School of Interior Architecture, University of Tennessee
Expected Graduation: May 2025
My name is Kate Bishop, and I’m a fourthyear student at the University of Tennessee, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture. Growing up, my parents instilled in my siblings and me the values of hard work, perseverance, and dedication. These principles have shaped not only the person I am today, but also the way I approach my work—with a mindset rooted in collaboration and a commitment to uplifting those around me.
From a young age, I’ve been captivated by stories. Some of my fondest memories are of my mom reading to my sister and me, whisking us away to worlds of fantasy and adventure. Those moments sparked my passion for design as I began to see architecture as a way to tell stories— crafting spaces that evoke emotion and inspire imagination. This love for storytelling continues to guide my journey as a designer; blending creativity with purpose.
This passion has guided me throughout my undergraduate studies in Interior Architecture at the University of Tennessee and continues to shape my evolving pursuit of a creative purpose beyond graduation. Each project I undertake is an opportunity to craft a unique story, seamlessly blending aesthetics and functionality to design environments that are both meaningful and memorable.
In short, I am a designer at heart, a storyteller by nature, and an adventurer in spirit. My goal is to harmonize aesthetics and functionality, crafting spaces that not only tell captivating stories but also evoke emotions and inspire exploration.
Kate Bishop
865.898.9555
kbisho19@vols.utk.edu
Skills
Modeling Tools - Rhino 3D, Revit, and V-Ray
Adobe Creative Suite - Illustrator,
Photoshop, InDesign, and Lightroom
Involvement
President, IA Collaborative, 2024-2025
Professional IIDA & ASID Student Chapter at the University of Tennessee
Dean’s Student Advisory Council, 2024-2025
Social Media Chair, IA Collaborative, 2023-2024
First-Year Representative, IA Collaborative, 2021-2022
International Interior Design Association, Member
American Society of Interior Designers, Member
GPA: 3.80
Work Experience
Hoskins in the Flat
November 2021 - Present
Customer service associate - assist customers with home furnishings and accessories purchases; manages inventory input and organization of product for both in-store and online. On occasion, work as sole employee on-site, opening & managing daily operations while overseeing tech upgrades and customer service.
Professional Experience
Nashville Office Interiors, Knoxville
Design Intern
June 2024 - August 2024
Engaged in all phases of the design process, from initial client meetings to finalized project site visits, gaining insight into professional collaboration. Applied organizational standards to streamline design workflows and assisted in the preparation and setup of presentations to ensure smooth and professional delivery.
Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering
Shadowed Katie Love-Hall, Sales Representative
June 2024 - August 2024
Gained insight into client interactions through observing presentations, material deliveries, and professional meetings. Participated in lunch-and-learn sessions to deepen understanding of industry trends and textile innovations. Assisted with event setup and organization, ensuring seamless executions, and contributed to assembling materials and presentations to support client engagements.
Study Abroad to Thailand, Cambodia, & Vietnam
January 2024
Participated in learning diverse design approaches through collaboration with students from universities in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, fostering crosscultural exchanges that broadened understanding of global design perspectives. Additionally, visited design firms in Vietnam, observing innovative practices and design methodologies, which further enriched knowledge of international design trends and applications.
Soundscapes
Lines of Light
Flat Iron 6
Manic Fusion
Lines of Light
IARC 475 // Hojung Kim
1208 Philadelphia Street Marfa, TX 79843
Primary Software Used: Rhino, Vray, Illustrator, Photoshop Fall 2024
Project Concept: Installation Exhibit Focused on a Materiality .01
At the beginning of the semester, the University of Tennessee sent my studio to Marfa, Texas, where we explored Donald Judd’s works and the Chinati Foundation. We engaged with the town’s art installations, connected with some of its residents, and visited various locations to select a site for our nal design project.
Left: Render of South Installation Room
Right: Documentation from Marfa, September 2024
Cube #1: Self-Binding
Materials: Wool & Polyester Filling
Cube #3: Hidden Relief
Materials: Paper Cups & Yarn
Back in Knoxville, we conducted material studies to explore how materials can be joined without using tape or glue. e goal was to strategically select materials that were both cohesive when combined and distinctive on their own. is exercise was inspired by Donald Judd’s steel cubes displayed at the Chinati Foundation.
Cube #2: Hard & So Boundaries
Materials: Cube #1, Yarn, & 3D Printed
Plastic
Cube #4: Twisted Boundaries
Materials: Wire & String
Left: Isometric Drawings & Pictures of Material Cubes
e installation space is designed to align with the Sun’s rotation, creating an experience that mirrors the Earth’s orbit. Visitors begin in an open layout where the shifting light and shadows progress throughout the day, casting changing patterns on the oor. e exhibit then branches into two rooms: the south room explores the ergonomics of human interaction with space, while the north room highlights the layers of shadow and transparency.
1’ = 1/16”
Right: Plan & Site Plan
Layers of yarn were used to create varying levels of transparency, o ering unique visual combinations depending on the viewer’s position. Each yarn strand was deliberately placed, transforming the original façade through the use of string. is design allows visitors to see through to other rooms, creating a dynamic interplay of spaces.
We were also challenged to incorporate our previous material cube studies into our site, either by directly using their exact designs or drawing inspiration from their concepts.
Left: Render of West Installation Room
Right: Exploded Axon of Proposed Demo & Additions
= 1/2”
1’ = 1/2”
Section A
Left: Sections
Right: Sun Diagram
e placement of the strings was guided by the Sun’s angle, changing orientations as the light shifted throughout the day and in uencing the ergonomic installation’s experience over time.
Winter Solstice
Summer Solstice
Fall/ Spring Equinox
Fall / Spring Equinox
Left: Render of North Installation Room
.02
SOUNDSCAPES
IARC 376 // Pruett Smith
625 North Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917
Primary Software Used: Revit, Rhino, V-Ray, Illustrator, Photoshop Spring 2024
Project Concept: Innovative Library With a Focus on Construction Documents
Right: Render of Soundscapes Checkout
is semester challenged our studio to collaborate in groups of eight to design a purpose for the ground oor of a soon-to-be-renovated o ce building. e only requirement was that the design had to align with the theme of “wellness.”
To me, wellness means stories and new adventures, which led me to design a bookstore. To keep it innovative, the bookstore would use audio cues rather than visual way nding to locate books. Drawing inspiration from theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios, where visitors are immersed in other worlds through multi-sensory experiences, I wanted to explore storytelling through sound. While books naturally tell stories through sight, incorporating sound alone o ered a unique and captivating twist.
Right: Group Work roughout Semester
Left: Simpli ed Plan
To illustrate how sounds would be used for way nding and circulation throughout the bookstore, I incorporated interactive buttons above each room. Pressing a button played the corresponding sound for that genre. Simultaneously, a projector displayed di erent colors onto the map, visually linking each sound to its respective genre. is multi sensory approach e ectively demonstrated the interplay between audio and visual elements in the design.
roughout the semester we learned how to create construction documents, gaining insight into the detailed process of translating designs into buildable spaces.
is experience challenged me to design spaces that were both practical and engaging. e seating in each room was tailored to re ect the activities and emotions associated with each genre. For instance, the romance section featured booth seating for a more intimate setting, while the horror section included standalone seating to emphasize a sense of isolation.
Left: Explorative Mood Board
Right: Exploded Axon of Materials and Custom Seating
For Soundscapes, the main concept was to use alternative way nding methods to guide visitors to ve primary genres: romance, lifestyle, classics, horror, and fantasy.
Each material palette was carefully selected based on research into how speci c colors evoke emotions like love, adventure, and tranquility, ensuring an immersive and emotionally resonant experience.
Horror Fantasy
We were tasked with creating renders that integrated construction documents in a unique, non-traditional style, moving away from hyper-realistic representations.
Right: Fantasy Genre Isometric Overlay on Floor Plan with Selected Material Palette
.03
FLAT IRON 6
IARC 375 // Tim Lucas
710 Maryville Pike, Knoxville, TN
Primary Software Used: Rhino, V-Ray, Illustrator, Photoshop Fall 2023
Project Concept: Drug Rehabilitation Community Center
Right: Render of Outdoor Meeting Space with LED Sphere “Fire”
Left: Initial Research of How Design Can Help the Symptoms of Drug Withdrawal.
Initial Parti Diagrams to Explore Di erent Concepts
Right:
Shutter Windows Shutter Windows w/ Clerestory
Frosted Glass & Sunroof Color on Multiple Surfaces Multi-Colored Skylights
Left: Render of Main Lobby Entry
e Flat Iron design brief aimed to challenge conventional recovery center notions, envisioning a space that encourages community gathering, support, and connection. Ultimately, the goal was to establish a welcoming community hub.
Right: Exploded Axon
N 1/16’’ = 1’
In terms of programmatics, the rst oor of the Flat Iron features exible meeting rooms with adaptable layouts, accommodating diverse needs. Its second oor o ers a relaxed ambiance to enhance member comfort, mirroring the rst oor’s layout.
Left: First & Second Floor Plans
Right: Render of Night Exterior
To re ect the identity of East Tennessee, the façade symbolizes rebirth, much like the fresh start o ered to individuals in drug rehabilitation. Designed with metal silhouettes, it captures the lea ess outlines of trees, providing both privacy for meetings and dynamic shadows that create intriguing layers throughout the space.
Left Top: Section Perspective
Left Bottom: South Elevation
Right: Render of Dividable Meeting Rooms
Left: Render of Lobby Pathways
PARAMETRIC PREMISES
IARC 276 // Misri Patel
227 W Depot Ave, Knoxville, TN
Primary Software Used: Rhino, V-Ray.
Illustrator, Photoshop Spring 2023
Project Concept: Adaptable Workspace & Hotel .04
At the beginning of the semester, our professor prioritized hands-on learning, steering us away from our reliance on technology. Assigned to groups, we fashioned a single shape capable of self-connection, subsequently constructing a plaster brick wall comprising 64 bricks, each layer di ering in plaster thickness.
Left: Documentation of Plaster Wall
Right: Various Material Studies
rough a series of studies, various materials' adherences were assessed on whether they would be susceptible to cracking and their overall e ectiveness as a barrier on a 3D-printed surface.
e studio prompt centered around designing a space for short-term stays, featuring private living suites alongside areas accessible to the public. e building was conceived to accommodate both lodging and workspace needs, ensuring accessibility for all individuals.
Left: Render of Accessible Workspace & Co ee Bar
Right: Floor Plan
e shingle studies conducted early in the studio emerged as a pivotal element in the design. e curved form of the shingles served as inspiration for the enclosed work hub within the building, with openings strategically placed to align with the dips and rises of the shape itself.
Left: 3D Printed Site Model with Plastered Modular Form
e studio's overarching concept operated within ideal conditions, therefore eliminating weather constraints, creating the ability for the co ee/working areas and private rooms to be sheltered. By challenging the conventional notion of indoor workplaces, the design aimed to explore the possibility of bringing the workplace outdoors, acknowledging the frequent con nement of work to indoor settings.
Left: Section Perspective
Right: Exterior Render
e design incorporated spaces exposed to the elements alongside others that were moderated and maintained, resulting in a distinctive juxtaposition of workspaces. is approach o ered individuals the freedom to choose their preferred working environment, fostering a sense of agency and exibility rather than con ning them to a single area.
Left: Section Perspective
Right: Render of Communal Work Area
MANIC FUSION
IARC 480 // Felicia Dean Fabricated in UTK Fab Lab
Primary Software Used: Rhino, Illustrator, Photoshop, Midjourney Fall 2024
Project Concept: Design and build a futuristic stool inspired by the Cartoon/Memphis furniture style.
At the beginning of the semester, we selected groups and furniture styles to focus on for the year. My group, consisting of Katie Olinger, Kate Stahli, and myself, chose the cartoon style of furniture for its playful and colorful nature.
We conducted in-depth research on the style’s history and explored ways to add our unique twist. A key challenge was to design stools that could function as individual pieces come together as a cohesive unit.
From our research, we identi ed three de ning elements of cartoon-style furniture: color, form, and playfulness. ese became the pillars of our design approach.
Our professor encouraged us to leverage the power of AI as a technological advancement. We used Midjourney, not to copy but to draw inspiration for forms and materials.
By analyzing various AI-generated outputs, we identi ed elements we liked and combined them into a unique rendition that we felt truly embodied the cartoon style.
After multiple design iterations, we nally arrived at a design we were all happy with.
e next step was selecting the wood. We chose a combination of rainbow poplar for its vibrant color and thermal wormy curly maple for its durability.
Right: Exploded Axon of System Elevation of Stool A Top of Stool of Stool A Credit to Katie Olinger
We began by using a chop saw to cut large planks into workable pieces, then planed and jointed them to ensure smooth surfaces. Next, we used a table saw to cut the planks to roughly the required size.
To achieve the necessary thickness, we cut three planks to the same size, stacked, and glued them together. is process was repeated multiple times, especially since the rainbow poplar was less than an inch thick.
roughout the build, we combined traditional hand tools with advanced computer technology to fabricate di erent aspects of our stool.
For complex geometries, we programmed and used a rotating lathe to achieve precise curvatures that would have been impossible to create by hand.
We assembled the stool using oating tenon joints, secured with wooden dominoes for strength and stability.
Each step had to be repeated three times, as the deliverables included a system of three stools.
Working in a team added complexity to the overall design process, requiring e ective communication, task delegation, and shared leadership to ensure everything came together seamlessly.
At its core, Manic Fusion employs boolean operations in design, where compound shapes are uni ed to form multifaceted units, paving the way for innovative exploration and endless possibilities of form. By literally joining geometries, it crafts an intricate visual tapestry where interlocking elements merge into a uni ed whole.
