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The Florida State University Department of Interior Architecture & Design is celebrating the success of 4th-year students Samantha Crown and Katie Becher, who earned third place in the prestigious 2025 International Interior Design Association Student Design Competition. This international competition that draws healthcare project submissions from top design programs around the world. Their project, Vantage Point Behavioral Health Clinic, was recognized for its innovation, sensitivity and empathetic approach to creating meaningful healthcare environments.

“The opportunity to design an inpatient behavioral healthcare facility was an extremely important challenge that has altered how I navigate projects and my understanding of how users interact with the built environment,” said Crown. “Working through this as a collaborative effort was critical to the success of the project.”

Becher echoed Samantha’s sentiment, highlighting the profound impact of the project on her personal and professional growth.

“Working on this project with Samantha allowed me to become a better designer and student, said Becher. “We are so honored and excited to be a recipient of this prestigious award. It was extremely rewarding to learn about behavioral health and design a space that promotes mental and emotional well-being for users. I am so excited to continue my education in this field and advocate for innovative design in all aspects of life.”

The juried competition challenges students to tackle complex real-world design problems. This year’s brief focused on behavioral healthcare, an area of growing importance in the built environment.

Gresham Smith, a nationally recognized architecture and design firm, provided funding to cover the team’s submission fee, making this achievement possible. This generous support was facilitated by FSU Interior Architecture & Design Advisory Council member and alumna, Carolyn Blake, who serves as Technical Practice Leader, Senior Interior Designer, and Partner at Gresham Smith. Guest speakers Penny Houchens, Principal Partner, and Kayla Reiff, Healthcare Interior Designer, also shared insights with students as they developed their designs. Gresham Smith’s investment highlights the powerful role of professional partnerships in advancing the next generation of designers. In addition, Katie and Sammy also benefited from the guidance of esteemed industry leaders Michael Pukszta, Global Healthcare Practice Leader, and David Sass, Senior Vice President at CannonDesign, whose mentorship enriched their design process and professional growth.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for this incredible showing in a highly regarded international competition,” said Amy Huber, associate chair of the Department of Interior Architecture & Design and instructor for the students’ healthcare design studio. “Our students are designing a bright future for the healthcare industry, and we’re incredibly proud of their work.”

In addition to the $750 cash prize, the students’ work will be featured on IIDA.org, across IIDA’s social media platforms, and in the Spring 2025 issue of QUAD. Their project will also be included in the IIDA Student Design Showcase set to publish in Summer 2025.

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Five Questions with Daejin Kim

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Associate Professor Daejin Kim joined the faculty of the Department of Interior Architecture & Design in August 2024 and teaches courses for graduate and undergraduate students in topics including healthcare design, research methods, and environmental psychology for design.

I am passionate about exploring how design can enhance human health and well-being, particularly for older adults. I look forward to contributing to FSU’s dynamic academic environment and collaborating with students and faculty to advance interior design research and education.

-Daejin Kim

Originally from South Korea, Kim received his PhD in interior design from University of Florida and pursued post-doctoral research training at North Carolina A&T State University, where he contributed to a large grant project focused on developing aging-in-place strategies for low-income older adults.

Kim is a co-author of the new textbook “Space Planning for Healthcare Design,” available this March.

Below, Kim shares about his research, his new books and how he’s settling in at FSU:

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Q: What is the primary focus of your research?

A: My research focuses on the relationship between the built environment and human health and well-being, emphasizing aging-in-place strategies and healthcare design. I examine how environmental factors impact safety, accessibility, and overall quality of life.

Q: In two or three sentences, can you describe your new book(s)?

A: As a co-author, I recently published a book titled “Case Study on Housing Supply for Retired Elderly Individuals.” My book chapter explored various co-location housing projects of affordable housing and public libraries in Chicago, which has had significant social, economic, and educational impacts on the community. This book, written in Korean, is a collaborative work by 11 authors from different countries, including South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and designers interested in aging-in-place solutions and senior housing development from a global perspective.

I am also the lead author of a book titled “Space Planning for Healthcare Design,” which will be published this March. This book explores both traditional and emerging clinical health settings, emphasizing a holistic approach to hospital design. It examines how space planning addresses the unique needs of patients, healthcare staff, and caregivers. Organized into thirteen chapters, the book covers essential areas found in hospitals, clinics, and outpatient facilities, providing a comprehensive guide to designing functional and supportive healthcare environments.

Q: What are some important things to consider when designing for the healthcare industry?

A: One of the most important considerations when designing healthcare environments is understanding how environmental elements impact occupants’ physical, psychological, and social well-being. Additionally, these relationships can vary based on factors such as gender, age, and cultural differences.

Q: What first sparked your interest in this area of research?

A: My interest in this area of research was sparked when I studied environmental psychology, a discipline that explores how people interact with the built environment. This led me to focus my research on how interior design impacts human health and well-being.

Q: What do you like most about FSU?

A: What I like most about FSU is its strong academic community, dedicated faculty, and talented students. The university, college, and our department foster an inspiring and collaborative environment that supports innovation and excellence.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share?

A: I am passionate about exploring how design can enhance human health and well-being, particularly for older adults. I look forward to contributing to FSU’s dynamic academic environment and collaborating with students and faculty to advance interior design research and education.