NDSU’s interior design students participated in Design Week April 24-28. Students networked with interior design professionals and five seniors shared their capstone project.
“The focus of the capstone experience is to bring what the students have learned across their four years in the interior design program and implement it in a final design solution of their choice,” said Susan Ray-Degges, professor and interior design program coordinator.
The seniors chose to design a comprehensive athletic complex in Dallas, called Victory Park Athletic Complex. The facility is multifunctional as it’s designed for professional hockey and men’s and women’s basketball. They completed two evidence-based design research projects last semester to support their final solution.
“My four classmates and I worked extremely hard to make this project possible,” said Caitlin Harp, a senior from Rosemount, Minnesota. “We learned a lot about time management and coordinating schedules. We made it work.”
Students include the capstone project in their portfolios as they begin their professional careers. It’s one example of the real-world experience NDSU offers students.
“Spanning nine months, this integrative learning experience touches every aspect of the design process to allow an interior design student to demonstrate the areas of interior design that are their strengths,” said Ray-Degges.
The graduating seniors are Harp, Alexis Maucort, Fargo; Michelle Lynch, Maple Grove, Minnesota; Kelly Weir, Fargo; and Sheyenne Weber, Casselton, North Dakota.
NDSU’s interior design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The excellence of the program was recognized at a national presentation this spring. Ray-Degges provided an overview on how to prepare for a successful accreditation site visit.
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