Portfolio
2020-2025
Michelle Perez
This section highlights some of my projects. I have showcased six of my best work. Each project showcases renderings and floor plans. In addition, I have explained detailsofthematerialsusedandtheconceptandpurpose. My work has enabled me to approach design with the importanceofbuildingcodes,functionalityandaesthetics.
Interior Design Technologist Michelle Perez
I am currently completing my last year in the Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) Program at George Brown College. From year 2020 to 2023, I completed and graduated in the Interior Design Technology Program at the same college. In addition, I worked part-time as a Work Study Student assisting one of my Professors introducing Virtual Reality and 3D Printing into the curriculum. Outside of my studies, I have taken opportunities to network and volunteer with various organizations: Toronto Society of Architects (TSA), Interior Designers of Canada (IDC), The collective Workspace and Habitat for Humanity. After graduating from the Interior Design Technology Program, I started my first job and gained experience as a Designer and Furniture Associate at Crate and Barrel, Yorkdale for a year and half. I am now working Part-time as a Sales Associate at Fox Home Scarborough and starting my online business assisting clients designing their homes and finding products from various suppliers and retail stores through virtual consultations and design packages. Before my career change, I studied and worked as a Healthcare worker for 7 years and worked in the community, caring and assisting people with physical disabilities and the elderly. My father passed away on vacation during the start of COVID and he is my drive and inspiration for my career change. My father was a handyman and electrician. He made home feel like home by putting together/building furniture and designing our home using his handyman skills,
Skills Values Goals
Contact Number: (416) 797 9413
Personal Email: mvperez177@gmail.com
Business Email: michelleperezdesigns@gmail.com
LinkedIn:
Instagram:
Website: www.michelleperezdesigns.com
Knowledge and understanding of interior design construction and design processes and Ontario Building Codes. Very detailed oriented, excellent creativity, communication, problem solving, leadership and team work skills. Proficient in AutoCad, Sketchup, Revit, Adobe Suites and Microsoft Office.
Ensuring to follow Ontario’s Building Codes and to aim for universal design. Empowering to design and create beautiful spaces through our senses to elevate great memories and experiences.
My goal is to network, gain experience as much possible within the industry, to grow my business and to work at a reputable company or firm. In addition, I hope to one day teach students and inspire the future generations.
My Experience
2025 - Present
Michelle Perez Designs
Freelance/Interior
Design Technologist
I currently started my side business online and working with currently with a few clients I have networked and built rapport with during my time at Crate and Barrel and during social events. I offer virtual consultations by discussing products, materials colour and design ideas for each space and two design packages. One design package entails a mood board and product list from home and furniture retailors. The second design package includes renderings to clientswhorequiremorevisualrepresentationoftheirspace.
2025 - Present Fox Home
Sales Associate
I currently work part-time as a Sales Associate at Fox Home. Not only I develop skills in providing customer service and sales strategies but I learn to gain product knowledge and visual merchandising/learning howtorepresentanddisplayproductsproperly.
2023 - 2025
Crate & Barrel
Designer/Furniture Associate
I worked as a Designer and Furniture Associate for Crate and Barrel for a year and a half. I was able to maximize the company’s sales growth and profitability by using creative selling skills (through Inhome Consultations, Virtual Consultations, In-store Consultations, providingdesignpackagesandTradeProgramEvents/Partnerships).
My Experience
2022 - 2023
Toronto Society of Architects Volunteer
2022 - 2023
George Brown College Work Study Student
2010 - 2019
Wraps Capriccio Manager and Gift Wrapper
2012 - 2022
Various Locations in GTA
PSW/Practical Nursing
I joined Toronto Society of Architects as a student member towards the end of my studies in the Interior Design Technology Program. I had the opportunity to attend a few of their Building Tours of past and current projects within the GTA. I volunteered as a Moderator for one of their networking events. In addition, I had the pleasure to represent and assist volunteering with Gow Hastings Architects for their Open Studio Event.
Towards the end of my studies in the Interior Design Technology Program, I applied for the Work Study Student Program. I had the opportunity to work with one of my professors with testing Virtual Reality Devices to Introduce in the curriculum and maintain the campuses 3D Printing Workshop.
Wraps Capriccio was one of the first jobs I had when I started high school. I was positioned to work at various locations within the Financial District - working in a gift wrapping booth. I learned to be detailed oriented, develop time management skills and building rapport with customers. In addition, I was promoted to their Manager Positions and managed for seasons. I learned to become a leader, train new hires and the importance of handling money for tips and donations.
I studied and graduated as a Personal Support Worker at Centennial College. I studied Practical Nursing for one year and realized I enjoyed the one on one care for my patients. I continued to work in the Community as a Personal Support Worker and cared for people with physical disabilities and the elderly for 7 years. I had the opportunity to gain hands on experience as a student in various hospitals and long-term care homes: Feildstone Commons Care Community, Lansing Retirement Home, Bridgepoint Hospital and North York General Hospital.
My Portfolio
My Portfolio highlights some of my best work and projects. A combination of my work alongside group projects, I have developed a lot of soft Skills (communication, creativity, leadership, and hard/technical skills in AutoCAD, Adobe Suites, Revit, Sketchup, Enscape and Lumion.
2020-2025
During my last semester in the Interior Design Technology ProgramatGeorgeBrownCollege,Iwasplacedinagroupof 4 people. My team collaborated and designed a project that outlines the global goals following Maslow’s Hierarchy needs and decided to tackle the housing crisis in downtown, Toronto. This project was complex and required a lot of research within the assigned neighbourhood, the Annex. Using the floor plan given (which was previously historically knownasToronto’sIconicHonestEd’s),myteamfocusedon homelessness by designing and providing a space, programs andresourcesforthosewithoutahomeandfamily.
Project Information
Date:2023
Size: 1480.87Sq.m.(4,858Sq.f.)
Main Entrance/Reception
Thepurposeofourprojectistocreateanddesigna homeless community center and to work with the Centre of Social Innovation as their mission and purposeisto“catalyze,inspireandsupportpeople to create, develop, adopt and integrate new and renewed concepts and practices that put people andplanetfirst”.
The goal is to provide a safe space, environment/neighbourhood and provide support services that will cover all aspects of one’s activity ofdailylivingandholisticbeing.
P.I.E.C.E.S. stand for: People. I. Empathize. Care. Embrace. Society. The concept of our project derives from Kintsugi (Japanese concept -repairing broken pieces). The project entails many services and programs on the ground floor and 2nd to 6th floors provide comfortable spaces and a sense of home.
Exterior North View
Ground Floor Plan/Legend of Programs and Services
My team decided to design the floor plan using curved walls, dividing the spaces and using LED strip lighting on the ceilings relating to our Kintsugi Concept (as shown on the rendering previously of the Main Entrance) for direction to each space. The floor plan is divided into three major groups: Health and Fitness, Education and Food and Beverages/Food Bank. From the main entrance our clients are welcomed by our reception which will focus on Health and cleanliness (Nursing Station, Patient rooms, showers, change rooms, laundry and clothing center). Our clients then have access to the gym, yoga studios, our open library and classrooms. Thereafter, there is a corridor or hallway that leads to our food and beverages area which consist of a food banks and a cooking workshop. The second entrance leads to the 2nd to 6th floors once our clients go through each process of ourCommunityCentre.
Gym
I designed the Gym for my team/this project. I used acoustic wall panel designs to depict the concept of Kintsugi. The LED Strip Lighting runs along the ceiling leading clients/residents to a brick wall where the strength machines are placed. The brick wall is positionedattheendoftheroomwhichsignifiesthechallengeswe face and that we can regain our strength through resilience. I positioned a mirror across the windows to provide an illusion of makingtheroombiggerandbrighter.
Nursing Station
Coming from a background of 7 years in Healthcare, I was extremely excited to design this part of the project for my team. With the understanding and experiences as a Healthcare worker and the knowledge and understanding of Building Codes, I made sure to provide adequatelightingandsignageandchoosingacolourschemetoprovidea warmandsafeenvironment.Inaddition,Ifocusedonuniversaldesignfor the reception desk with those who have disabilities and are in wheelchairs. I also used materials that have antimicrobial properties, nonslipandcushionedfloors(carpettile)anddurabilitytowithstandhigh traffic areas and harsh chemicals for cleaning. I chose Herman Miller medicalequipment/furnitureforthisarea.
Yoga Studio
I designed the Yoga Studio for my team/this project. I used acoustic wall panels for the walls and ceilings (as well as the lowered ceiling in the center of the room) to exclude outside noise - making the studio quiet, calm and relaxing. The colour palette and materials used are to depict minimalistic design. I placed a big mirror across one wall to provide an illusion of making the room bigger and brighter. I used track lighting to provide options to either have the lights dimmed or brighter. I designed a curved bench on the wall across the mirror wall to provide more seating. At the end of the wall are shelving for storage or yoga equipment and Kintsugi related decor pieces making it stand out and a beautifulfocalpointasyouenterthespace.
Main Entrance/Reception
The first part of the project, I had to design the Main Entrance/Reception. Not only I incorporated Kintsugi as our concept for the designs of the reception desk and wall, I also taken consideration thebuildingcodeofwidepathwaystoaccommodateahightrafficarea. Totherightoftherendering,IdesignedGoldpartitionwalltodividethe Clothing Centre to the Main Entrance/waiting area. We used Herman Miller Furniture for seating as it contains great antimicrobial properties to their fabrics. I placed the desk across the entrance doors and designed to lower the desk height to the right to accommodate for those in wheelchairs (universal design). My team displayed our CommunityCentreLogotoshowcaseournameandameansofsignage.
Competition
Supplier
Attheendofeachsemester,eachgroupinourStudio Class prepares a poster relating to their project using the selected Supplier. The selected supplier was Cosentino and my team won Honorable Mention for our work and incorporating their materials. The renderingtotheleftispartofourfoodandbeverages bar that my colleague designed for this project. As a group, we prepared the mood board together and researched the materials contents and how it will benefitourhightrafficspace.
During my 4th semester, 2nd year in the Interior Design Technology Program, we were put into groups of three people to design a restaurant. My group designed a Korean BBQ Restaurant and our concept forourdesignderivesfromtheinfamousKoreandish, Bibimbap.Theconceptisvisiblebymanytexturesand a fun colourful scheme of ingredients. Although my teamdidnotwinthisyearsCompetitionSupplierwith Interface (using their carpet tiles and incorporating it onto our floors), we had fun in challenging ourselves to applying and combining many colours and shapes together.
Project Information
Date:2022
Size:
Bar and Community Table
Main Entrance/Reception
During my 5th semester and 3rd year in the Interior Design Technology ProgramatGeorgeBrownCollege,Iwasplacedinagroupof4people.The purpose of this project is to design an office, showroom, and factory integratedtogetherwithHermanMiller.
Project Highlights
Showroom/3D Printing Area
Our plan was to develop and encourage a healthy, active, multifunctional and flexible workspace arrangements, as well as a collaborative and pandemic ready work environment for our Herman Miller employees. We designedformorethan10differentdepartmentsbychallengingourselves, problem solving and positioning which department should go where on the floor plan. In addition, we incorporated and showcased a lot Herman Miller’s Desking Systems and Office chairs. Our main feature is the Showroom/3D Printing area where we designed a spiral like shelving, displaying Herman Miller furniture. We made this area interactive by providing employees and clients mini Herman Miller 3D Printing prototypes.
OurdesignconceptderivesfromtheROM(RoyalOntarioMuseum)forits aestheticanddisplayofitemsandIKEAforitspathway.
Project Information
Date:2022
Size:2479m²
Floor Plan/Legend of Programs and Services
My team decided to design the floor plan as a pathway concept similar to IKEA and a museum (the ROM). All clientsandemployeeswillbeabletofollowthepathusing our wood panel with LED light strips on ceilings for direction to each department and area of the showroom and office. We challenged and problem solved to position each department by researching each purpose and how they play a role to the office. This was a fun project to design an office and learn more about products that are BIFMA compliant. Designing an office opened my eyes to how important our mental health is by providing different spaces and services for quiet/down time and for a lot of natural light as well as the importance of ergonomics to ourphysicalhealth.
CEO Office Hallway/Booth Pods Marketing Department
3D Exploded View of Desk Construction and Design
Competition Supplier
At the end of each semester, each group in our Studio Class prepares a poster relating to their project using the selected Supplier. The selected supplier was Vicostone and my team won Honorable Mention for our work and incorporating their materials.
The rendering to the left is our Board Room. As a group, we collaborated at putting together this poster and the creativity at using their Thunder Blue Material to our Board Room Desk Design.
Condo Project
Throughout my career at Crate and Barrel, I provided Design Services by scheduling consultations (In-home, virtually and/or in-store). I had the opportunity to design my clients condo with the use of different popular collections.
This condo project was one of my highlights as closed big order sale. The condo had 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. I had to the opportunity to meet with the client in-store to present the design package I put together for them. I had developed skills in time management was able to keep the consultation within 1 hour. I had to opportunity to tour the client around the showroom and provide any alternative product options and changes on the floor plans/renderings.
The had the opportunity to design every space of their condo including their balcony/patio. I not only provided them my expertise and knowledge of the products and materials but also had them engaged in the design process. This client was particular in neutral colours with some black and gold accents as well as some faux plants and trees to add a touch nature to their space.
Project Highlights
Project Information
Date: 2024
Type: Condo
House Project
This is one of my large orders of a House Project I had done while working at Crate and Barrel. The client was very particular and wanted a different colour scheme and vibe for each space. The client ended up purchasing most of the productsIhadputtogetherinaProductlistandrenderingsfor them.
Although, it is best to have a flow of the same colours and texturesthroughoutthehome,Ihadtoprovideactivelistening skillsandgoalongwithmyclientspreferences.
Theclientwasparticularinearthytonesonthemainfloorand darkandmidcenturycoloursandproductsfortheupperfloors of their home. I learned how to stay patient, be open to different possibilities on how to design spaces and have the clientleadmetotheirvision Ihadtheopportunitytodesigneachspaceofmyclient’shome andscheduleanIn-storeandfollow-upvirtualconsultation.
Project Highlights
Project Information
Date: 2024
Type: House
Timeless Lore
Booth Design
One of our projects in the Interior Design Technology Program was to design a booth based on one of the Anishinaabe grandfather teachings. We were a group of three people and chose Wisdom. This project brought out our creativity through the shape and colours of what we define and portray as “wisdom”. We have also concluded that wisdom is infinite and passed down by many generations and we designed our booth in the shape of an infinity symbol. We also incorporate one of the animals as partofourdesignandconcept,thebeaver.
The purpose of our project is to create and design an interactive booth based on the one of Grandfather teachings, Wisdom. In the Anishinaabe, the beaver represents - Wisdom. A beaver's natural gift is survival by altering its environment.
Project Highlights
Project Information
Date:2022
Location:MetroConventionCentre
Flooring:CarpetTile
The goal is to passing down wisdom through our interactive blocks by writing down messages of what we learned in life so far. The right interior of ourboothareopentoadultsages40andoverand the left interior of our booth is for children and youngadultsunder40yearsofage.
TimelessLoreconsistofmanymaterialsfromwood panelsfortheinterior/exteriorofourbooth,toLED strip lights to highlight our interactive blocks, Interface Carpet Tile Flooring, a log shaped bench andabranchlikechandelier.
Interior Design Portfolio
2020-2025
Michelle Perez