Becca Friedman_Interior Design Portfolio

BECCA FRIEDMAN

I believe that our built environments play a vital role in the human experience. From the homes that provide us shelter, to the restaurants where we dine, to the hospitals where we seek care, the places we inhabit have a direct impact on our moods and well-being.

That is exactly why I was motivated to seek a career in interior design. After spending seven years working in marketing in the entertainment industry, I knew that I wanted to pursue a new path that would not only leverage my creative skill-sets, but also allow me to improve the lives of others. This desire led me to George Washington University, where I graduated with my Masters in Interior Architecture in 2023.

Over the past two years, I’ve been fortunate to work on a variety of projects spanning commercial, residential, hospitality and healthcare. Across these sectors, I’ve realized a common theme: the importance of designing with the end user in mind.

I’m motivated by designing for populations that are traditionally undeserved from a design and architecture standpoint, and I thoroughly enjoy the research process that takes place from the onset of a new project. As I embark on this next chapter in my career, I’m excited to apply my learnings in a professional environment.

MY DESIGN JOURNEY

EDUCATION EXPERIENCE

George Washington University

Corcoran School of the Arts and Design

Master of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture

2021-2023

Washington University in St. Louis

Olin Business School

Bachelor of Science in Business

Majors: Marketing, International Business

Minor: Spanish 2010-2014

SKILLS

Autodesk: Revit, Autocad

3D Modeling: Enscape, SketchUp

Adobe: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator

Microsoft Office Suite

HOK, Washington DC

Interior Design Intern Sept. 2022 - April 2023

- Supported HOK’s Washington DC Workplace Studio

- Conducted site surveys for new and existing clients

- Created test fits and as-built-plans in Revit

- Participated in FF&E selection and maintain material library

Cozy Salazar Interiors, Miami, FL

Interior Design Intern July - Aug. 2022

- Assisted in design development for high-end residential clients

- Built floor plans and lighting plans in Autocad

- Designed custom millwork using SketchUp

- Oversaw installations and client deliveries

Omnicom Media Group, New York NY

Associate Content Director Dec. 2018 - Aug. 2021

Brands: Pepsi, bubly, LIFEWATER, Pure Leaf, Lipton

- Developed award-winning film and entertainment partnerships for PepsiCo

- Served as day-today client partner for PepsiCo’s marketing + media division

- Led RFP process and deal negotiation with networks, studios and streamers

- Managed team of 4 project managers and oversaw program execution

Warner Bros. Discovery, New York, NY

Integrated Marketing Manager April 2017 - Dec. 2018

Integrated Marketing Coordinator March 2015 - April 2017

- Led development and activation of partnerships with advertising clients

NEWH

- Pitched marketing programs to drive on-air, digital and social revenue

- Oversaw project budgets ranging from $150K - $1MM

- Managed production shoots and conducted post-campaign analysis

4.

Exterior

THESIS PROJECT ART TO HEART

Art to Heart is An is art therapy clinic and inclusive ara center offering a wide range of individual and group therapies to elementaryschool aged children (5-12) with cognitive, developmental and emotional needs

Leveraging universal and evidenced-based design principles, Art to Heart meets the needs of any child - regardless of abilityand fosters freedom for creative expression.

Designed around the concept of “enveloping freedom,” Art to Heart draws inspiration from universal childhood moments, such as building a fort or playing in a tunnel, to create spaces where children feel they can safely express their emotions and creativity.

McLean, VA

6900 Fleetwood Road

13,500 SF Indoors

2,500 SF Outdoors

Located in McLean, Virginia, a high-income, highly-educated community that sits in the center of family-driven neighborhoods across DC, Virgina and Maryland. The site itself - the lower two levels of a mixed-use condominium building - is in close proximity to other relevant services.

CONCEPT: ENVELOPING FREEDOM

STEP ONE

A free-flowing curve establishes a sense of movement

STEP TWOSTEP THREE

A series of enveloped spaces emerge within the folds of the curve, each serving as a unique canvas

Each space represents the opportunity for discovery and a individual creative expression

INTERACTIVE,COMMUNALEXPERIENCE. The lower level fosters community with a series of engaging activities for kids and parents alike. From group art studios, to an open-format clay bar, to a choose-your-own adventure path along a prominent curve wall, kids are offered freedom of choice. Simultaneously, a cafe and retail experience serves as a communal hub for parents.

REFLECTED CEILING PLAN ENTRANCE

1. ENTRANCE + RECEPTION

2. LIGHT TUNNEL

3. LOUNGE AREA

4. LOCKERS + ART DISPLAY

5. CLAY BAR

6. GROUP ART STUDIO (8-11)

7. GROUP ART STUDIO (5-7)

8. EGRESS CORRIDOR

9. MEN’S RR

10. WOMEN’S RR

11. STORAGE + JANITOR CLOSET

12. RETAIL

13. CAFE

14. CAFE BOH

15. ADA RAMP

16. CAFE PATIO

17. OUTDOOR ART STUDIO

FLOOR PLAN

CLASSROOM (KIDS 8-11)

CLASSROOM (KIDS 5-7)

CLAY BAR

CAFE

PRIVACYANDINTROSPECTION. The second floor houses more private spaces for patients and staff. Color blocked private therapy rooms are designed to aid wayfinding and evoke specific emotions, while lounge and individual activity spaces are carved out of the form of the curved wall.

REFLECTED CEILING PLAN

1. LOUNGE AREAS

2. DIGITAL ART ZONE

3. MEETING / INTAKE ROOM

4. PRIVATE THERAPY ROOM 1

5. PRIVATE THERAPY ROOM 2

6. PRIVATE THERAPY ROOM 3

7. SENSORY INTEGRATION ROOM

8. EGRESS CORRIDOR

9. MEN’S RR

10. WOMEN’S RR

11. STAFF BREAK ROOM

12. STAFF PATIO

13. THERAPY PATIO

14. CAFE MEZZANINE SEATING

FLOOR PLAN

UNIVERSAL DESIGN: CREATING A SPACE FOR EVERYONE

WAYFINDING VIA COLOR

CLEAR SIGHTLINES

ADA-ACCESSIBLE RAMP

ACCESS TO OUTDOORS

ENCLOSED NOOKS AND VARIED SEATING HEIGHTS

SCALABLE, SENSORYDRIVEN EXPERIENCES

EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN:

INFORMING FF&E SELECTIONS

PALETTE

HEALTHY NATURAL MATERIALITY

MESS-FREE, CLEANABLE

INTERACTIVE

TACTILE

COLOR TO AID WAYFINDING + CREATIVITY

SOFTER SCHEMES

CUSTOMIZATION BASED ON AGE + TASK

ACOUSTIC PANELING

FURNITURE

MODULAR, RECONFIGURABLE CUSTOMIZABLE

VARIED SEATING HEIGHTS + POSTURES ADJUSTABLE

ORGANIC, SOFT

CURVED AND ROUNDED FORMS

ALTERNATE SURFACES

LIGHTING

SOFT UNIFORM

NATURAL CUSTOMIZABLE COLOR CHANGING

EMPHASIS ON NATURAL LIGHT WINDOWS REQUIRED

COMMERCIAL NEXT ROBOTICS OFFICE

Driven by STEM-based educational principles, NEXT inspires future generations of coders through robotics, The company’s new R&D headquarters in Boston’s Seaport District builds on this mission, while accounting for the post-Covid workplace evolution.

Through the concept of “traversing a framework,” the space encourages circulation around a curvilinear path anchored by collaboration zones. In contrast, rectilinear elements frame focus and functional spaces.

Through this combination, NEXTers simultaneously follow and break out of this “framework for innovation” as they influence the future of robotics.

Boston, MA

101 Seaport Blvd

12,000 SF

R&D HUB

GUIDING SHAPE + FORM

CIRCULATION

Traverse

COLLABORATION

Curvilinear

FOCUS/FUNCTION

Rectilinear

Where the I-93 tunnel traverses across a network

CONCEPT DIAGRAM Traversing a Framework

1.

8.

REFLECTED CEILING PLAN

SKETCHES

Sample lighting selections

RECEPTION

2. ROBOT TEST ZONE + RETAIL DISPLAY

3. PHONE ROOMS

4. WORK CAFE

5. PROJECT ROOM

6. HOME MOCK-UP

7. WORKSTATIONS

INCLUSIVE DESIGN LAB

9. MEETING ROOM

10. PRIVATE OFFICES

11. TEAM SPACES

12. PRODUCT STORAGE

13. RESOURCE ROOM

14. MOTHER’S ROOM

15. WELLNESS ROOM

ENTRY + ROBOT TEST ZONE

The heart of the office sits directly across from reception. Curved stadium seating surrounds the robot test zone - a turf surface where NEXT’s designers and engineers can test the latest product models. The stadium is also integrated with a custom retail display featuring the company’s product lineup. Additionally, the modular space lends itself to impromptu meetings and town halls, as sliding acoustical curtains and a pull-down projector transform the area.

DEDICATED TEAM SPACES

WAYFINDING DIAGRAM INFORMED BY COLOR

DESIGN Purple (Creativity)

ENGINEERING Blue (Technology)

PRODUCT Green (Growth)

MATERIALS Aqua (Innovation)

FINISHES PALETTE

CONFERENCEROOM

CONSUMER HOME MOCK-UP

HEALTHCARE

NIIH CHILDREN’S INN

The Children’s Inn provides no-cost residential services to children, teens and young adults receiving treatment at the National Institute of Health.

Supporting the Inn’s mantra of the “Inn of the Future,” my Studio class was tasked with submitting designs for two additions - a tower called the “Beacon of Hope” and a courtyard.

In partnership with three of my classmates, we developed spaces inspired by looking through a kaleidoscope to capture joy, wonder and endless possibilities.

TEAMPROJECT

Role:

Concept Development

Lead Designer (Courtyard)

Graphics

FF&E Selection

Bethesda, MD

7 West Drive

600 SF (Indoors)

1,700 SF (Outdoors)

The Children’s Inn sits directly across from the NIH Clinical Center, where all the Inn’s residents receive treatment. The “Beacon of Hope” tower will be the first sighting of the Inn as they leave clinical trials. It will also be visible from the new courtyard.

THE CONCEPT: KALEIDOSCOPE

Project Scope

Tower + Courtyard

Upcoming Renovation

CONCEPT DIAGRAM

RotateShift Overlap

BlendRefract

TOWER

ASPACEFOREVERYONE. The tower is an immersive experience as unique as each guest. The kaleidoscope is enjoyed on the first floor as a space for exploration and on the second floor as a meditative environment.

Overlapping Kaleidoscope Sculptures

Quiet Lounge

Interactive Smart Boards

SOUTH SECTION (NTS)

Treasure Boxes

COURTYARD

ABACKYARDOASIS. Designed to embody the feeling of being in one’s backyard, the courtyard offers a cozy, immersive and multi-functional space for guests of any age. Framed by glass kaleidoscopic elements on either side, the courtyard captures the same sense of wonder as the Beacon of Hope.

BUILDING CONTEXT (NTS)

Play Area

Flexible Seating

Fire Pits

FLOORPLAN

Built-In Gameboard

View Towards Interior Double Height Glass Feature Built-In Benches

(NTS)

RESIDENTIAL + EXHIBIT ARTIST LIVE-WORK SPACE

Inspired by the dreamy creations of Danish glass artist Helle Mardahl, this work-live space showcases expansion. Mirrored in Mardahl’s colorful designs, expansion occurs upward and outward.

Visitors enter narrow spaces that expand into open living and working zones. Arches provide a sense of upward motion, while housing builtins and display cases. With Mardahl’s ethos infused throughout, the space evokes joy, play, magic and wonder.

Washington DC

1847 14th ST NW

2,200 SF

HOSPITALITY RIPPLES CAFE

Inspired by Georgetown’s Volta Laboratory and Bureau (founded by Alexander Graham Bell as a research center for the Deaf), as well as nearby Gallaudet University, Ripples Cafe is a coffeshop that caters to DC’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.

Centered around the action of rippling (defined as flowing with the rise and fall of sound), this openconcept cafe integrates design criteria set forth by Gallaudet’s architectural program, DeafSpace, to create an inclusive environment for guests.

DEAFSPACE PRINCIPLES

EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN

Digital Signage ft. Order Status

Retail Table Selling Goods Made by Local Hard-ofHearing Artists

Window Shelves to Diffuse Direct Sunlight

Curved Walls for Rhythmic Visual Cues

Round Tables to Aid Conversation

Wall Colors That Contrast Range of Human Skin Tones for Sign Language

Concrete Floors to Absorb Sound

CUSTOM CREATED MILLWORK

Banquettes, Service Counter, Coffee Bar

FINISHES PALETTE