Hello, my name is Sophie Wheeler and I graduated in May of 2024 with a degree in Interior Design and a minor in Spanish from Iowa State University.
This portfolio is a collection of projects and works from my time obtaining my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. These selected works highlight my creativity and personal interests within the world of Interior Design. Thank you for taking the time to explore it.
224-302-3105
sophieew2002@gmail.com sophieewheelerr
PARKS LIBRARY
This Parks Library rennovation project was a group assignment that challenged us to update and improve the Iowa State University library. My group members and I independently created renderings and space plans for the same level of the library, providing useful design feedback and critiques as we moved through the project phases.
My goal with this project was to update Parks Library in a way that would be feasible as well as modern and attractive to the current college students’ needs and wants for a study space. A survey was sent out to collect data about the ways in which students currently use the library, as well as inquiring about improvements to the design and resources offered by the library that would improve the space.
FOURTH FLOOR REFLECTED CEILING PLAN
GROUP STUDY ROOM ELEVATION
acoustic ceiling baffles and lighting
FOLKESTONE STUDIO
This 270 square foot microhome project was completed in an advanced visual communications class, where an emphasis was placed on honing rendering skills and software capabilities.
The microhome located in Upstate New York features sweeping views of the stunning natural surroundings while emulating the warmth and comfort of the sounds of an acoustic guitar. The space maintains a sustainable, space-efficient, and cost-efficient profile while also serving as an innovative sanctuary for the musicians that inhabit the microhome and recording studio. Designed to mimic the familiarity of an old folk song, this space will provide a refuge for musicians looking to spark creativity.
SECOND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
SITE PLAN & SUN STUDY
CONCEPTUAL MOOD BOARD
MICROHOME EXTERIOR
GREEN PLAZA LIVING
This assisted living facility project was a group effort that focused on redesigning the existing AMA Plaza building in Chicago into an assisted living facility for elderly residents. The course contained a large research component, in which we visited a local assisted living facility in Ames, Iowa. This studio also included a field trip to Chicago where we were able to explore the site in person and gather inspiration.
This design was created to suit the needs of seniors in assisted living with a focus on increasing social engagement through a welcoming and supportive environment. The space incorporates accessible and adaptable design solutions to foster a sense of community amongst its residents and staff. It also includes elements which allude to a neighborhood environment to help residents feel more comfortable and at home, while also strengthening the community.
Group Members: Alyssa James, Aidan McGuire, Sierra Kozlowski
I was responsible for designing the staff lounge as well as the living room for the residential units. Group members designed a bar/cafe, cinema, and library feature spaces. We worked collaboratively on space planning and floor plans for each level.
SUITE RCP
SUITE PLAN
FOURTH FLOOR PLAN
The wall detail shown above highlights the main feature wall located in the suite-style residential units of the building. The goal was to create a visually interesting custom feature for the main living area, while maintaining a degree of neutrality. The wall is fabricated from a light wood with bronze inlays to add pattern as well as texture.
THE BRIDGERS BURROW
This luxury residential project was an introduction to the world of high-end home design. The project was a step into designing with professional software as an individual for the first time, and was created using Revit, AutoCAD, and Adobe Photoshop. This luxury vacation home was created for a chosen celebrity client, and allowed for the home to be customized to their own personal taste and needs. A material board, rendered perspectives, plans, and elevations were all considered in the presentation of this project.
This home serves as a refuge for a musician looking for a place to relax and retreat while in an off-season from touring. The spacious and airy recording studio provides a space to create music if inspiration were to strike. The home is built on the Oregon coast, and features sweeping views of both ocean and forest.
RECORDING STUDIO RENDERINGS
RENDERED FLOOR PLANS
BATHROOM ELEVATION
KITCHEN ELEVATION NORTH
BURBERRY SHOP-IN-SHOP
This project served as an introduction to creating product details in AutoCAD for the first time, as well as providing a chance to expand upon our rendering and Photoshop skills. This luxury retail shop project also provided an opportunity to grow more comfortable experimenting with unique materials and custom details in a more in-depth way. This studio involved numerous site visits to luxury shopping centers throughout Italy, and provided a challenging and exciting opportunity to grow as a designer.
This luxury retail shop is located within the high-end shopping establishment, La Rinascente, in Rome, Italy. The client for this project was Burberry, a British luxury fashion brand that is known for their timeless winter weather garments. This project challenged us as designers to explore the balance between representing an established brand identity with a personal interpretation of an interior space. Group Members: Aidan McGuire
To the left is an axonometric view of the Burberry shop-in-shop within this floor of
The display shelving shown below was to explore creating digital detail drawings
The measurements use the metric system, an additional learning curve within the Rome
location of the La Rinascente. a first chance drawings in AutoCAD. system, which was Rome program.
RENDERED FLOOR PLAN
This glass feature partition in the front of the shop is inspired by the most recent iteration of the iconic Burberry monogram. By re imagining the colorful monogram as a monotone pattern, the glass element becomes a transparent window in the store.
ADDITIONAL WORKS
These additional drawings and photographs were completed during my time at Iowa State University, and help to showcase relevant artistic skills and interests. Having experience with hands-on media has been important to improving my general design credentials and related abilities.
DRAW(IN)G ROME
These Micron pen drawings were completed in Rome, Italy while studying abroad and living there. The subject matter showcases the winding and intimate alleyways of Rome. The drawings are completed entirely in Micron pen, and required an intense level of detail and care to complete. This drawing course was a challenging addition to the simultaneous design studios, and provided a chance to explore hands-on media in an otherwise very digital landscape.
CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHY
Live music has always played a very large role in my life, both as a personal hobby and also as a way of connecting with others. Concert photography is something that has transformed from a minor hobby into a way to dive deeper into Photoshop and Lightroom and push my creative boundaries.
