Lidia Woolery's Interior Design Portfolio

lidia woolery

INTERIOR DESIGN PORTFOLIO

LIDIA WOOLERY

Interior Design Portfolio

A student, a designer, a sister, a daughter, an artist, a dancer, and a friend are all words I would use to describe me, Lidia Woolery. I was born and raised in Danville, California with my three brothers, my mom, and my dad. With thanks to my brothers, I have developed a fearless trait towards trying and experiencing unfamiliar things, thus I chose, with confidence, to attend college across the country in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse has not only granted me exposure to a new city, but it has also strengthened my passion and shaped my mindset towards interior design.

I believe design is much greater than being creative and following the guidelines of basic design principles. I view design as a form of relationship building that allows imaginative people to step inside the life of another person and use their creative talents to make that person’s life better. In my own life, this mindset was born at the age of seven, while I “remodeled” my Barbie dollhouse. I rearranged the furniture over and over again as a part of the storyline I had imagined for my Barbie family. Every Barbie

had a name and a personality. The remodel was not finished until each doll’s bedroom represented who they were. Even in as simple of terms as Barbie, understanding each person’s individual story is vital to creating a successful design. This is my earliest memory where my interest in interior design was sparked. From then on, I evolved from Barbie dollhouses to building paper models of homes, to taking art classes in high school, and now, majoring in Environmental and Interior Design at Syracuse University.

In addition to my interest in each individual’s unique life stories, the unpredictable phenomena of nature is what inspires me as a designer. The way not a single moment in nature will be the same as any other fascinates me. The moments in nature that cause people to whip out their phones and capture its beauty before it is gone are the moments that inspire how I incorporate biomimicry, biophilia, and sustainable technologies into my designs. I believe translating these phenomenons into a permanent state invents a new form of design that

not only emphasizes beauty, but uses natural, proven-to-work, forms and functions of the existing environment in a repurposed manner to better the lives of humans.

As an interior designer, I strive to continuously discover new design opportunities that challenge humanity’s current ways of functioning in interior space— particularly, in the realm of spatial organization, storytelling, cultural representation, and sustainability. Throughout my design projects, I emphasize the importance of representing the client’s personality, brand, or vision through strategic conceptual development that tells a story. My portfolio exemplifies how I translate my inspiration into conceptual, functioning spaces with considerations towards sustainability, technology, and culture. Much of my style experiments with color and organic forms, further reiterating how I believe current design practices should be challenged and imagination should be embraced within designers.

EDUCATION

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Syracuse, NY (Fall 2019 - Spring 2023)

Major: Environmental and Interior Design

Minor: Business

May 2023 Graduate

HARD SKILLS

• Revit

• AutoCad

• Sketch Up

• Rhino

• Adobe InDesign

• Adobe Illustrator

• Adobe Photoshop

• Enscape

• Website Building (Square Space, Adobe Portfolio, etc.)

• Artistic Ability

AWARDS

• Selected for Steelcase’s NEXT Competition Submission

• Dean’s List

• American Association of University Women Scholarship

• Gilman Scholarship

lidia woolery

EXPERIENCE

MATERIALS LIBRARY MANAGER

Syracuse University’s School of Design | Syracuse, NY (September 2022 - Present)

• Organize, research, and manage material types, manufacturers, colors, and textures.

• Illustrate maps and signage for library navigation.

• Communicate with manufacturers about retrieving new materials and filter discontinued materials from the library.

• Create mood boards for student inspiration.

YOUTH PROGRAM LEADER

Lender Center | Syracuse, NY (September 2022 - Novemeber 2022)

• Supervise children and teens (ages 5-15).

• Plan and lead educational art and craft activities with the other leaders.

• Prepare meals for the children and teens.

• Summarize and report how the children learn and grow overtime.

INTERN / JUNIOR DESIGNER

The Bon Collective | London, England, UK

(February 2022 - April 2022)

• Use Photoshop, Sketch Up, AutoCad, and Indesign to assit with project presentations.

• Shadow senior designers in client meetings and site visits.

• Communicate with the team using Microsoft Teams.

• Build The Bon Collective’s website navigation and layout using Square Space.

CONTACT: woolerylidia@gmail.com

LINK TO PORTFOLIO: issuu.com/lidiawoolery

ACTIVITIES

MEMBER OF KAPPA ALPHA THETA

(2020 - 2023)

Build the Syracuse University campus community by hosting social events and participating in philanthropy events for the local organization Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

BLOCK BLITZ VOLUNTEER

(September 2022)

Work with organizations in the local Syracuse Community to update parks in the Syracuse neighborhoods. This year, my groups’ task was to remulch the playground and repaint the fences, poles, trashcans, and fire hydrants.

CREW MEMBER / SIGN ARTIST

Trader Joe’s | Danville, CA

(May 2022 - August 2022)

• Design and illustrate display signs for shelf products and seasonal displays.

• Interact with the customers and support the other crew members with the tasks at hand.

• Organize, stock, and circulate the product.

• Operate the cash register and check out groceries.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY’S ASID

CO-VICE PRESIDENT (NETWORKING DIRECTOR)

(September 2021 - December 2021)

Assist members of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) at Syracuse University with networking with each other and larger design corporations in the area.

Interior Design

Portfolio 1

NEXT BEAUTY

2 3

NORTH SIDE

LEARNING CENTER THE BREATH ®

CONTENTS

4 5 7 6

THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION PROJECT

FOODWAY INCLUSIVE SENSORY EXCHANGE

DRAWING

PAINTING

NEXT BEAUTY

INDIVIDUAL STUDIO PROJECT

The mission of NEXT Beauty’s office design is to foster an atmosphere of productivity, collaboration, and creativity in an environment that promotes wellbeing, and encourages people to cherish moments of natural beauty on earth and within themselves. The reinvented NEXT Beauty brand and its values is driven by the function and visual characteristics of a rose. NEXT Beauty’s 15,000 square foot office is located on the top two floors of an existing building in New York City. The design features strategic space planning, biomimicry, and wellness considerations throughout.

While generating renderings, I faced software problems with Enscape. Due to the deadline quickly approaching, I improvised and produced my renderings in Photoshop. To my surprise, I was pleased with the ability to stylize my renderings, and as a result, my project was chosen as one of the two in the class to be submitted to Steelcase’s NEXT Design competition in 2021.

Beauty’s mission uses the rose as a metaphor for embracing inner beauty. The rose is a symbol for love, beauty, and represents the New York state flower.

MONUMENTAL STAIR

Vertical wood beams outlining the opening for the spiraling staircase symbolize the blooming of the rose, or a person embracing their natural beauty.

MOTHER’S ROOM

THE RECEPTION

THE WORK CAFE

ENLARGED PLAN OF RECEPTION

ENLARGED PLAN OF WORK CAFE

THE BEAUTY BAR

The beauty bar can be used to relax and rejuvenate from the office environment, test new products, and embrace your inner and outer beauty.

ENLARGED PLAN OF BEAUTY BAR

NORTH SIDE LEARNING CENTER

COLLABORATIVE STUDIO PROJECT

The North Side Learning Center (NSLC) is an educational space for all ages, primarily occupied by refugees and immigrants who are transitioning into America. NSLC offers English language classes, day care for children, enrichment programs, a community event space, and after school study resources for all subjects. The existing 16,000 square foot building located in the north side of Syracuse, NY is adjacent to a Mosque, and centered in a highly populated Muslim community. My team started by visiting the site, meeting the client, and conducting research on the center’s demographics. Then, we reinvented the NSLC to feel like a “home away from home” for its occupants. The new design features flexible learning and entertainment spaces, an interactive play space for children, a prayer room, upgraded technology, and better accessibility and wayfinding.

I worked on this project with three other people. Together, my team collaborated on research and conceptual development for the design. Individually, we each worked on a different elements of the client presentation. I contributed by building the model in Revit, rendering floor plans, and formatting the content in Adobe Indesign.

THE EXISTING BUILDING

501 Park St, Syracuse, NY 13203

LEVEL2

EXISTING BUILDING KEY

Staff offices

Bathrooms

Enrichment Room

Kitchen

Event Space

Multi-Use Space

AXONOFTHEEXISTINGBUILDING

College Prep LEVEL1

Middle School BASEMENT

CULTURAL STUDIES

THE TREE OF GROWTH

The tree that is growing through the opening on the floor of Level 2 symbolizes the growth of the occupants at the NSLC in their education and in their new lives in America.

TREE OF GROWTH ON LEVEL 2

TREE OF GROWTH ON LEVEL 1

SCAN TO VIEW CONSTRUCTION

DOCUMENT SET

BUILDING SECTION

THE BREATH® INDIVIDUAL STUDIO PROJECT

The three-layer, sustainable fabric material, known as The Breath®, functions as an air filter in space. After researching its performance, the manufacturing process, the layers of fabric, and its manipulation capabilities, I identified The Breath®’s five most distinctive qualities:

1) Three layer design

2) Passive technology / energy efficiency

3) Filters out toxic pollutants in the air

4) Absorbent

5) Indoor and Outdoor Installation

These five qualities became the driving factors for the design of a sculptural spatial intervention featuring The Breath®, and only The Breath® material. Next, I studied the space in preparation for the material installation. I used sketching, modeling, and anthropometric studies to test how the material and its qualities would be designed and represented in the space. Lastly, I modeled my final design using Rhino.

THE MATERIAL

The Breath® is a three-layer fabric material that purifies the air through an energy efficient process producing zero emissions.

Hydro repellent shield.

Polyester threads.

Silver and zinc activated polyester threads.

Silver and zinc activated polyester threads.

Fusible adhesive.

Carbon Mesh.

Fusible adhesive.

Silver and zinc activated polyester threads.

Thread glue. Thread glue.

Silver and zinc activated polyester threads.

Woven polyester threads.

Hydro repellent shield.

THE SPACE

The location of the material installation is in Syracuse University’s School of Design’s ground floor stair.

THE MATERIAL INSTALLATION

The forms gradually become less complex as the material flows up the left wall, over the ceiling, and down the right wall. This resembles the material filtering out toxins to purify the air.

THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION PROJECT

INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH-BASED STUDIO PROJECT

The Community Conversation Project is a manifesto developed using a research-based study on gentrified areas across London, England. The manifesto suggests the design for a flexible community gathering space that encourages people to converse, debate, and brainstorm solutions for controversial community projects. The goal of the Community Conversation Project is to eliminate factors in upcoming projects that might create division within the community.

This project took place during my semester studying abroad in London, England where I was able to, personally, visit and observe the five gentrified areas used for the site of this manifesto. The conclusions I made from my on-site visits resulted in the idea of The Community Conversation Project.

THE CHALLENGE

OVERLAPS HACKNEY AND TOWER HAMLETS

CROSSROADS

SHOREDITCH

Gentrification is dividing communities.

GENTRIFIED DUE TO RISK OF URBAN DECLINE

KINGSTON UPON THAMES

ARCHITECTURAL LAND FEATURES

BRIXTON

BANGLATOWN

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

CREATING DIVISION

BALANCE BETWEEN DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL CONNECTION

BOLDED = Similarities

DEBATE BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND CITY COUNCIL

GREENWICH

THE MISSION

To curate a space that is approachable for the local community to hold open discussions over potential new additions to the community. Where debates can be concluded with satisfaction from all parties.

DIVIDED CULTURES

GAP BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUSES

SENSE OF COMMUNITY LOST

GENTRIFICATION UNWANTED BY RESIDENTS

BENEFICIAL FOR RESIDENTS

SOUTH BANK

Gentrified communities.

Conversation between locals and developers.

New project construction that satisfies all parties.

1

KINGSTON UPON THAMES

THE AUDIENCE

PRIMARY LOCAL RESIDENTS

SECONDARY TERTIARY PROJECT DEVELOPERS

BUSINESS OWNERS

Each site is a central spot in a gentrified area of London or an area that has plans to become gentrified. All sites have experienced controversy over the gentrification.

THE USER JOURNEY

EXPLORE THE NEW PROJECTS.

FORM AN OPINION.

CONSIDER IMPACT ON LIFE AND COMMUNITY.

CONTACT THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROJECT.

RESERVE DESIRED SEATING TYPE (IF NECESSARY). CONVERSE DEBATE BRAINSTORM.

COME TO A CONCLUSION. FURTHER PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.

THE PLAN VIEW

Seating Tables

Project News

Amphitheater Seating

Private Nook Seating

Open Seating Areas

Reconfigured

Modular

Furniture

FOODWAY INCLUSIVE SENSORY EXCHANGE

INDIVIDUAL STUDIO PROJECT

The Inclusive Sensory Exchange is a place inspired by the values, flavors, and ingredients of the Middle Eastern foodway. Baghdad Restaurant, a Middle Eastern vendor stationed at the Salt City Market in Syracuse, NY, was the main source where first-hand research on the foodway was conducted and used to inspire the design. The goal of this space is to allow people in the Syracuse area and beyond to learn about a variety of different cultures by engaging in the trade of first-hand experiences between people from different cultures.

The west end of level 1 and level 2 of the existing Smith Restaurant Supply building located in downtown Syracuse, NY is the site of the project. The building is located next to the main highway interchange and Erie Blvd, or what used to be the Erie Canal and used historically for trading purposes. The high traffic flow and location will allow a more diverse population of people to visit the space, and allow the cultural exchange that occurs on-site to reach beyond just the Syracuse region.

THE PARTI

The parti inspires the design and layout of the entire space. The textile pattern of the parti is found in Baghdad, Iraq architecture. The aggregated star forms that overlap and create voids metaphorically demonstrate the circulation and destinations of the Inclusive Sensory Exchange, as well as the Middle Eastern value of gathering.

Salt City Market, Syracuse, NY

THE BUILDING

The Inclusive Sensory Exchange is located on the first two floors of the west end in the existing Smith Restaurant Supply building.

The Inclusive Sensory Exchange features destinations on both levels that allow occupants to share and exchange cultural skills, talents, and knowledge. Level 1 is the higher traffic zone that offers sensory learning experiences through vending, performing, and cooking, while level 2 is the quieter, low traffic zone that offers meditation and the outdoor sanctuary.

SCAN TO VIEW WALKTHROUGH

ADA BATHROOM

KITCHEN AND CAFE

DRAWING

A collection of my art using mediums in drawing. I gravitate towards drawing people or moments that are important to me, dancers inspired by my many years as a dancer, and nature, specifically flowers. Many of my pieces are a part of a collection I produced that focused on the study of fears and phobias. I enjoy experimenting with unrealistic color and new medias.

Baking with Grandma | 9x12

Natural Disasters | 11x14

Michael | 18x24

9x12

Connection | 9x12

Mirror Image | 9x12

Dad’s Toolbox | 11x14

Metamorphosis | 11x14

PAINTING

A collection of my art using mediums in painting. I gravitate towards painting people or moments that are important to me, dancers inspired by my many years as a dancer, and nature, specifically flowers. Many of my pieces are a part of a collection I produced that focused on the study of fears and phobias. I enjoy experimenting with unrealistic color and new medias.

In Bloom | 11x14

Passion | 18x24