By Madalene Smith
As the semester comes to a close, seniors in Appalachian State University’s Interior Design program in the Department of Applied Design will present their final projects and undergo portfolio reviews on May 6, followed by an open showcase of their work for family, friends and the community.
The students’ final projects are the result of many months of hard work designing the interior of a commercial building of their choosing. The students were tasked with designing a minimum of 10,000 square feet of space, although many took on an extra challenge of designing the interior of an entire building, often in excess of 150,000 square feet. As part of the process, students conducted extensive research, obtained building floor plans, scheduled site visits and created renderings, all while working with an industry mentor.
“The projects range from assisted living centers to pediatric in-patient hospitals to a renovation of and addition to Harper Hall,” remarked Alex Poorman, associate professor and coordinator of the Interior Design program. “The scope and nature of the projects demonstrate how interior design is more than a program focused on the decoration alone and considers the design of the whole building from the existing structure and external walls as a starting point to develop the entire interior environment.”
During the portfolio review, student solutions will be critiqued by a panel of industry professionals from around the state and region. The panel includes lighting designers, architects, heathcare experts, interior designers and more.
Caroline Malak, an Atlanta native who originally came to Appalachian to major in forensic chemistry, is one of the students presenting work at the review. She eventually chose interior design because she was drawn to what she saw as a balance between science and creativity encouraged in the program.
“Our projects are more evidence-based, which means we do research into the project type, client and more before diving in. [Research] is one of my favorite parts because it drives the concept and keeps the design's purpose clear,” she said. “Interior design is much more technical than it is portrayed, and I chose it because for me, it was a great balance.”
The Interior Design Portfolio Review will be held on Saturday, May 6 from 4-6 p.m. in the Parkway Ballroom in Plemmons Student Union. This event is free and open to the public.
About the Department of Applied Design
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department Applied Design at Appalachian State University fosters excellence in design education, design research and professional placement. The department balances theoretical and pragmatic approaches while exploring an awareness of impact through design decisions on the global community. Faculty focus on a holistic approach to creative problem-solving by integrating sustainability and ethical responsibility in teaching and practice. The department offers bachelor’s degrees in apparel design and merchandising, industrial design and interior design.
About Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 18,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
Portfolio review invitation
