FSU Department of Interior Architecture & Design are delighted to announce five new members to its Advisory Council – Chad Byerly of Baker Barrios, Jeanette Carter of Stantec, Lauren Czarniecki of Czar Interiors, David Denman of D&D Design, and Brandi Markiewicz of CI Group.

The Department’s Advisory Council is made up of leaders in the field from design firms, industry and allied areas. Its mission is to support the students and faculty of the Department of Interior Architecture & Design and help promote excellence in interior design education. Through their insights and professional connections, they provide a vital link between design practice and education through gateways to impactful guest speakers, funding support for student activities and other initiatives. For a full list of council members, visit https://interiordesign.fsu.edu/people/advisory-board/.

Interested in volunteer leadership opportunities in the Department of Interior Architecture & Design? Let us know HERE and we will contact you soon to discuss all the ways we can align your talent, experience, and interests with advancement of the Department.

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Chad Byerly
Principal + Corporate Services, Baker Barrios
Orlando, FL

Chad Byerly has been with Baker Barrios since its inception in 1993 and serves as a Principal within the firm in charge of the interiors studio. Always putting the best interests of his clients first, Byerly has a reputation for identifying and addressing potential challenges head-on, streamlining the design process to maximize efficiency, functionality, and cost-effectiveness. Byerly has designed interior spaces for Fortune 500 clients including Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Company, Marriott Worldwide, and Golf Channel, just to name a few. His eye for interior design has also given him a knack for photography, a passion that he enjoys in his spare time. Byerly’s business partner is an FSU alum, and they have hired many alumni from the program over the years. “The quality of education these students receive is evident when we take on interns from the FSU program. I am excited to work with such amazing colleagues on this Advisory Council to advance the program.”

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Jeanette Carter (BS 2008)
Principal, Stantec Architecture Inc.
Orlando, FL

Jeanette Carter (BS 2008) has been serving as a Principal in the Orlando office for Stantec, a global design firm, and has recently been named the Practice Leader for the Florida Buildings practice. She leads the Interior Design Studio, and has been a key lead for their Themed Entertainment, Hospitality and Federal projects and pursuits. Her project experience ranges from resorts, spas, offices, attractions, restaurants, retail and themed venues since joining the Stantec Interiors team. She is an FSU alumni and is an active member of the Themed Entertainment Association, NEWH and IIDA.

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Lauren Czarniecki (BA 2009)
Founder and Principal Designer, Czar Interiors
Delray Beach, FL

Lauren Czarniecki (BA 2009), founder and principal designer of Czar Interiors, first earned bachelor’s degrees in interior design and art history at Florida State University and then cut her teeth in the industry in Los Angeles, where she interned at Kelly Wearstler and began her love affair with residential and hospitality design. Today, she’s an NCIDQ-certified and Florida licensed interior designer serving clients across the country and abroad—fitting, as she still thinks back to her four study-abroad summers in Florence to fuel her creativity. Lauren has been awarded with a Stars of Design “Stars on the Rise” award from the Design Center of the Americas, and her work has been featured in Florida Design, Palm Beach Illustrated, Modern Luxury Interiors and Art&Culture magazine, among other notable publications. A Boca Raton native, she has returned to her roots, setting up a studio in Palm Beach where she handles her clients’ needs with care by listening to and achieving their design goals while expanding their imaginations and taking those goals to new levels.

Czarniecki received the 2023 Emerging Alumni Award from the Department of Interior Architecture & Design.

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David Denman
Owner, D&D Design Group
West Palm Beach, FL

With over 35 years of design experience, David Denman (BS 1988) and his team create innovative, sophisticated and elegant designs for residential, commercial and yacht interiors. D&D Design Group, Inc. is a full service interior design firm, offering guidance to clients, from conception of each project, to completion.

After two decades of working at residential design firms in the Palm Beach area of Florida, Denman opened his own firm in 2008. Another fifteen years later we are still on PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens going strong. Denman is excited to join the ranks of volunteer leadership, noting that “Every day I use the knowledge I received as a student at Florida State University. I am very pleased to fondly remember the phenomenal faculty and mentors, and to give back financially and of my time.”

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Brandi Markiewicz (BS 2002)
Managing Partner, CI Group Inc.
Orlando, FL

Brandi Markiewicz is Managing Partner for CI Group, Orlando, a leading provider of commercial office furniture in the Southeast. With a passion for her community, she served as a volunteer leader for many local charities and in the business community as former President of the Downtown Orlando Partnership, Leadership Orlando Class 96 and 2.0 and was named to Orlando Business Journal’s 2019 40 Under 40 list.

Her dedication to the design industry extends far beyond her job, most notably to the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) – Central Florida Chapter. Markiewicz was named FSU Interior Architecture & Design’s 2023 Distinguished Service Award Winner.

By: Jamie Rager, Gabbi Santeiro

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Florida State University’s College of Fine Arts theatre, design and art students spent the summer at the FSU London Study Centre, taking advantage of the many historical sites the city has to offer and engaging in meaningful, hands-on learning.

Theatre

Each year, second-year MFA acting students from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training spend six weeks immersed in the London theater scene, working on fundamental skills such as movement and voice under the guidance of Theatre Academy London faculty.

“London is one of the great theatre capitals of the world, making it an ideal place for our students to expand their horizons and take in a wide variety of productions,” said Andrei Malaev-Babel, director of the Conservatory, who accompanied the students. “This program offers our students the opportunity to study with highly talented working professionals. They havelikely seen their instructors on stage at theaters like The National or The Lyric Hammersmith.”

For Conservatory students, the six-week program is a highlight of the three-year MFA program, allowing them to widen their skills while making valuable international connections. In their down time, students see several performances a day at London’s many theaters.

Malaev-Babel also led a course called “Introduction to Theatre in London” for interdisciplinary undergraduate students. As part of the four-week course, they visited important sites connected with theatre history and saw performances nearly every class day.

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Interior Architecture and Design

For students from the Department of Interior Architecture and Design, London provided a window into centuries of design styles.

“I cannot think of a better place to study 19th-and 20th-century interiors history,” said Yelena McLane, assistant professor and program leader. “London is a place where historic structures and interior elements from the recent and distant past weave a rich tapestry within the city. These serve as a dramatic backdrop while also directly influencing contemporary ways of living, working or experiencing this remarkable city.”

As part of the “History of Interiors” summer course in London, students visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Design Museum, Kew Gardens and several historic houses, including the 18th-century Chiswick House, the late-19th century eccentric Leighton House and a 1939 Modernist home on 2 Willow Road designed by architect Ernö Goldfinger.

“This was a very rewarding trip,” said student Ren Arreguin. “I learned a lot inside and outside the classroom. I was able to fully immerse myself in a new culture alongside some of my best friends. It is an experience I will never stop talking about.”

FSU Interior Architecture and Design students visiting the Design Museum in London. (Yelena McLane)

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Bookmaking

Department of Art Professor Denise Bookwalter led a course in bookmaking called “Book Structures: London and the Printed Book.” This introductory course teaches students the fundamentals of binding techniques and materials, along with the history of artists’ books. Visits to independent bookshops, specialty art stores, museums and galleries helped inspire students in their work.

“I had 15 students with various majors, from English to biology,” Bookwalter said. “We focused on the printed book beginning with the ‘Diamond Sutra’ from 868 — which we saw at the British Library in the Treasures Room — to contemporary artists’ books, which we viewed during a special tour at the National Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum.”

The class also toured the Natural History Museum Library, where students saw the first photo book, “British Algae” by Anna Atkins. They also learned about the importance of book conservation at the British Library. They visited the exhibition “Artists making book: poetry to politics,” at the British Museum which brought together books highlighting issues such as climate change, refugee treatment and violence.

“These excursions allowed students to search out and gather materials for their final artists’ book projects,” Bookwalter said. “The final projects were amazing. Each student created their own artists’ book.”

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The FSU London Study Centre is located in the Bloomsbury district near many historical sites. It provides students with amenities such as computer labs, conservatories and a library. 

To learn more about FSU’s study abroad opportunities, visit international.fsu.edu.