Michelle Smith Design Portfolio 2023

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTERIOR DESIGN (BSID)

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO

MICHELLE SMITH S

MICHELLE SMITH

AUSTIN, TEXAS DESIGN V FALL 2022 INSTRUCTOR RIA BRAVO

THIS STUDIO EXPLORED DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL MODES OF PRODUCTION, SPACES, AND EXPERIENCES, WHICH CULMINATED IN THE DESIGN OF AN NFT GALLERY. PROGRAMMATICALLY, THE GALLERY WAS DEFINED BY THE EXHIBIT OF AUDIO, VISUAL, AND VIDEO NTFS. MY CONCEPTUAL APPROACH BEGAN BY STUDYING THE FORM AND INHABITANCE OF ANT MOUNDS/COLONIES, AND CONCENTRATED ON THE EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING OF MODULAR UNITS TO FORM LARGER, MAZE-LIKE INTERIOR STRUCTURES. THE GALLERY SPACES ARE LOCALIZED INTO SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. THE OCCUPANCY AND INTIMACY OF EXPERIENCE CHANGES IN EACH ZONE AND GALLERY, WITH DIFFERING DISPLAYS, INTERACTIONS, AND SEATING ARRANGEMENTS. EACH ZONE COMBINES DIFFERENT NFT FORMATS AND MERGES THEM WITH INTERIOR ELEMENTS SO THAT THE ART AND THE INTERIOR ARE SYNTHETICALLY INTEGRATED. IN CONCLUSION, MY THESIS FOR THE PROJECT INTERPRETS HOW THE EXPERIENCE OF A SPACE CAN BE ALTERED THROUGH MODULAR CHANGES, BUILDING UPON ITSELF.

EXPLODED AXON

ONE-PERSON MODULES ARE USED AS INDIVIDUAL VR PODS AND AUDIO BOOTHS

THREE-FIVE-PERSON MODULES ARE USED AS DIGITAL ART GALLERY SPACES

TEN-TWENTY-PERSON MODULES ARE USED AS GROUP FILM VIEWING ROOMS

ONE-PERSON MODULE

SECTION RENDER

SECTION FURNITURE

INTRODUCTIONWHAT ARE NFTS?PLAN/MAP

GALLERY SPACES ARE CONSTRUCTED USING STACKED PLEXIGLASS SHEETS, THIS TECHNIQUE WAS INSPIRED BY THE PHYSICAL MODEL SEEN HERE. WHEN STACKED, PLEXI DISTORTS THE APPEARANCE OF ANYTHING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE; FOR THIS SPACE, THE INDIVIDUAL PODS IN PARTICULAR, THIS TECHNIQUE IS USED TO ALLOW THOSE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE MODULES TO SEE IF A SPACE IS OCCUPIED, WHILE GIVING A SENSE OF PRIVACY TO THOSE INSIDE THE MODULES.

ALL GALLERY SPACES/MODULES ARE CONSTRUCTED USING STACKED PLEXIGLASS SHEETS. THIS TECHNIQUE WAS INSPIRED BY MY PHYSICAL MODEL OF OUR INTERIOR ARTIFACTS. WHEN STACKED, PLEXIGLASS DISTORTS THE APPEARANCE OF ANYTHING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE; FOR MY GALLERY AND ESPECIALLY FOR INDIVIDUAL PODS, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD QUALITY TO HAVE. THE STACKED PLEXIGLASS ALLOWS THOSE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE MODULES TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE SPACE IS OCCUPIED WHILE STILL GIVING PRIVACY TO THOSE INSIDE THE MODULE. THE STACKED PLEXIGLASS CAN HOLD OVER 1000LBS SAFELY AND WORKS WELL WITH MY PROJECT INTENTION OF CREATING A MAZE-INSPIRED SPACE THAT IS DEFINED BY LIGHT. THE WALLS AND CEILING ARE PAINTED WITH A HIGH-GLOSS BLACK PAINT SO THAT THE LIGHT FORMS ARE REFLECTED ONTO ALL SURFACES. THE DARK COLOR WAS CHOSEN SO THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE SPACE WOULD REMAIN DIM, SO THAT SCREENS COULD BE BETTER SEEN. THE MAIN STRUCTURAL DEFINING LIGHTING IS MADE OF FLOURESCENT TUBE LIGHTS THAT DISPERSE LIGHT IN ALL DIRECTIONS, SO THAT THE LIGHTING COULD BE SEEN FROM BOTH FLOORS OF THE BUILDING AND EMITS A NEUTRAL-TONED LIGHT. WHILE REALISTICALLY THIS PROJECT IS POSSIBLE AND CONSTRUCTABLE, THE COSTS OF PLEXIGLASS SHEETS WOULD BE EXPENSIVE. HOWEVER, TO COMABT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, RECYCLED PLEXIGLASS OR REMELTED GLASS WOULD ALSO WORK AND HAVE SIMILAR PROPERTIES. AT FINAL REVIEW, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT A NEW, INVENTIVE FORM OF LIGHTING COULD WORK WELL FOR THIS SPACE. WHILE IT DOES NOT EXIST CURRENTLY, SOME FORM OF BIOILLUMINESCENT LIGHT COULD BE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY LIGHITNG SOLUTION.

FLUORESCENT TUBE LIGHT

MATERIALS

PLEXIGLASS HIGH-GLOSS PAINT

CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

CIRCULATION

FLOOR 1 - MODULE SPACES

MEMORY PALACE

DESIGN EXCELLENCE NOMINATION

DESIGN III FALL 2021

INSTRUCTOR ALLISON GASKINS

THIS STUDIO FOCUSED ON THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS OF THE INHABITANT OF AN INTERIOR SPACE AND DESIGN AS A STORYTELLING/BEAUTY OF EVERYDAY THINGS IN THE AGE OF COVID-19. THE MEMORY PALACE ACTS AS A PLACE TO OBSERVE, LISTEN, SHARE, AND COLLECT STORIES OF A SPECIFIC REGIONAL CULTURE THROUGH A SEQUENCE OF RELATED SPATIAL EXPERIENCES. HERE, NORWEGIAN ARCHITECTURE AND CULTURE ARE DISPLAYED THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LONGITUDINAL, REPEATED APERTURES AND NORDIC FOLKTALE-INSPIRED CIRCULATION, PATTERNS, AND SCREENS. EACH ROOM COMES TOGETHER TO OFFER AN INTIMATE, YET ALSO PUBLIC EXPERIENCE WHERE STORIES ARE NOT ONLY PRESENTED, BUT ALSO SHARED. MOVEMENT IS DIRECTED IN AN IMMERSIVE SEQUENCE, TAKING THE INHABITANT THROUGH VARIOUS LARGE DISPLAY ROOMS, ALL PROVIDING A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

TO BEGIN BRISTOLE DESIGN, WE DEVELOPED 3-DIMENSIONAL PATTERNS WHICH WERE LATER INCORPORATED INTO MANY DIFFERENT FORMS WITHIN THE INTERIOR SPACE.

The memory palace acts as a place to observe, listen, share, and collect stories of a speci regional culture through a sequence of related spatial experiences. Here, elements of Norwegian architecture and culture are displayed through the implementation of longitudinal, repeated aperatures and Nordic folktale-inspired circulation, patterns, and screens.

Consisting of three di erent gallery rooms, the palace displays various sculptures, art pieces, and the everyday object. Along with a public lm screeing room, an outdoor reading space, and a meditation room, the rooms connect together and o er an intimate, yet also public experience.

Here, stories are not only presented, but also shared. Ojects are both brought from outside and observed on display. Movement is directed in an immersive sequence, taking the inhabitant through various large display rooms -- all interactive.

Each room provides a di erent experience, making for an all-around interactive and immersive experience. The space tells a story, and acts to connect those inhabiting it. Incoporating ideas of traditional Norwegain architecture, paired with practical funtioning, playful lighting, and story-like dynamic, the memory palace is an easter egg of cultures and experiences.

LEGEND

1. FILM ROOM

2. SCULPTURE ROOM 1

3. HALLWAY 1

4. SCULPTURE ROOM 2

5. READING ROOM

6. SCULPTURE ROOM 3

7. MEDITATION ROOM

SCULPTURE ROOM 2

SCULPTURE ROOM 3

PHYSICAL MODEL LIGHTING STUDY

STUDIO DRIFT

LED BY LONNEKE GORDIJN

IN A WEEK LONG WORKSHOP TITLED "CHOREOGRAPHED ENCOUNTERS," WITH INTERIOR DESIGNER LONNEKE GORDIJN, WE WORKED ALONGSIDE STUDIO DRIFT TO STUDY HOW DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT IMPACT HOW WE MIGHT FEEL IN A SPACE OR SITUATION. USING COMMON MATERIALS, WE DESIGNED EXPERIMENTAL INTERVENTIONS FOR MULTIPLE SITES AROUND UT CAMPUS, DEVELOPING AND TESTING SITUATIONS THAT LEND INSIGHT INTO HOW PEOPLE FUNCTION IN AN ENVIRONMENT.

FOR MY INTERVENTION, I DESIGNED AN IMMERSIVE LIGHTING FIXTURE IN ONE OF THE ABANDONED GREENHOUSES LOCATED ON UT CAMPUS. FOR MY EXHIBIT, I CONSTRUCTED A PHYSICAL MODEL OF THE SPACE, AND CREATED HANGING LIGHTS, REPLICATING SPIDER EGGS. THE EXHIBIT WAS FULLY-IMMERSIVE, UTILIZING PROJECTION SCREENS ON DIFFERENT WALLS OF AN ISOLATED SPACE, MIMICKING THE DESIGN IDEA.

EXISTING GREENHOUSE

PROPOSED DESIGN SECTION

GLITCH LUMINAIRE

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS FALL 2022 INSTRUCTOR BENJAMIN MARSHALL

THIS COURSE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF DAYLIGHTING, ELECTRICAL LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, BUILDING SECURITY, AND ACOUSTICS FROM A QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE POINT OF VIEW.

FOR THIS PROJECT, WE CONSTRUCTED A DIRECT-LIGHT LUMINAIRE USING ONLY WOOD AND PAPER MATERIALS.

CONSTRUCTION

BASE FORM IS CONSTRUCTED OUT OF BASSWOOD SHEETS AND BRISTOL BOARD. SIDES SURROUNDING THE LIGHT FIXTURE ARE MADE OF BRISTOL BOARD TO ALLOW FOR A SOFT AMBIENT GLOW. TOP AND PANELS OF LUMINAIRE ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH BASSWOOD SHEETS TO DIRECT LIGHT DOWNWARD AND CREATE FOCAL LIGHT. THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE LUMINAIRE IS BUILT OF BASSWOOD STICKS AND IS ADDED FOR ORNAMENTATION.

HAL BOX ATHENAEUM & SOUTH LOBBY

AUSTIN, TEXAS DESIGN IV SPRING 2022 INSTRUCTOR CLAY ODOM

FOCUSING ON INFERIORITIES AND DESIGNING FOR SITUATIONS AND RELATIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, SPACES, AND OBJECTS. THIS STUDIO STUDIES PROXIMITY, ORDERING SYSTEMS, HUMAN FACTORS, CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE, AND RELATIONSHIPS.

THIS PROJECT EXPERIMENTS WITH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIFFERENT CONTRASTING FEATURES - FROM PRIVATE TO PUBLIC SPACES, SMOOTH TO TEXTURED SURFACES, LIGHT TO DARK COLORS, WARM TO COOL LIGHTING, AND GEOMETRIC LINES TO ORGANIC SHAPES - BOTH SPACES DEMONSTRATE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN OPPOSING FEATURES IN ORDER TO CREATE A MULTIPURPOSE SPACE.

THE HAL BOX ANTHANEUM IS A STUDENT-DRIVEN LOUNGE SPACE THAT ENCOURAGES THE COLLABORATION OF STUDENTS IN BOTH A SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC SETTING THROUGH RELATING EXPOSED, SINGLE-PERSON SEATING WITH ENCLOSED GROUP SEATING,

THE SOUTH LOBBY IS RELATED TO THE HAL BOX ANTHANEUM, AND ALSO USES THESE CONTRASTING FEATURES TO CREATE AN INTERESTING AND DYNAMIC VIEWING SPACE FOR STUDENT WORK AND SMALL GATHERINGS.

HAL BOX

SOUTH LOBBY

HAL BOX EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC

SOUTH LOBBY EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC

S

MICHELLE SMITH

709 W 22ND ST

APT 305

AUSTIN, TX 78705

(832)-628-8234

MMSMITH19198@UTEXAS.EDU

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTERIOR DESIGN (GPA: 3.8107)

ST. AGNES ACADEMY

2015-2019

GRADUATED TOP 25% OF CLASS

WORK EXPERIENCE

TOYIN FALOLA INTERVIEWS - GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN

AUSTIN, TX, AUGUST 2020 - MAY 2021

CHRISTY LYNN BOUTIQUES - GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN

HOUSTON, TX, SUMMER 2020

ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTING ASSISTANT

HOUSTON, TX, SUMMER 2021 & 2022

COMMISSION ARTIST

SELF-EMPLOYED, DECEMBER 2020-PRESENT

TUTOR - ALGEBRA/GEOMETRY

ST. AGNES ACADEMY, HOUSTON, TX, 2016-2019

TOUR GUIDE/STUDENT AMBASSADOR

ST. AGNES ACADEMY, HOUSTON, TX, 2016-2019

"BE THE CHANGE" SUMMER PROGRAM

CAMP COUNSELOR - HOUSTON, TX, SUMMER 2018

SKILLS

DIGITAL

RHINO, GRASSHOPPER, PHOTOSHOP, INDESIGN, ILLUSTRATOR, PROCREATE ANALOG

SKETCHING, RENDERING, MODEL BUILDING, BEGINNER

MEMBERSHIPS & ACTIVITIES

AMPERSAND: ACTIVE MEMBER

FALL 2022 - PRESENT

UNDERGRADUATE ARCHITECTURE STUDENT COUNCIL

(UASC): ACTIVE MEMBER

UNDERGRADUATE MENTOR

FALL 2022 - PRESENT

WOMEN IN STEM (WiSTEM): ACTIVE MEMBER

FALL 2022 - PRESENT

HONORS & AWARDS

EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARD NOMINATION

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, FALL 2021

UNIVERSITY HONORS SPRING 2020 - PRESENT

UTSOA SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP

SUMMER TRANSFER STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP, SUMMER 2021

WORKSHOPS

STUDIO DRIFT

SPRING 2022

HOUSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, GLASSEL

SCHOOL OF ART

HUMAN FIGURE, PORTRAIT, AND DIGITAL ART TRAINING - SUMMER 2018

MUNAY PREP

FALL 2022 RESUME AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

WORKSHOP

WOODWORKING, TILE PRODUCTION, HUMAN PORTRAIT/FIGURE

DRAWING - TRAINING PROVIDED BY HOUSTON MUSEUM OF FINE

ARTS, GLASSEL SCHOOL OF ART