Issuu

Interior Design Portfolio

Echoes of Space

JINGYI DAI 2024-2026 SELECTED WORKS

Contents 03

Profile

Interlude - Student Learning Center

Fallin - Tea Culture & Community Space

Anchor - Memory Care Center

Within - Accessory Dwelling Unit

Courage Supply Co. - Pop-Up Store

Profile Atlanta, GA Email: jingyidai160204@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jingyi-dai-11b3b6249/ https://issuu.com/jingyi-dai/docs/interior_design_portfolio

Research-driven interior designer with a passion for creating environments that enhance focus, well-being, and user experience. Through a combination of spatial design, behavioral research, and inclusive design principles, I develop thoughtful environments that respond to diverse user needs while balancing functionality, accessibility, and visual impact. •

Research-Driven Design

•

Evidence-Based Design

•

Inclusive Design

•

Learning Environments

•

Healthcare Design

•

Space Planning

EDUCATION M.F.A. Interior Design · SCAD · 2026 B.A. Graphic Design · UC Davis · 2023

WORK AUTHORSHIP All design work, drawings, diagrams, modeling, and original renderings were created by the author. AI-assisted tools were used only to enhance the visual quality of selected renderings without altering the underlying design.

SKILLS DESIGN SOFTWARE Revit • AutoCAD • SketchUp Rhino • Vectorworks VISUALIZATION Twinmotion • Enscape • Procreate ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE Photoshop • Illustrator • InDesign DESIGN SKILLS Space Planning • Construction Documentation 3D Modeling • Rendering • Material Selection Design Research • Visual Communication Programming • Concept Development

CERTIFICATIONS LEED Green Associate (LEED GA)

Interlude Student Learning Center Savannah, GA

DESIGNING FOR ATTENTION An evidence-based learning environment designed to support focus, reduce distraction, and accommodate different modes of attention through spatial choice and environmental control.

THESIS · 2025 · REVIT / SKETCHUP / TWINMOTION

Research

Understanding Distraction

01 · What Students Report

02 · What Space Reveals

03 · Design Translation

Self-reported distraction and attention challenges

Behavioral observation across learning environments

Research findings become spatial strategies

Montgomery Hall 79.6% Longer task completion

65.3% Brief distraction affects

Control Stimulation

51.0% High movement / frequent gaze shifts Mental exhaustion

Reduce unpredictable acoustic and visual interruption.

Gordon Library

learning

Create Gradients Low movement / sustained attention

Open

semi-enclosed

enclosed settings. Quiet

Privacy

Enclosure

Control

SCAD Press Café Support Choice Moderate movement / intermittent shifts

Match spatial conditions to task and attention needs.

RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

Attention Restoration Theory · Cognitive Load Theory · Person–Environment Fit

Attention Gradient

Elevatorr

Elevator

N.I.C.

Office

23' - 0"

Stair

Choice · Gradient · Regulation

Storage

Stair

Stairr

N.I.C.

M Restroom

W Restroom

Stairr

Food Bar

Meeting Room

Semi-Close Group Area

Self Check

Transition Area

63' - 6"

LOW STIMULATION

Reset Area

Reception Area UP

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 1

Collaborative Focus

Social Transition

Elevatorr Stairr

Office Off f ice

N.I.C.

Elevatorr Storage

Stairr

M Restroom

N.I.C.

W Restroom

Stairr

Semi-Close Study Area

HIGH STIMULATION

Private Room

Reset Area

Private Room

Private Room Open Group

Computer / Print Area

Reset Area

DEEP FOCUS

COLLABORATIVE FOCUS

SOCIAL TRANSITION

protected · quiet · enclosed

shared · flexible · moderated

active · restorative · open

LEVEL 2.5

LEVEL 3

Collaborative Focus

Deep Focus

Social Transition Active · Open · Restorative

A high-stimulation entry level supports informal gathering, movement, and shortterm restoration before transitioning toward more focused environments.

Reset Area A lower-stimulation retreat near the entrance allows students to briefly recover from the active urban environment before transitioning into focused learning spaces. Artificial Sky Light Reference: Sky Factory — Aperture Luminous SkyCeiling Circular virtual skylights introduce an illusory view of the sky to support visual restoration

Transition Area

and biophilic connection.

Height-Adjustable Table

ACTIVE / SOCIAL

RESET / RESTORATIVE

Reference: KI — Height-Adjustable Tables

Adjustable work surfaces support changes in posture and individual choice within a flexible learning environment.

Collaborative Focus Shared · Flexible · Moderated

Moderately enclosed settings balance interaction and environmental control, supporting collaboration without excessive visual and acoustic distraction.

Privacy & Study Choice Open, semi-enclosed, and enclosed settings provide a gradual shift in privacy, allowing students to select the level of visual and social exposure that best supports their task.

ACOUSTIC FELT Absorbs ambient noise and reduces sound reflection, creating a quieter and more comfortable environment that supports focus and concentration.

3FORM TRANSLUCENT RESIN

Semi-enclosed Group

Patterned translucent panels introduce visual texture and layered transparency while allowing light to pass through, creating privacy without visually enclosing the space.

ACOUSTIC CEILING BAFFLES Suspended acoustic baffles increase sound-absorbing surface area and help control reverberation, improving acoustic comfort while adding rhythm and movement to the ceiling.

SOUND-RESPONSIVE LIGHTING — SoundEar® Technology Sound-monitoring technology provides real-time visual feedback through changing light colors, helping users

Enclosed Group 8

Open Group

recognize and regulate disruptive noise levels.

Deep Focus Protected · Individual · Controlled

More enclosed settings reduce visual and acoustic interruption, giving students greater control over their immediate environment for sustained individual focus.

Private Room

Reset Area

Spatial Buffering Curved enclosures help redirect passing circulation around study areas, reducing interruptions while preserving visual connection.

Semi-enclosed Study 01 — Translucent Privacy Panel Patterned translucent panels provide visual screening while maintaining visibility across the space, reducing blind spots and improving passive supervision.

02 — Phone Charging Station A dedicated charging station encourages students to place phones away from the immediate work area, reducing digital distraction during focused study. 03 — Height-Adjustable Desk Height-adjustable desks allow students to change posture and working height, supporting individual comfort and different study preferences.

Fallin

Tea Culture & Community Space Wynwood · Miami, FL

TEA AS A SOCIAL CONNECTOR A community-focused tea space that combines cultural exhibition, interactive tea experiences, dining, and flexible events to introduce tea culture through participation and gathering.

ACADEMIC · 2025 · REVIT / SKETCHUP / TWINMOTION

Why Wynwood? Site + Urban Context Wynwood’s dense mix of art, retail, dining, and social destinations creates an active urban environment where cultures, activities, and communities intersect.

Site

Art & Culture

Food & Beverage

Retail & Shops

Other

Restaurant Coffee / Café Bar / Nightlife Tea •

01 Cultural Convergence 11

Relative Presence

02 Program Gap

Container-Contained Tea exists through a relationship between container and contained — vessel and tea, enclosure and experience. Fallin translates this relationship into a spatial system of layers, thresholds, and nested experiences.

01 — POROUS BOUNDARIES CONNECT · OVERLAP · EXCHANGE

02 — LAYERED THRESHOLDS OPEN · SEMI-OPEN · CONTAINED

03 — SOCIAL CONVERGENCE MOVE · ENCOUNTER · GATHER

Spatial Organization Furniture + Circulation

Dining / Tea Commons Exhibition Tea Bar Support / BOH Circulation

Tea Experience Taste · Discover · Engage

Tea Library

7' - 0"

0' - 6"

1' - 0" 0' - 2"

5' - 6"

01 — Backlit Graphic Panel Graphic applied to translucent acrylic panel

04 — Concealed LED Lighting Linear LED integrated behind graphic panel

02 — Millwork Base Custom fabricated base with concealed connections

Tea Bar

texture of a natural landscape indoors, reinforcing the tea garden experience and creating a more immersive exhibition environment.

1' - 0"

while maintaining a lightweight visual presence.

2' - 4"

the contemporary exhibition environment.

1' - 4 1/2"

backlighting to illuminate educational graphics

1' - 6 1/2"

Translucent acrylic allows integrated

quality of traditional tea culture while softening

1' - 0"

Warm wood surfaces reference the tactile

0' - 6"

03 — Integrated Display Shelf Built-in shelf for tea samples and educational objects

A durable, walkable surface that brings the

Custom CNC-cut decorative screen Pattern derived from the exhibition table surface and enlarged to create a continuous

3' - 6 1/2" 1' - 0"

3' - 8 1/2"

1' - 6"

0' - 6"

design language. Front Elevation

05 — Concealed Mounting System Panel secured to internal support frame

Side Section

Flexible Gathering The dining area transforms into a community event space through reconfigurable furniture and a modular circular stage.

Dining Event Furniture reconfiguration + modular stage assembly

01 — Dining Mode

Modular Stage Segmented platform modules assemble into a circular stage and can be removed to restore the dining layout.

01 — Wood Finish Panels Segmented finish aligned with platform joints

02 — Upper Platform Modules Pie-shaped modular stage units

03 — Step Finish Panels Segmented wood finish for curved step

04 — Curved Step Modules Removable modules form the outer stage step

02 — Event Mode 15

Fabrication Reference — Wenger StageTek® Custom wedge platforms enable modular curved and circular stage configurations.

Anchor Memory Care Center Savannah, GA

DESIGNING FOR DIGNITY & ORIENTATION A supportive living environment for older adults with dementia, designed to reduce confusion and stress while supporting independence, recognition, and a sense of belonging.

ACADEMIC · 2025 · REVIT / AUTOCAD / TWINMOTION

Design Concept Community · Inclusive · Harmony

01 — Community Shared spaces encourage everyday interaction and connection among residents, helping foster a sense of belonging while supporting opportunities for social engagement.

02 — Inclusive Accessible and flexible environments accommodate different physical and cognitive needs, giving residents greater choice in how they move through, use, and engage with the space.

03 — Harmony Familiar surroundings, natural elements, and balanced sensory conditions work together to create a calm, comfortable environment that supports residents’ daily well-being.

Care-Oriented Planning Clear Zoning · Connection · Independence 11

10 REF

Microwave

Closet

REF

Microwave

Closet

REF

Microwave

REF

Microwave

85'-8"

32 MECHANICAL ROOM

Microwave

REF

Microwave

REF

Closet

1 I404

Closet

6 29 I404

214

Microwave

I404

REF

REF REF

Microwave

128'-7 3/4"

Second floor Resident Space

First floor

Shared / Community Space

Program Key

01 — Separation Staff and support functions are separated from residential areas to reduce disruption and maintain a calmer daily environment. 02 — Connection Shared spaces encourage social interaction while maintaining clear connections to residential areas. 03 — Daylight & Orientation Residential spaces prioritize natural light and exterior views to support comfort and spatial orientation. 18

1. Lobby 2. Reception Area 3. Mail 4. Resident Services 5. Meeting Room 6. Supervisor’s Office 7. Supervisor’s Office 8. Nurse’s Office 9. Doctor’s Office 10. Family Dining 11. Dining Room 12. Commercial Kitchen 13. Housekeeping 14. Cart Storage 15. ADA Restroom 16. Medical Exam

Staff Space

17. Meeting Room 18. IT/Equipment 19. Bathing Room 20. Equipment Room 21. Nurse Station 22. Clean Linen 23. Soiled Linen 24. Medication Room 25. Housekeeping 26. Cart Storage 27. Studio 28. One Bedroom Suite 29. Public Living Room 30. Active Kitchen 31. ADA Restroom 32. Family Suite 33. Hair Salon

01 — Clear Arrival A visible reception point and distinct architectural elements create an identifiable arrival and orientation point. 02 — Accessible Navigation Clear circulation, accessible features, and visual cues support residents with different physical and cognitive needs. Inclusive

Reception

03 — Familiarity & Comfort Residential-scale furnishings and familiar visual cues create a recognizable, home-like setting that supports comfort and ease. 04 — Social Connection Flexible seating and shared activity areas encourage everyday interaction while allowing residents to choose how they participate.

Community 19 Public Living

01 — Comfort & Calm Soft materials, balanced colors, and controlled visual stimulation create a calm environment for rest and daily activities.

Harmony

02 — Independence A simple, residential-scale layout supports intuitive movement and allows residents to engage in everyday activities with greater independence. Living room

03 — Familiarity & Routine Residential furnishings and familiar visual cues create a recognizable setting that supports everyday routines and a sense of home. 04 — Personal Identity Display areas for personal belongings and meaningful objects help residents maintain a stronger connection to identity and memory. Bedroom 20

Within Accessory Dwelling Unit Oakland, CA

Compact · Integrated · Connected Originally developed as an undergraduate project and later revisited, Within explores how a compact accessory dwelling unit can support comfortable and independent everyday living. The redesign focuses on spatial efficiency, integrated storage, flexible use, and stronger connections across the two-level interior.

ACADEMIC · ORIGINAL 2023 / REVISITED 2026 · Coohom (Kujiale)

Design Evolution

02 — Revised Design

Revisiting the Original Design

01 — Spatial Efficiency Open planning reduces unnecessary partitions and improves circulation within the compact footprint.

01 — Original Design The original scheme established the two-level living concept, but left opportunities to improve spatial efficiency, storage integration, and the relationship between the two levels.

02 — Integrated Storage Built-in storage is incorporated into stairs, walls, and furniture to make underused space functional. 03 — Vertical Connection The revised layout strengthens visual and spatial relationships between the two levels while maintaining distinct living and sleeping zones.

Bathroom Kitchen

Bedroom

Bathroom

Studio

Livingroom

ORIGINAL Level 1

Kitchen / Dining

REVISITED

Level 2

Level 1

Work / Sleep

Level 2

Integrated Living

Maximizing Space Through Integrated Design

01 — Integrated Storage The stair volume is transformed into builtin storage, using otherwise residual space while keeping the main living area open and uncluttered.

Bathroom

Livingroom

Kitchen / Dining

Living

Dining

Kitchen

02 — Open Shared Living Living, dining, and kitchen functions are visually connected to create a more flexible shared space and improve circulation within the compact footprint.

Work + Rest

Supporting Multiple Functions Within One Space

Work / Sleep

Level 2

Integrated Work + Rest Work, sleep, and storage functions are organized as an integrated system, creating distinct activity zones while maintaining an open and flexible upper level. Locating these private and focused activities upstairs creates separation from the more social living spaces below.

Courage Supply Co. Cotopaxi Pop-Up Store Savannah, GA

ADVENTURE AS A RETAIL EXPERIENCE An experiential pop-up store that translates Cotopaxi’s adventurous brand identity into an immersive retail journey through exploration, interaction, and nature-inspired spatial elements.

ACADEMIC · 2025 · REVIT / SKETCHUP / ENSCAPE

Brand & Site

Site Plan

Translating Identity into Place

Savannah River

ADVENTURE · DO GOOD · COMMUNITY

Cotopaxi Adventure · Social Impact · Community

River

Ground

River Grass Savannah Riverfront Located along Savannah’s active riverfront, the site offers high pedestrian visibility and a strong connection to tourism and public activity. These conditions create an opportunity for an engaging temporary retail experience.

Savannah Riverfront Visibility · Tourism · Public Activity

POP UP Store

Ground

Grass

Road

Pop up store

Road

HIGH FOOT TRAFFIC

ALLPAXI

Cotopaxi is an outdoor brand centered on adventure, sustainability, and social impact. Its “Do Good” philosophy and bold visual identity informed a retail environment focused on exploration, interaction, and community engagement.

RIVERFRONT VISIBILITY TOURIST + LOCAL ACTIVITY

Immersive Community-Focused Retail

Concept Development From Brand Values to Spatial Language

ROOTED

COURAGEOUS

Nature

Adventure

Grounded

Exploration

Community

Movement

Rooted and Courageous The concept combines the grounded qualities of nature with the energy of exploration, creating a retail environment that feels both rooted in place and driven by adventure.

Organic Form Topographic forms

Landscape Natural Textures

Movement Trail-like circulation

Spatial Translation Turning Concept into Experience

01 — TOPOGRAPHY

DISPLAY

02 — MOUNTAIN

MERCHANDISING

03 — LANDSCAPE

MATERIAL

Stone, wood, vegetation, and existing brick extend the landscape narrative through texture and material contrast.

Topographic contours are translated into layered display forms, turning the fixture into a small landscape within the retail environment.

Mountain profiles inform the climbing-inspired shoe wall, integrating merchandise display with the brand’s outdoor identity.

Spatial Experience

Guiding Movement Through the Store 01 — INVITING ENTRY The cave-like entrance creates a distinct threshold that draws visitors into the retail experience. 02 — TRAIL-INSPIRED CIRCULATION An organic floor pattern guides movement through the linear space, encouraging exploration rather than a direct path through the store. 03 — DAYLIGHT + DISCOVERY Skylights and colored glazing introduce changing light conditions, reinforcing the feeling of an outdoor journey.

ENTRY Cave-like threshold

EXPLORE Trail-inspired path

ATTRACT Visual landmarks

Engage Interactive

Explore Discovery

Share Community

DISCOVER Changing light + displays

INTERACT Product + photo wall

With sophistication and timelessness at its core, design captures the light in the details—where space becomes experience, material becomes memory, and the ordinary quietly becomes meaningful.

Thank You