interior design Clara Mardesen
Clara Mardesen
(402)690-6576
claramardesen@outlook.com
Hithere!MynameisClaraMardesen.IamfromOmaha, NebraskaandIamcurrentlyaSenioratIowaState UniversitystudyingInteriorDesignwithminorsinFrench andSustainability.
SomethingIamverypassionateaboutisthe conceptualsideofdesign.Ilovetolearnabouthowthe interiorcanimpactoccupantsemotionallyandgofurther thanjustfulfillingtheirbasicneedsasdescribedincode.
Iwoulddescribemyselfasveryhardworkingand determinedtofollowthroughwithmygoals.Iwantto ensurethateveryspaceIhelptodesignwillfulfillthe needsoftheclientandbeyond.
JOB HIGHLIGHTS CarlsonWestPovondraArchitectsIntern:Omaha,NE
Summer&Winter2024-Assistedinspaceplanning, conceptualdesign,materialselection,digitalmodelcreation andideationinavarietyofcommercialarchitecturalprojects.
Lee DouglasInteriorsSalesAssociate:Omaha,NE
Summer2023-Soldfurnitureataresidentialfirmand interactedwithclients,vendors,anddesignerstofacilitateand upholdthecompanybranding.
IowaStateCafeServer:Ames,IA Spring2023-2025-ServedStarbucksandRoasterieproduct ontheIowaStatecampus.
Iowa StateUniversityMathematicsTutor:Ames,IA
Fall2022-Tutoredstudentsinabusinessmathematicsclass.
OmahaCountryClubServer:Omaha,NE
Summer2022-Servedontheeventstaffandinteractedwith clubmembers.
OldNavyLLCBrandAssociate:Omaha,NE Fall2019-Winter2023-Workedtosellmerchandiseand interactwithcustomers,upholdingthebrandimageand values.
EDUCATION IowaStateUniversity(CIDAAccredited):Ames,IA
BFAinInteriorDesignwithSustainabilityandFrench minorsexpectedMay2025
StudyAbroadatIowaStateUniversity:Rome,Italy
Fall2023
StudyAbroadatUniversiteSorbonneParisNord: Paris,France
Summer2022
ACHIEVEMENTS DeansList
Fall2021,Fall2022,Spring2023-Fall2024
IowaStateAdventureAward
Fall2021-
IowaStateHonorsProgram
Spring2023-
OrderofOmegaFraternalHonorsSociety
Spring2023-
IowaStateIDROResearchAward
Spring2024
charity & activities
AlphaDeltaPiSorority
IowaStateFashionShow
InteriorDesignStudent AssociationPublicRelationsChair
IowaStateStudentAlumni LeadershipCouncil
RonaldMcDonaldHouseCharities
HabitatForHumanity
InternationalInteriorDesign AssociationStudentMember
IowaStateWomenWhoDesign
SKILLS AdobeIllustrator
AdobeInDesign
AdobeLightroom
AdobePhotoshop
AutodeskAutoCAD
AutodeskRevit
Bluebeam
Enscape
Quickbooks
Sketchup
LUXURY HOSPITALITY HIGHER EDUCATION NONPROFIT REMODEL LUXURY HOSPITALITY TeamProjectbyClaraMardesen,AnnatenHoeve,Izzy Lichtenberger,&AnaC.Pena
Thisprojectisarenovationofacurrentcondominium development,theNorthofNell.Centeredonpreservingnewideas andmodesofbusinessinapost-pandemicworld,wecenterour conceptoncuratingarecognizableandbrandedinteriorthatfeels luxuriousandalsoprovidesencouragementforproductivityand resourcesforadiversearrayofuserneeds.Forremoteworkersand travelers,wehavecuratedaperspectivethathighlightsthebenefits ofseparatingactivitytobepresentineachsettingoflife.
VanderLaat
USERS RETENTION TheMets’originallogo,whichhasbeenusedforinspirationinCAIAs’logo.
Littleseparationbetweenvacation
Blurredlinebetweenworkandrest.
Moredefinedspaceandintention.
Separationofspaceandcareful
TheMetropolitanMuseumofArtpreservesideasofcombining oldandnew,traditionalandcontemporary.Thiscollaborationis agetawaythatseparatesproductivityfromescapism.LikeThe Met, the CAIA hotel blends classical and modern ideas to present something nostalgic and forward-thinking. Drawing from romanticism, the space will develop an experience that fostersemotion.
old meets new, elegance meets tradition
MOBILE APP
Lobby|Spa|Ballroom|Coworking|ArtGallery|PublicRestrooms|SkiLounge|BackofHouse |5thAvenueResto&Bar
Forthefirstfloor,myfocusistoincludeplentyofpublicspacesthatarespecifiedforacertainactivityandfitthe lifestylesofusers.Sincethesiteislocatedatthebaseofagondola,askientranceonthesouthwestsideofthe buildingisdesignatedforampleequipmentandlockerlocations.Acasualrestaurantdividesthequietzonesofthe mainfloorfromthemoresocialzones.Circulationisdefinedbyheavycurvaturethroughwalls,partitions,andother materialapplications.
SPAEQUILIBRE sauna
KINGADAGUESTROOM HIGHER EDUCATION TeamProjectbyClaraMardesen,KierraJack,Jordan Krei,&RachelLuchsinger ParksLibraryisIowaState’scentrallibraryuniversityutilizedby amajorityofthestudentbody.Ourpoolofuserscombinesa varietyofneedsandallowsustoconsiderourownasstudents. Webeganwithstudentinterviewstosurveythepopulationon desiresforthearea.Asupplementalresearchcomponentallows metounderstandthediverseneedsofavarietyofstudentswith differentabilitiesandlearningstylesinordertodefinecomfortin theinterior.
NEURODIVERGENT DESIGN Manypeopleareneurodivergent,butthemajorityare undiagnosed.Forneurodivergentpeople,navigatingworkplace situationscanbechallenging,butoftenthesepeoplearehighlevelthinkersandproblemsolvers.Byremaininginclusive,weare providingopportunitiesforpeopletounderstandandbetter navigatespaces,andthusbemoreproductivewithintheir organizations.
Absorptivematerials
Definedandpartitionedspaces
Consistentforms
Figurativebiophilicinspiration
Specifiedlightingtechniques
Featuredvisualelements
Stimulatingmaterialsandtextures
Encouragedcollaborationspace
PROBLEM Neurodivergentstudentsarefacingmentalhealth difficulties,especiallyinhighereducation,andthisis notbeingimprovedbytheirbuiltcommunities.
CHALLENGES Howdowecatertodiverselearningpreferencesina builtspace?
Howdoweseparatehypersensitiveand hyposensitivezoneswhilepreservingaconnected conceptthroughout?
Howdoweimprovewayfindingbeyondsignage?
GOALS Designsolutionthatprovidestheelementofchoice
Increasedperformanceanddecreasedsensory distraction
Lounge&StudyPods
NONPROFIT REMODEL TeamProjectbyClaraMardesenandEmilyTrewet Thisprojectbeganwithasitevisitoftheproperty,whichisan acreagewhichcurrentlyhousesapolebarnandspecified livestockareas.CultivatingHopeFarmshasagoalto“cultivate thelivesofpeoplewithdifferentabilitiesthroughsustainable carefarmingpractices”.Thesefarmexperiencesprovide interactionsthatincreasejoyandfacilitatelearning. This remodelallowsustotaketheplotoflandandproposea solutionforaninclusivecommunityspacewherelearningand interactioncancoexist.
BIOPHILIA NATURAL LIGHT NATURAL
EmilyTrewet
Care Farming utilizes farming practices and care techniques in order to teach social, life, and job skills. With the ability to master a task, foster relaxation, and social growth, users have an incredible opportunity for personal growth and identity formation.
Therapy Application of Skills Education Residential Services Employment Opportunities
seeds of knowledge skills by learning and working with animals and agriculture participants by helping them attain their goals to guide them towards a successful future
Cafe/Market Public space intended for a combined retail and dining function.
Completely integrated and able to support public use and comfort.
Creates a comfortable atmosphere that mirrors the surrounding landscape.
Light woods and intentional usage of color make it minimalistic, but comfortable.
Classroom occupants to be accounted for.
“ I shared this idea that fashion starts with a movement, an allure: ellusive, defined through perfect proportions ” -HediSlimane LUXURY retail TeamProjectbyClaraMardesenandSarahMohr
Thisprojectinvolvedthecurationofashop-in-shopfora selectedluxurybrand.WestudiedtheideaofaCeline’sbrand conceptandfocusedonthenewfounddirectionoftheircreative director,HediSlimane.Withacontroversialtakeonthebrand, SlimanehasbeencateringtoGenZconsumersandcuratingan edgyandrefinednewness.InspiredbyprecedentCelineshopin-shops,wefocusedontheimportanceofmaterialityand playedwithscaleofmaterialsandangles.
WOMEN’S APPAREL & MERCHANDISE 5thFloor
LaRinascente,locatedinRome,Italy,hasalwaysbeenat theforefrontofnewartisticideaandtrend,andthisis somethingweintendedtoexudeinthestore.Aluxury
THE PROCESS Bycuratingamoodboardandmaterialsboard, webeganformulatingspatialorganization techniquesthatreflectedthelooksofArtDeco stainedglassandideasofasymmetry, horizontalandverticalobstructions,andlowprofilepartitionsforanopenview,likethoseof MiesVanderRohe.
Ourdarkwood implementationis inspiredbythemidcenturyfurniture designsofGioPonti.
WiththeinspirationofArtDecomaterialswitha mid-centuryapplication,wewereabletocurate ashop-in-shopthatbothvaluesthefutureof Celine,cateringtoayoungeraudienceand focusingonatrendierstreetwearpurpose,and Celine’spast,whichwillalwaysreflectFrench fashionheritagetoitscore.
CUSTOM DISPLAY ELEMENTS
SarahMohr
WestudiedtheFendiBible forinspirationoncreating aspecificallydetailed featuredisplay.The featuredisplayhasa3D shelvingunitimbedded withlightingthatmirrors therippledgeometryof ArtDecoandSlimane’s perfumebottles.
ChromeWrappedMetal
GreyTravertine
ThisdesigncontainsanLEDdisplaythatcoversthefrontwallofthepop-upshopThis installationreflectsthebrand’simportanceidentity.Itismarkedbyfemininityshown throughgoddesssculptureswhoeachrepresentauniquemeaningandcharacteristic.A rotatingvisualdisplaymakeseachexperienceunique.
POP-UP SHOP LA.Bisawomen’shandbagandaccessoriesbrand foundedbywomenandforwomen.Theyplacean emphasisonraisingawarenessforwomenwhohave beenthroughdomesticviolenceandarepromoting economicdependenceandaregainingofidentity.The bagsaremadeofbuffaloleatherandparallel perseverance.Thisassignmentrequiresadetailed analysisofthehistoryofLaRinascenteandthepurposeof apop-upshop.Thepop-upcontainsfeaturesthat parallelatheatricalexperience.
SarahMohr
TeamProjectbyClaraMardesenandSarahMohr
Theflooringiscomposedofan interactiveLEDscreen,inspiredby modernartinstallations.
LUXURY RESIDENTIAL HilaryDuff’slakehomeisyouthful,sustainable,andevolving.Itcontains movingpartsthattailortheexperiencetofamilyandothergroupsof entertainment.Ichosemodularfurnitureandaversatilespaceforfamily development.Thereisanimportanceplacedoncomfort,warmth,anddurable yetsensiblematerialselections.Itisanoasisthatlastswiththeuser.Itis locatedinProspectParkinBrooklyn,NYandtotals6,000squarefeet.
Thefloorhouseisdesignedwithintheconstraintsofan“H”-shapedfloorplan.Thisisa nodtoluxuryhistoricalhomesandpalaces,andpresentsaplayfulperspective becauseHilary’sname,awayofexpressingidentity,startswithanH.
WATERCOLOR WhilestudyingabroadinRomeintheFallof2023,Itookasketchingclass whereIfocusedheavilyonperspective,value,andrealisticsketchingthrougha varietyofmediums.Itookaspecialinteresttorepresentingarchitecturewith watercolorandcompletedtenwatercolorpaintingsasapartofmyfinalproject fortheclass.Forthisproject,Iexperimentedwithrepresentingcolonadesand archesinuniqueways.IfocusedonTheatrodeMarceloandPalazzoVenezia, twoofmyfavoritesightsIexperiencedonmywalkseveryday.
