Robyn Ruser, CPSM
Since 2024
Active
SMPS Chicago member
AEC marketing professional
Robyn leads knowledge management strategies for Perkins&Will’s Chicago studio, one of the world’s most respected global design practices with a legacy spanning nearly 90 years. As Knowledge Manager and Associate, she orchestrates the capture, organization, and accessibility of design intelligence that empowers over 3,000 professionals across Perkins&Will’s international network of studios. Her role bridges marketing, research, and organizational knowledge systems to ensure architectural and design teams can leverage collective expertise for innovative project solutions.
Her expertise combines knowledge management strategy, information architecture, research coordination, and marketing resource development supporting sustainable design excellence. Robyn brings an MBA foundation that informs strategic approaches to knowledge systems in professional services environments. She specializes in creating frameworks that connect people to expertise, preserve institutional knowledge, and accelerate innovation within complex design organizations.
With Perkins&Will’s emphasis on research-driven design and the firm’s renowned Research Journal—a peer-reviewed publication advancing architectural practice since 2009—Robyn’s knowledge management work supports a culture of continuous learning and evidence-based design. Her contributions help position Perkins&Will’s Chicago studio as a leader in healthcare, education, science and technology, civic, and commercial architecture serving clients throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Robyn demonstrates professional leadership through her CPSM certification and active engagement with SMPS Chicago, one of the nation’s most dynamic chapters serving the architectural, engineering, and construction marketing community. Her dual credentials—MBA and CPSM—position her as a strategic thinker who understands both business fundamentals and the specialized requirements of professional services marketing in the AEC industry.
As Knowledge Manager at Perkins&Will, Robyn contributes to advancing the profession by supporting the firm’s Innovation Incubator program, which has funded over 700 staff-led research explorations since 2010. Her work enables the sharing of knowledge that benefits not only Perkins&Will but the broader design community through the firm’s commitment to open-source research and transparent knowledge sharing. This aligns with industry leadership principles that elevate the entire AEC profession.
Robyn’s MBA background brings sophisticated business strategy perspectives to her knowledge management practice. Her ability to integrate business thinking with design practice knowledge systems demonstrates the evolution of marketing and knowledge management as strategic functions within global design firms. This dual perspective enhances how design organizations capture, organize, and leverage intellectual capital for competitive advantage.
With Perkins&Will’s research-focused culture—including the peer-reviewed Perkins&Will Research Journal and collaborative academic partnerships—Robyn’s knowledge management work supports a firm committed to advancing architectural practice through rigorous inquiry and shared learning.
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