4 minute read
Spotlight on Interior Architecture and Design
Building a Better World from the Ground Up
At first glance – and to those unfamiliar with the field –interior design is about surface level aesthetics. But in Mount Mary’s Interior Architecture and Design (IA&D) program, this discipline goes far beyond simply pairing paint colors and fabric swatches. Design can also serve as a catalyst for social change. This principle proves foundational to Mount Mary’s IA&D program.
“Design empowers people through space,” shares Genevieve (“Gigi”) Szeklinski, associate professor and program chair. “We’re not just making interiors pretty; we’re transforming lives. If a space can help someone learn, heal or create an overall positive outcome, it can make a real difference.”
“Students need to understand the users we’re creating for; that we’re creating a supportive environment for the people we serve,” adds assistant professor Katherine Seno, echoing Szeklinski’s sentiments.
Creating Safe, Sustainable Living
To these faculty members, interior architecture and design is interconnected with everyday life in a way that is often invisible, yet deeply influential. Szeklinski points to the psychological impact that spaces exert on our ability to work, live and play, citing the effects of lighting, colors and textures on the wellbeing of their inhabitants. Smart use of materials and considerations for ergonomic design can also make life safer and more sustainable, ranging from spaces that promote community building to those helping residents age in place.
Mount Mary’s IA&D program connects psychology and science to every carefully considered detail, while also ensuring that students have a solid understanding of construction principles such as plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems.
“There’s a rigor to this education that never existed years ago,” says Szeklinski. “Our first job is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.”
Szeklinski and Seno believe in the importance of educating both students and the public that the role of designers transcends simply decorating. This passion for the profession is also evident in the department’s advocacy for laws impacting their industry and elevating the profession. Szeklinski has been a tireless advocate for legislation to bring more credibility and autonomy to the profession. In 2022, Wisconsin became the second state in the nation to allow licensed designers to stamp and seal their own drawings for non-structural commercial projects, previously the realm of traditionally male dominated architectural firms. This was thanks in part to Mount Mary professors, administrators and students, who met directly with state representatives to urge progressive policy changes. The result was a more self-reliant industry that uplifts design firms, the majority of which are women-owned, according to Szeklinski. Other states have since used the framework of these efforts to enact similar legal changes.
Understanding All Aspects
In addition to focusing on social impact, IA&D students gain a robust understanding of all aspects of the building process. Clad in hard hats and safety gear, the classes visit active construction sites to observe work in progress and write case studies. They explore different areas of commercial design including food and beverage, retail, senior living and lodging. Students learn to solve real-life design problems while exploring different career possibilities. Seeing such projects unfold builds knowledge and understanding in ways that far surpass learning from a textbook.
Themes of awareness and social justice are woven into the final capstone class, when students create a design centered around solving contemporary social concerns. Each student is encouraged to explore an issue closeto her heart, creating a greater sense of purpose and connection to the final product. Examples have ranged from proposals for more humane intake centers at the U.S. border to hubs providing safety from human trafficking.
Above all, Interior Architecture and Design faculty want students to understand their future global impact, and to appreciate their responsibility in making the world a better place from the ground up.
“It’s about understanding who we’re doing this for and creating a supportive environment for those populations we serve,” says Seno. “We’re the human connection.”
For more information about the Interior Architecture and Design program please visit mtmary.edu/ia&d.
