Preparing to practice interior design requires students in the Department of Interior Architecture and Design to apply skills ranging from building codes application and lighting to product specification and space planning, creating complex interior environments that support users’ physical, psychological, and emotional needs. The Department’s studio and support courses are often problem-solving laboratories where knowledge and skills are brought to bear in the crafting of unique places including hotels, restaurants, health clinics, museums, and workplaces. When a student submits their design projects to external competitions, it ups the game of the scrutiny, bringing comparison to those of students from other universities and colleges. When a project receives an award, it provides confirmation that design practitioner reviewers are favorably impressed with the student’s skills and potential. Such awards benefit the students’ records, helping them to achieve distinction in securing design employment.

The year 2022 is a special one for the Department, as IAD students have succeeded in sweeping every category with first place honors in the American Society of Interior Designers North Florida Chapter Student Design Competition, plus others as well. Here are this year’s award winners with images of their award-winning entries and comments. Congratulations to all, including the FSU instructors who guided these students to success!

 

First place, Residential Design category

Ciara Iglesias

Project: Parisian Apartment Great Room, a project of the Graphic Techniques II class, Ken Saginario, instructor.

“This second story Haussman-era style Parisian flat was designed for a couple who enjoy antiquing, studying history, and growing houseplants. This project focused on selecting the color palette, materials, lighting, and furnishings for the common living spaces while satisfying the client’s wish to preserve most of the historic architectural elements of the space. This reflects the nature of the clients as they look to the past with a modern perception.”

 

 

First place, Commercial/Hospitality category

Olivia Zollo

Project: The Vault, a project of the Studio V class, Associate Professor Steve Webber, instructor.

“I am excited to have been awarded first place in the hospitality category, as I am most proud of this project. I think hospitality design taught me the importance of creating an environment that merges aesthetics and functionality to better enhance the guest experience. Throughout the design process, I was really challenged to think about every aspect of design, from materials selection to lighting to branding and wayfinding considerations, and every decision had a reason. The Vault, located in Southwark, London, aimed to merge local culture and architecture with contemporary design to create a more authentic atmosphere that appealed to both locals and tourists.”

 

 

 

 

First place, Wildcard category

Camila Ferro and Yukee Wang

Project: Sunny Side Up Café, a project of the Studio III class, Associate Professor Amy Huber, instructor.

“The Sunny Side Up brunch cafe aims to create an energetic third place for the Tallahassee community, through the use of original branding graphics, bold pops of color, and whimsical and playful elements.”

 

 

Second place, Commercial/Hospitality category

Camila Ferro

Project: Arrive Outdoors Workplace, a project of the Studio III class, Associate Professor Amy Huber, instructor.

“The monumental stair and the collaboration hub come together to form a central node that facilitates wayfinding and encourages collaboration within Arrive Outdoors’ workplace, connecting the design to the concept of synergetic immersion.”

The study of interior design is a rigorous, time-intensive undertaking, as any student in the IAD Department will tell you. It is also by its nature an expensive endeavor, requiring not only tuition and room and board funds, but also the means to purchase project materials, computers and software, textbooks and design tools. Participating in field trips and internships are critically important growth opportunities too, but also cost money.

Several IAD students have recently met with stupendous success in securing scholarships that acknowledge their excellence while providing them funds to further their goals.

Haley Valtz is a fourth-year student in the IAD Department with strong drive and a keen mind that brings an important voice to the learning community in her classes. She also serves on the IAD Advisory Council as a student representative. Haley is the recipient of the Catherine Schneider Johnson Scholarship this year that enables her to pursue experiential learning so important to her professional skills. This gift has afforded her the opportunity to intern with her current employer, Inside-Eye Design, and also supports her service as a mentor to other IAD students in the Department.  Notes Haley, “receiving the Catherine Schneider Johnson Scholarship has enabled me to remain proud and honored to represent and be a part of the Interior Architecture and Design program here at Florida State University. It has allowed me to explore endless opportunities and I will be forever grateful for this gift.”

Celia Pena is a highly engaged fourth-year student whose co-president role in the Department’s Interior Design Student Organization positions her to represent the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) to the Department’s students. Through her leadership, she is striving to build a sense of community through a mentorship program along with other workshop and networking opportunities for students. Celia secured a 2022-2023 Diversity in Design scholarship award from the product manufacturer Thermador in partnership with the Interior Design Society. This award also permits her engagement in a valuable year-long mentorship program to learn more about professional design, industry connections, and behind-the-scenes look at products and brand insights, research, and trends. Celia’s professional engagement will soon add another role to her record as she begins service as the regional student representative to the ASID Florida North Chapter interior design practitioner board. Celia describes, “I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to join the program. Apart from the scholarship, the mentorship program is an amazing outlet to provide incoming seniors within underrepresented communities to transition designers from school to the real world through networking with current practitioners and professional development.”

Graduate student Eva Neri is a vibrant presence in the Department, and her teaching assistantship responsibilities make her familiar to many undergraduate students. Eva has secured a scholarship from the Sunshine Chapter of the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH) organization. Eva is currently working on her Master of Fine Arts thesis, which examines college students’ attention to thinking and tasks and the potential role of the built environment in supporting this function. Notes Eva, “The experience of winning validates my always-evolving passion and efforts to contribute to the body of interior design knowledge.” She is dedicating the funds of this award to the acquisition of interior products that make possible the data gathering for her study. She also hopes to apply these funds to help underwrite the costs of future research presentations at academic and professional conferences.

IAD undergraduate and graduate students’ work is examining the human condition and taking active steps to make the world a better place through thoughtful, well-planned interior environments. As these students’ efforts show, their efforts are garnering attention beyond the FSU campus. The Department is proud of their achievements!

To learn more about the academic programs and research of the IAD Department, click here. The Department is grateful for the exterior support of donors and organizations that help students’ work go farther, deeper, and positively impacting the future.