INTERIOR DESIGN
PORT FOLIO Alyssa Sorensen Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior DesignSustainable Design Specialization, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, 2027
ABOUT
I’m Alyssa Sorensen, Sorensen an aspiring interior designer who believes that each space holds a story and we as the designers get to author that story and invite others into these carefully shaped worlds. worlds My design journey began long before I knew the word “interior design,” sketched into childhood floor plans and carried through the first room I ever reimagined just for the joy of transforming it.
Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
Today, as a student and Interior Design Intern at Acomb Ostendorf & Associates, I bring that same sense of wonder into every project. I’m driven by the magic that happens when creativity and function work together; when a space invites someone to pause, feel, or dream in a new way. I’m constantly learning, exploring, and collecting inspiration from daily life such as architecture, materials, stories and people. I believe great design comes from curiosity and intention, and I approach each space as an opportunity to create an experience rather than just a layout. My goal is to craft environments that feel meaningful, memorable, and deeply human. human
I design to tell stories. stories Stories about people, connection, emotion, place and identity. Interior design, to me, is an immersive art form: the way color tempers a mood, how texture invites touch, how space can guide someone through a small escape from the everyday. My philosophy is rooted in creating environments that resonate. I believe great design blends imagination with intention, intention and pairing narrative depth with technical rigor. I’m committed to the kind of work that feels thoughtful, experiential, and alive. I aim to create spaces that don’t just function well, but speak to the people who inhabit them. I pursue every project with curiosity, discipline, and a deep love for the craft. My goal is to design with purpose, to create joy through storytelling, storytelling and to shape spaces that make people feel something. How exciting!
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Alyssa Sorensen Orlando, FL 34746 alyssa.antonetz@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssasorensen/
Education 2024-2027
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design BFA Interior Design - Sustainable Design Specalization
Career 2026
Interior Design Intern - AOA Winter Park, FL
2025-2026
Retail Store Design Intern - The Walt Disney Company Lake Buena Vista, FL
2023-2024
Designer / Project Manager - Closet Factory of Nashville Nashville, TN
2022-2023
Jr. Design Consultant - Ballard Designs Nashville, TN
Skills Soft
Problem Solving/Foresight, Strong Communication and Presentation Skills, Collaboration and Cross Disciplinary Teamwork, Detail Oriented, Self Motivated/Ambitious
Hard
Research, Design Analysis, Conceptual Design Development, 3D Modeling, Construction Documentation/ Shop Drawings, Digital Drafting/Modeling, Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), Sketching, Hand rendering, Rendering Software (Enscape, Vray), Microsoft Office Suite 3
IDENTI hospitality design
MUSIC CITY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM (NASHVIL Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
An interactive children's museum showcasing four focus areas to include the lo
hospitality design
HARBOR POINT ASSISTED LIVING - CHARLES
An assisted senior living home that showcases a case study and two focus area
retail design
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY - LAKE BUENA
A comprised collecion of some of my latest work from a retail store design inte 4
TY
( C O NTENTS )
LLE'S INTERACTIVE PLAYGROUND) - NASHVILLE, TN
obby/reception, cafe, retail shop and exhibit "a".
STON, SC
as to include the assisted living apartment and the communal living space.
A VISTA, FL
ernship with the company. 5
MUSIC CITY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM "what if design allowed you to see the world from a child's point of view?"
Project Type: Children's Museum / Hospitality Design Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
Design Focus: Immersive Learning Environments, Scale Manipulation, Environmental Storytelling Concept Driver: The Magnifying Glass: revealing the unseen, enlarging the overlooked.
Howdy and welcome to Music City, Tennessee; country music's well renown world stage and top tourist destination.. Imagine entering a space where scale shifts, curiosity leads, and the familiar opens into something unexpectedly extraordinary. extraordinary. The Music City Children’s Museum invites visitors to experience the world through a magnifying glass lens: a world where details grow larger, textures become landscapes, and everyday objects reveal their hidden magic. Here, creativity unfolds in oversized forms, immersive environments, and playful distortions of perspective that speak to the natural curiosity of children. Exhibits rise and expand around visitors, transforming learning into a sensory journey and offering moments of quiet wonder for both children and adults. Each zone feels like stepping into a magnified story, a place where Nashville’s signature spirit of imagination, music, and craft is reinterpreted at an unexpected scale. Designed as a series of shared discoveries, the museum encourages families to explore together, to pause, to observe, and to reconnect with the joy found in looking just a little closer. Through its thoughtful blend of biophilic design, playful proportion, and narrative driven spaces, the Music City Children’s Museum becomes more than an educational environment, it becomes a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and the beauty of seeing the world through, perhaps, a child's point of view. 6
MCCM, LOBBY/RECEPTION
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THE CONCEPT
Magnifying Glass Concept Statement: A magnifying glass doesn’t just enlarge; it transforms. It sharpens focus, reveals hidden textures, and turns the ordinary into something extraordinary. This concept celebrates that shift in perception, inviting visitors to see the world with Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
renewed clarity and childlike curiosity. The space is designed to awaken a sense of discovery the moment guests walk in. Through amplified forms and playful distortions, the museum becomes a place where wonder is not only encouraged, but built into the design itself. Early sketches explore how magnification transforms everyday objects into immersive spatial experiences, shaping scale, form, and circulation throughout the museum.
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Parti Diagram: Circulation shaped by magnified outward from a central point.
Bubble Diagram: Circulation follows a soft, organic loop that encourages wandering and discovery
MCCM, LOBBY/RECEPTION CONCEPT SKETCH
Lobby/Reception: Scale exaggerated to shift perception upon arrival.
Retail Shop: Guitar interior concept informs curvature and form.
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Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
CONCEPT APPLICATION
MCCM, LEVEL 1 FURNITURE PLAN 10
MCCM, LOBBY/RECEPTION
MCCM, LOBBY/RECEPTION
MCCM, LOBBY/RECEPTION 11
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MCCM, RETAIL SHOP
Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
Inspired by the interior structure of a guitar, the retail space transforms instrument components into architectural gestures. Oversized details, sculpted wood forms, and layered curvature create an immersive environment where visitors explore scale, craftsmanship, and materiality through a child’s lens of discovery.
RETAIL SKETCH
SHOP
MCCM, RETAIL SHOP ELEVATION
CONCEPT
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CAFE CONCEPT SKETCH
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MCCM, CAFE
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MCCM, EXHIBIT "A"
Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
EXHIBIT "A" CONCEPT SKETCH Inspired by the magnified details of a forest floor, Exhibit A transforms natural elements into immersive spatial gestures. Oversized tree forms, layered greenery, and sweeping organic curves create an environment where visitors explore scale, texture, and nature through a child’s lens of discovery.
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MCCM, EXHIBIT "A"
HARBOR POINT ASSISTED LIVING "what if design could offer the gentle protection we all hope for as we age?”
Project Type: Assisted Living Residences / Hospitality Design / Group Project*
Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
Location: Charleston, South Carolina Design Focus: Supportive Living Environments, Sensory Comfort, Biophilic Wellness, Intuitive Wayfinding, Aging-in-Place Design Concept Driver: The Seashell: protection, layered strength, and gentle guidance. Harbor Point reimagines senior assisted living as a place of comfort, dignity, and gentle protection. Inspired by the layered strength of a seashell, the environment surrounds residents with soft forms, warm coastal textures, and intuitive pathways that support both independence and attentive care. Designed to nurture emotional well-being and reduce daily stress, each space offers clarity, calm, and a sense of belonging, whether residents are gathering in communal lounges or retreating to quiet alcoves for rest. At Harbor Point, care is seamlessly woven into the architecture, creating a home where seniors feel safe, supported, and embraced by an atmosphere of coastal serenity. Rooted in evidence based design, Harbor Point prioritizes natural light, sensory comfort, and environments that quietly guide without overwhelming. Circulation flows like an easy shoreline path, reducing confusion and encouraging gentle exploration, while communal spaces foster connection, routine, and joy. Every detail, from acoustics to color palette to furnishings, works in harmony to create a community where residents feel valued, uplifted, and deeply cared for.
*The design and visuals presented here were developed entirely by Alyssa Sorensen,
informed by collaborative dialogue, feedback, and shared design exploration with
18 teammates; unless otherwise notated.
HARBOR POINT, GENERAL STORE
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THE CONCEPT
Seashell Concept Statement: A seashell doesn’t simply shelter; it protects with quiet strength. It absorbs pressure from the outside world and creates a calm refuge within. This idea inspires Harbor Point to offer residents a gentle, intuitive environment where they feel safe, cared for, and at ease. Soft curves, natural materials, and familiar forms work Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
together to support emotional well-being, making comfort and dignity an essential part of the design. Early sketches translate the shell’s layered geometry into architecture, shaping circulation, spatial clarity, and transitions throughout the community. Forms guide movement without confusion, gathering spaces open with gentle boundaries, and
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Parti Diagram: Circulation shaped by a connected pathway with connections throughout.
Adjacency Diagram: Incorporate a public and semiprivate space for memory care and assisted living
HARBOR POINT, CONCEPT SKETCH
Bubble Diagram: Discovered a need for improved wayfinding to allow for ease of
Floor Plan (Draft): Large, central communal spaces that consider special daylighting strategies.
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Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
CONCEPT APPLICATION
HARBOR POINT SENIOR L IVING, LEVEL 2 FURNITURE PLAN
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HARBOR POINT, ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE UNIT
HARBOR POINT, MEMORY CARE COMMUNAL LIVING AREA
HARBOR POINT, MEMORY CARE COMMUNAL LIVING AREA
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RESEARCH STUDIES
PROTOTYPICAL RESIDENTIAL UNIT / ASSISTED LIVING AXONOMETRIC Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
DESIGN FEATURES: 1. Dedicated formal entryway with a 5’ turning radius 2. Clear pathway with plenty of space for 5’ turning radius and wheelchair storage 3. Personal Bathroom large enough for 5’ turning radius, 30”x48” clear floor or ground space underneath bathroom sink and 4. 56” x 60” clearance around a water closet 5. Height of bathroom sink for knee clearance is 27” min. with a top of counter height at 32” max; single lever faucet 6. Accessible shower with clear floor/ground space and handle bars and seat 7. Kitchen Sink with clear floor/ground space and knee clearance at 27” min underneath sink and top of counter height at 32” max with electrical stovetop and full size refrigerator 8. Kitchen upper cabinet bottom shelf at a max height of 48” with open shelving, glass doors for ease of access 9. Two ended mailbox built in to custom millwork drop zone for residents to receive mail
CASE STUDY - MEMORY CARE RESIDENTIAL UNIT The Memory Care unit for resident Earl Jenkins, age 91 and living with advanced Alzheimer’s, was designed to reduce agitation, enable clarity, and preserve mobility in a familiar environment. Soothing blue and green hues provide calm visual anchors, while open shelving and transparent cabinets minimize confusion and support intuitive recognition of everyday items. This suite strategically sits closest to communal spaces for caregiver support and safe wandering, while a neighboring family suite allows visiting loved ones to remain nearby. Minimal furnishings, open circulation, and generous ceiling heights create a secure, unencumbered layout that welcomes natural and artificial light. Across both levels, loop style circulation and visual flooring cues guide residents gently through their environment, alleviating stress and cognitive overload. 24
HARBOR MEMORY
POINT, CARE
• Clear visual cues support dignity and independence. • Directional flooring and recessed entries improve orientation. • Gallery walls personalize recognition of resident spaces. • Contrast and matte finishes enhance perceptual clarity. • Lighting and spatial hierarchy make navigation intuitive and calming.
WAYFINDING
CONCEPT
*Assistance with research from teammate, Amber Hammond
HARBOR POINT, RESIDENTIAL UNIT / MEMORY CARE
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RETAIL STORE DESIGN INTERNSHIP "what if design could turn a simple retail moment into a story worth remembering?" Project Type: Various Projects / Retail Design Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
Design Focus: Guest Experience at the Human Scale, Modular Display Systems, Visual Merchandising, Brand Storytelling Concept Driver: The Retail Fixture as a Frame: guiding attention, shaping interaction, and turning products into moments of immersion.
From early concept explorations to built spatial narratives, my academic journey has been rooted in understanding how environments shape human experience. That same curiosity led me to The Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida where storytelling is not just visual, but tangible, spatial, and incredibly unforgettable. In the Parks and Resorts retail environments, design becomes a guide: shaping how guests notice, explore, and discover the magic that surrounds them. Here, fixtures are not background objects; they are a part of the architecture of interaction. They frame the merchandise, support cast members, and choreograph the flow of guests, transforming everyday moments into emotional memories. Through modular systems, ergonomic clarity, and brand driven detailing, these retail elements encourage exploration, play, and surprise, turning product selection into a moment of delight. Within this work, every dimension, sightline, and gesture matters. Fixture heights respond to reach and visibility. Planar surfaces hold stories. Thematic accents invite imagination. Together, these details create spaces that feel authentically Disney. Not simply themed, but infused with personality and purpose. The designs here are grounded in flexibility, storytelling, and hospitality, shaped by my academic training and realized through real world application. This project reflects what I believe most strongly: thoughtful spatial design can shape how people feel, connect, and remember. At 26 Disney, that belief is amplified, transforming retail from a transactional experience into a moment of wonder, one fixture at a time.
DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS, SUNSET RANCH EXTERIOR CASHWRAP
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THE CONCEPT / APPLICATION
1920'S NY STREETSIDE FRUIT STAND Inspired by the character of a 1920’s New York fruit stand, this cashwrap transforms storytelling into function. Designed for Sunset Ranch at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the fixture blends seamlessly into its environment while remaining durable, Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
approachable, and rooted in authenticity. The sculpted barrel forms and crate-like geometry reinforce the street-market narrative, while thoughtful detailing supports high-volume guest interaction within a demanding outdoor setting.
Previous Existing Cashwrap
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3D Model
Design Challenges & Solutions:
NEWLY INSTALLED CASHWRAP
Environmental Durability (Heat + Humidity + Rain) Challenge: Florida’s extreme climate can cause swelling, fading, structural warping, and hardware failure. Solution: Weather-resistant composite cores, sealed veneers, marine-grade finishes, and stainless-steel hardware ensure long-term structural integrity, unless otherwise themed. High Guest Traffic & Constant Use Challenge: Thousands of guest interactions daily cause surface wear, corners damage, and accelerated aging. Solution: Rounded edges, reinforced joinery, and high-density protective coatings prevent chipping and support safe ongoing use. Outdoor Operational Flexibility Challenge: Cashwrap must function outdoors while maintaining safety, organization, and visual clarity. Solution: Modular layout with concealed cable routing, protected POS interfaces, and integrated storage allows seamless daily operation. Thematic Integration Challenge: Fixture must feel organically “of the land” while still distinct and inviting. Solution: Fruit-barrel silhouette, crate-stacked forms, and warm wood tones blend naturally with Sunset Ranch storytelling. Guest-Facing Presentation Challenge: Must remain visually appealing from multiple approach angles, without clutter or visual noise. Solution: Curved geometry, layered heights, and shadow-box framing create a polished, theatrical presentation.
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THE CONCEPT
AFRICAN VILLAGE STREETSIDE MARKETPLACE This streetside marketplace isn’t just a point-of-sale — it’s a story of heritage. Inspired by a generational family business in the heart of Mombasa, the design imagines a makeshift stall built over time through love, resourcefulness, and Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
shared craftsmanship. Disparate materials—reclaimed corrugated metal, mismatched planking, painted geometry, and crate-built forms—come together as a visual record of creativity, pride, and survival. Each layer evokes the marks of hands that have worked here for years, shaping a structure as authentic as the people behind it. The marketplace transforms everyday found materials into an expressive language of pattern, texture, and color, celebrating the identity of a family whose shop is their livelihood and their legacy. Irregular boards and hand-painted motifs suggest ongoing adaptation, while the intimate scale invites personal connection between vendor and traveler. Early sketches explore how improvisation and cultural storytelling become spatial expression — shaping panel compositions, built-up accents, and display crates into a unified form that feels honest, handcrafted, and deeply rooted in community.
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Previous Cashwrap
Concept Sketches
3D Model
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Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
CONCEPT APPLICATION
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DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM, EXTERIOR
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Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
ADDITIONAL DESIGNS
Screen Shroud Details 34
3D Model
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Alyssa Sorensen, Interior Design
ADDITIONAL DESIGNS
Early Concept Sketches 36
3D Model
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Please do not hesitate to contact me If you have any questions or concerns.
Alyssa Sorensen alyssa.antonetz@gmail.com
Thank You