Senior interior design students at Stephen F. Austin State University are showcasing their talents during the Essence of Design exhibit on display through March 28 on the second floor of the Steen Library at SFA. The students designed and fabricated displays to showcase their personalities, design skills and portfolios. Jordyn Graham of Mesquite designed an airport pop-up bar and gained real-world experience for her future career in aviation hospitality.
Each of the students is allotted a 64-square-foot area to create a display that showcases his or her personality, skills and design philosophy. The students’ areas are equipped with TV monitors that showcase collaborations among all SFA’s interior design classes and faculty members.
“This exhibit demonstrates what interior designers do in the real world and how much technical information is required for a design,” said Sally Ann Swearingen, associate professor of interior design and construction management in SFA’s School of Human Sciences.
The exhibit helps students prepare their portfolios for the job-search process, educate the public about interior design and experience the complete design process, from conceptualization to design development, fabrication, installation and evaluation.
Plano senior Caroline Lebeuf gained construction and troubleshooting skills while working on her double-sided display that includes sitting and shelf areas. “This was a fun way to show my love for design and my use of color and details to liven up spaces,” she said.
The interior design seniors will be available to discuss their work in person at a reception from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 29, in the same location as the showcase. Johnson Furniture is sponsoring the reception, and Lufkin Printing is sponsoring the invitations.
The exhibit also offers area high school students a chance to explore the interior design program at SFA.
“Our exhibit runs during an SFA Showcase Saturday event on March 28, so prospective students can see this exhibit and our facility,” Swearingen said. “We’re also inviting all area high school students interested in art, drafting and design to stop by and see the exhibit.”
To schedule a guided tour for future Lumberjacks or high school students, contact Swearingen at (936) 468-2048 or sswearingen@sfasu.edu.
By Jo Gilmore, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.
