from radical materials. He admires them for being beautiful, high-performing, and planet-healing. As a result, sustainability becomes an aesthetic statement rather than a technical checkbox.  Our editors spotlighted brands that embody these themes and included a couple of photos for readers interested in exploring further.

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AI as a Co-Designer

For Todd, AI is not a gimmick but a partner. He is especially drawn to generative image tools. With them, he can enter visions of the future and receive surreal images in return. These glimpses into what’s ahead accelerate ideation and visualization. Most importantly, AI frees designers to focus on the deeply human aspects of storytelling and craft.

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ABOUT: Current Obsessions is a new 3rings column where we invite leading designers to share what’s sparking their imagination right now. Each feature offers a glimpse into the ideas, places, and inspirations shaping the way they think about design today. Want to be featured or nominate someone? Please contact us.