FSU ASID Fellows (l-r) Deborah Griffin, Donna Kirby, Grant Gribble, Sybil Barrido, Sue Markham

The Department of Interior Architecture & Design congratulates two alumni for receiving the highest professional recognition bestowed on members of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).  Sybil Jane Barrido and Grant Gribble were both inducted into the ASID College of Fellows, which recognizes visionaries who continually push boundaries to demonstrate the impact of design.

Sybil has been an active member of the ASID chapter in Los Angeles for more than 20 years.  She is co-founder and executive director of The Center for Interior Design Executive Resources and has been an in-house designer for the Hotel Bel-Air for 11 years.

Grant is the president of Gribble Interiors Group in Orlando and a member of the Interior Architecture & Design department advisory board.  His service also includes work on the national level as chair of the Foundation for interior design accreditation (now CIDA), and promotion of interior design legislation in Florida.

FSU Department of IA&D students with Dr. and Mrs. Murdaugh at their home site in Port St. Joe, Florida

On September 7th members of the Studio 4 class with Jill Pable and graduate teaching assistant Melissa Brown traveled to Port St. Joe to visit the site of their residential project, currently under construction. The students will provide detailed interior architecture and design solutions for the future home of Dr. Jim Murdaugh and Ms. Sarah Murdaugh and their family. The four-story home overlooks the Gulf of Mexico, and the students took the opportunity to conduct a site analysis while there of privacy, views, traffic, sun orientation and similar issues that will impact their design. Dr. Murdaugh provided the students a tour of the home’s levels, and photographs the students took will help them produce rendered perspectives of their eventual solutions. The Murdaughs are serving as clients for the projects and will be present for the students’ final presentations on October 24th.

On Thursday, October 5th, the Department of Interior Architecture and Design held a program-wide meeting to kick off the start of a new fall semester. An ice cream social was hosted in the foyer of the William Johnston Building prior, and meeting attendees were given the new department t-shirt as a welcome back gift. The meeting introduced faculty and student leaders to the student body and also informed students on departments rankings and current accreditations.

New IA&D Department T-Shirt

The Department of Interior Architecture and Design graduate program was listed as the 1st most admired program by deans and chairs in DesignIntelligence Rankings for 2018. This marks the sixth year in a row that FSU has held such an honor. DesignIntelligence is a respected industry journal of Design Futures Council and serves as a regular source of information for publications such as Fortune, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and NPR. These rankings have served as the definitive analysis of architecture, landscape architecture, industrial design, and interior design programs nationwide.

 The Department of Interior Architecture and Design is part of FSU’s College of Fine Arts and has been fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) since 1975. The undergraduate program, which was ranked 19th in the regional list by firms, prepares students for work in interior design and architecture firms. Alumni work in architecture and interior design firms across the nation and alumni of the graduate programs teach and conduct research in colleges and universities both in the United States and abroad. Undergraduate students in 2016 had a placement rating of 97%, while graduate students had a placement rating of 100%.

Students can choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree and have their choice of soon-to-be four master’s degree options, one MFA, two MS’s and a newly evolving 4+1 track where students will be able to obtain graduate level credits during their senior year. Graduates of these programs enter professional practice in interior design or architectural firms upon graduation, and MFA students are highly sought after for college and university teaching positions nationally and internationally.

Brittany Flock and Hyunji Song traveled to Boone, North Carolina to attend the 2017 Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Regional conference after being accepted to take part in the student poster presentations. The two traveled with Stephanie Sickler, a visiting professor in the Interior Architecture and Design Department, who assists the IDEC board as the Service Collaborative Coordinator.

While presenting, both Brittany and Hyunji had the opportunity to meet Mary Knackstedt, founder and President of Knackstedt, Inc. and well-known author of several books including, The Interior Design Business Handbook: A Complete Guide to Profitability. Knackstedt offered valuable insight into the professional industry.

Attending the IDEC Regional Conference was a great way for me to meet other members, practice my presentation skills, and gain insight on what people are looking for. This experience has boosted my confidence in presenting for future conferences. – Brittany Flock

The IDEC conference provided me with opportunities to meet other scholars and gain insight from others research. Preparing a poster presentation in front of people was worthy for next attendance in the future. – Hyunji Song

Friends and alumni of the Department of Interior Architecture & Design gathered in Atlanta on September 21 for a reception at the Steelcase Worklife Center. With students and faculty from both Studio II and Studio IV in town on field trips, students had the opportunity to rub shoulders with alumni and to take a tour of the Steelcase showroom in midtown. Department chair Lisa Waxman delivered a presentation on the recent activities and accomplishments of the department while interim dean, Scott Shamp, and foundation office, Jessica Comas, gave updates on the college and FSU. The department’s advisory board attended the reception and their fall meeting was held the next day. Special thanks go to corporate sponsors Steelcase, 3form, and Interface.

Studio 2 students recently hosted a poster session where they shared research findings with Strozier Library staff.  These findings stemmed from a variety of sources including their interviews with other students and library staff, observations of key spaces, precedent studies, and theoretical analyses.  The students’ findings were used to generate design considerations for their upcoming project which asks them to reimagine areas of Strozier Library to resolve for current needs in the space (including a new Special Collections exhibit area and reading room, a flexible classroom space, and an event space).  Additionally, students are also using their findings to inform a hypothetical “library of the future” design which envisions Strozier in 2027.  The project gives Interior Architecture and Design students an opportunity to generate and apply original research to their designs, and to work with others who may benefit from their ideas. The project is the latest collaboration between Assistant Professor Amy Huber, and Associate Dean of Research and Learning, Michael Meth. The students will present their design solutions to library staff December 7th.

Interior Architecture and design student, Mary Johnson, was awarded a scholarship to travel to Washington, D.C. and attend the Designthinkers Bootcamp – a week long program facilitated by the DesignThinkers Group USA, who are an extension of the designthinkersgroup based in the Netherlands. The bootcamp aims to coach participants in the Design Thinking process and how to apply tools and methodology to solve business challenges. A team of highly experienced practitioners from the business, design, and academic world shared their in-depth knowledge of how to apply elements of Design Thinking through “Learning-by-doing” – from designing research methods to developing concepts and prototyping.

“Design Thinking” is described by designthinkersgroup as “a mindset to develop and deliver innovative ideas, change and solutions to complicated problems.” The goal of design thinking is to assist organizations in making the transition from “being strictly product oriented and sales driven, towards being service oriented and human-centered.” Mary reflects on the experience below:

“The design thinkers bootcamp was an invaluable experience, where I was able to co-create with professionals from many different disciplines and backgrounds and explore conceptual design with providing real business solutions. I believe that human-centered design is pertinent to guide the creative design process within the interior design world, and it was amazing to practice this methodology to help organizations thrive.”

Mary received her Designthinking certification at the end of the bootcamp.

Friends and alumni of the Department of Interior Architecture & Design gathered in Atlanta on September 21 for a reception at the Steelcase Worklife Center.  With students and faculty from both Studio II and Studio IV in town on field trips, students had the opportunity to rub shoulders with alumni and to take a tour of the Steelcase showroom in midtown.  Department chair Lisa Waxman delivered a presentation on the recent activities and accomplishments of the department while interim dean, Scott Shamp, and foundation office, Jessica Comas, gave updates on the college and FSU. The department’s advisory board attended the reception and their fall meeting was held the next day.  Special thanks go to corporate sponsors Steelcase, 3form, and Interface.

FSU ASID Fellows (l-r) Deborah Griffin, Donna Kirby, Grant Gribble, Sybil Barrido, Sue Markham

The Department of Interior Architecture & Design congratulates two alumni for receiving the highest professional recognition bestowed on members of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).  Sybil Jane Barrido and Grant Gribble were both inducted into the ASID College of Fellows, which recognizes visionaries who continually push boundaries to demonstrate the impact of design.

Sybil has been an active member of the ASID chapter in Los Angeles for more than 20 years.  She is co-founder and executive director of The Center for Interior Design Executive Resources and has been an in-house designer for the Hotel Bel-Air for 11 years.

Grant is the president of Gribble Interiors Group in Orlando and a member of the Interior Architecture & Design department advisory board.  His service also includes promotion of interior design legislation in Florida.

Friends and alumni of the Department of Interior Architecture & Design gathered in Atlanta on September 21 for a reception at the Steelcase Worklife Center. With students and faculty from both Studio II and Studio IV in town on field trips, students had the opportunity to rub shoulders with alumni and to take a tour of the Steelcase showroom in midtown. Department chair Lisa Waxman delivered a presentation on the recent activities and accomplishments of the department while interim dean, Scott Shamp, and foundation office, Jessica Comas, gave updates on the college and FSU. The department’s advisory board attended the reception and their fall meeting was held the next day. Special thanks go to corporate sponsors Steelcase, 3form, and Interface.

FSU Department of IA&D students with Dr. and Mrs. Murdaugh at their home site in Port St. Joe, Florida

On September 7th members of the Studio 4 class with Jill Pable and graduate teaching assistant Melissa Brown traveled to Port St. Joe to visit the site of their residential project, currently under construction. The students will provide detailed interior architecture and design solutions for the future home of Dr. Jim Murdaugh and Ms. Sarah Murdaugh and their family. The four-story home overlooks the Gulf of Mexico, and the students took the opportunity to conduct a site analysis while there of privacy, views, traffic, sun orientation and similar issues that will impact their design. Dr. Murdaugh provided the students a tour of the home’s levels, and photographs the students took will help them produce rendered perspectives of their eventual solutions. The Murdaughs are serving as clients for the projects and will be present for the students’ final presentations on October 24th.

On Thursday, October 5th, the Department of Interior Architecture and Design held a program-wide meeting to kick off the start of a new fall semester. An ice cream social was hosted in the foyer of the William Johnston Building prior, and meeting attendees were given the new department t-shirt as a welcome back gift. The meeting introduced faculty and student leaders to the student body and also informed students on departments rankings and current accreditations.

New IA&D Department T-Shirt

The Department of Interior Architecture and Design graduate program was listed as the 1st most admired program by deans and chairs in DesignIntelligence Rankings for 2018. This marks the sixth year in a row that FSU has held such an honor. DesignIntelligence is a respected industry journal of Design Futures Council and serves as a regular source of information for publications such as Fortune, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and NPR. These rankings have served as the definitive analysis of architecture, landscape architecture, industrial design, and interior design programs nationwide.

 The Department of Interior Architecture and Design is part of FSU’s College of Fine Arts and has been fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) since 1975. The undergraduate program, which was ranked 19th in the regional list by firms, prepares students for work in interior design and architecture firms. Alumni work in architecture and interior design firms across the nation and alumni of the graduate programs teach and conduct research in colleges and universities both in the United States and abroad. Undergraduate students in 2016 had a placement rating of 97%, while graduate students had a placement rating of 100%.

Students can choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree and have their choice of soon-to-be four master’s degree options, one MFA, two MS’s and a newly evolving 4+1 track where students will be able to obtain graduate level credits during their senior year. Graduates of these programs enter professional practice in interior design or architectural firms upon graduation, and MFA students are highly sought after for college and university teaching positions nationally and internationally.

Brittany Flock and Hyunji Song traveled to Boone, North Carolina to attend the 2017 Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Regional conference after being accepted to take part in the student poster presentations. The two traveled with Stephanie Sickler, a visiting professor in the Interior Architecture and Design Department, who assists the IDEC board as the Service Collaborative Coordinator.

While presenting, both Brittany and Hyunji had the opportunity to meet Mary Knackstedt, founder and President of Knackstedt, Inc. and well-known author of several books including, The Interior Design Business Handbook: A Complete Guide to Profitability. Knackstedt offered valuable insight into the professional industry.

Attending the IDEC Regional Conference was a great way for me to meet other members, practice my presentation skills, and gain insight on what people are looking for. This experience has boosted my confidence in presenting for future conferences. – Brittany Flock

The IDEC conference provided me with opportunities to meet other scholars and gain insight from others research. Preparing a poster presentation in front of people was worthy for next attendance in the future. – Hyunji Song

Studio 2 students recently hosted a poster session where they shared research findings with Strozier Library staff.  These findings stemmed from a variety of sources including their interviews with other students and library staff, observations of key spaces, precedent studies, and theoretical analyses.  The students’ findings were used to generate design considerations for their upcoming project which asks them to reimagine areas of Strozier Library to resolve for current needs in the space (including a new Special Collections exhibit area and reading room, a flexible classroom space, and an event space).  Additionally, students are also using their findings to inform a hypothetical “library of the future” design which envisions Strozier in 2027.  The project gives Interior Architecture and Design students an opportunity to generate and apply original research to their designs, and to work with others who may benefit from their ideas. The project is the latest collaboration between Assistant Professor Amy Huber, and Associate Dean of Research and Learning, Michael Meth. The students will present their design solutions to library staff December 7th.

Interior Architecture and Design student, Mary Johnson, was awarded a scholarship to travel to Washington, D.C. and attend the Designthinkers Bootcamp – a week long program facilitated by the DesignThinkers Group USA, who are an extension of the designthinkersgroup based in the Netherlands. The bootcamp aims to coach participants in the Design Thinking process and how to apply tools and methodology to solve business challenges. A team of highly experienced practitioners from the business, design, and academic world shared their in-depth knowledge of how to apply elements of Design Thinking through “Learning-by-doing” – from designing research methods to developing concepts and prototyping.

“Design Thinking” is described by designthinkersgroup as “a mindset to develop and deliver innovative ideas, change and solutions to complicated problems.” The goal of design thinking is to assist organizations in making the transition from “being strictly product oriented and sales driven, towards being service oriented and human-centered.” Mary reflects on the experience below:

“The design thinkers bootcamp was an invaluable experience, where I was able to co-create with professionals from many different disciplines and backgrounds and explore conceptual design with providing real business solutions. I believe that human-centered design is pertinent to guide the creative design process within the interior design world, and it was amazing to practice this methodology to help organizations thrive.”

Mary received her Designthinking certification at the end of the bootcamp.

Loft apartment designed by Jessica Gervikas, Brooke Sanders and Michelle Schneiter

The Department of Interior Architecture & Design’s senior-level Studio 4 class recently completed a concept design revisioning project of the Westgate Community, a Tallahassee development dedicated to assisting formerly homeless persons to recovery by providing them with small single-person apartments. These units are 175 square feet in size and offer residents the opportunity to pay rent at a level that is feasible for their income. The students toured the Westgate Community and with the help of interviews of staff and residents, created new solutions including floor plans, color perspective renderings, models, exterior color elevations and custom architectural details. The students accommodated features of the WELL standards to help ensure accommodation of the users’ mental, physical and social needs. The project’s guest critics included Monique Ellsworth, Executive Director of the Kearney Comprehensive Emergency Services Center and Ken Sweeney, architect of record for the Westgate Community. Mr. Sweeney will present the students’ ideas to the client in the spring for possible adoption as the design and construction of six further buildings at the Westgate Community commences.  The class was facilitated by FSU professor Jill Pable.

On November 16, 2017, eight practitioners from local and regional firms joined the Portfolio II class for a formal review with the senior class.  The practitioners were joined by several faculty members for a lively round robin-type event designed to critique and review the portfolios, websites, and marketing materials students had created over the course of the fall semester.  Students paired in teams to ensure reviewer comments were captured through diligent note taking, and circulated around the room to meet with a variety of reviewers.  The event lasted nearly two hours and each student received formal critique from three to four reviewers.  Practitioners remarked that students showed a breadth of knowledge and mastery of both digital and hand skills in their work and were complimentary of the program and outcomes demonstrated through student projects. Special thanks to practitioners Andy Welch, Tambree Bramblett, Karin Zawrothy, Kelley Robinson, Olivier Chamel, Amy O’Keefe, Elisa Worden, and Maxim Nasaab, as well as faculty members Jim Dawkins, Steve Webber, Kennan Fishburne, and Lisa Waxman.