Sydney Robinson 2024 Portfolio

sydney robinson

introduction

214-548-2682 sydneyarob@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-a-robinson

Hi! My name is Sydney Robinson and I’m from Dallas, Texas. I am a senior at Texas State University where I will receive a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences in Interior Design in Summer 2024. As a designer, I value inclusivity and diversity, which reflects the world around us. My inspiration comes from a variety of individuals ranging from strangers to family members. Driven by innovative design solutions, I enjoy pushing boundaries to enhance user health and well-being. As an up incoming designer, I am eager to learn, collaborate and grow in curiosity. Here are a few projects done in my time at Texas State University.

01 02 03 04 05 the

qwell affordable housing personal expressions about me

01 01 the ranch

ranch life: bringing the best of the outdoors, indoors

The clients of this remodel seek to age in place while emphasizing the need for ADA accomodations. With unexpected life challenges, the remodel also requires a new addition for multigenerational living to assist in navigating daily needs.

The new design for the ranch will include an open floor plan to provide an ease of navigation for the clients aging in place. The design will also strengthen the circulation of the space while highlighting privacy among multi-generations to allow clients to live individually. The ranch will become a modern twist to a western aesthetic through the use of local natural materials and architectural features. Warm and neutral colors will support the relaxing environment intended for the home such as browns, tans, and an accent color of blue. This color scheme will complement and balance the harmony between the interior and exterior.

design development

mood board

inspiration

The longhorns surrounding the site in Johnson City serves as the main aspect of inspiration for the ranch remodel. The circulation emulates the horns as it is the transition between the main house and the new addition. The head of the longhorn represents the central gathering area: the living room. With designated areas for aging in place and multigenrational living, providing a space for the clients to engage as a family serves as its center.

Materiality through the use of wood, exposed brick, warm colors with an accent color blue will address an western aesthetic.

ranch

design goals

age in place

multigenerational living

universal design

space diagram

site plan

provide safety, comfort, and familiarity

definitive areas to emphasize privacy

ADA accomodations to aid daily life and promote user well-being

studio i: residential design

detailed site plan

main house floor plan

new addition floor plan

new addition | living room

The living room has a curvilinear accent wall, acting as the head of the longhorn, to promote user engagement and intimacy in this central gathering space. The seating provides options with arms to accommodate the elderly as they utilize this space.

new addition | kitchen

The kitchen utilizes reclaimed wood from the main house for countertops while modernizing the space with simplistic lines and open cabinetry. With an earth tone palette most similar to nature in Johnson City, the bay window emits not only natural light, but brings the outdoors, in.

02 02 waterloo central

walk

of life: from isolation to community

Waterloo central aims to create a positively stimulating interior environment that offers unique experiential hospitality design that will entertain guest chefs, high and middle end seating options, Waterloo interpretive area, and a flexible art gallery space. The concept behind Waterloo Central derives from Waterloo Greenway trails combined with the global adjustment toward a sense of normalcy from the lingering effects of the Covid-19 Virus.

The design will highlight a circulation that will prompt user interaction leading into the dining space (community). The divide of the art gallery on the ground level creates a space for users to gain an interactive experience coming and going. A mixture of natural as well as industrial materiality will assist with wayfinding throughout the space while creating a comfortable environment for the community

design development

mood board

inspiration

Community is defined as a group of individuals connected to each other by one or more attributes where the element that links them is at the core. The isolation of the Covid-19 virus disrupted the way users engage with each other. To mend the broken relationship, Waterloo Central will serve as a space to integrate back into community.

Materiality will remain as an industrial style throughout the space with vertical emphasis as told through local natural wood.

design goals

community flexibility experience interaction

space diagram

original floor plan

inclusive to all users

adaptable spaces to meet needs of user

LEED sustainablity to support well-being encouarge engagement within Austin

studio ii: hospitality design

parti

night view of the bar

Industrial materiality is shown through the use of floor to ceiling windows with exposed beams.

To reiterate the high end atmosphere, the bar is well-lit for evening hours with visual heirachy toward the bar itself.

waterloo central | dining

As the user individually experiences the journey through the art gallery, the path leads to the dining, the core linking space. The layout of the seating also mimics the path to community with intial use of rectilinear and curvilinear furniture.

waterloo central | mini kitchen/dining

To further join users together, guest chefs will have a mini kitchen on display to demonstrate and promote local businesses. In this way, guest chefs will also have the opportunity to interact and engage with the Austin community.

03 03 next office

concealed | revealed

NEXT aims to construct a workplace that reflects the current generation while balancing the functional needs that span a multigeneration of workers. Collaboration amongst workers and clients is a precedent for the present and longevity in the future.

The NEXT office will utilize concealing and revealing shared social spaces to promote the flexibility of a worker. This will be implemented by utilizing not only walls, but furniture to conceal/ reveal spaces. The office will also separate high and low acoustic spaces to further emphasize the concept. The site is in between city + forest and aims to highlight these differences by the use of materials and color. By mimicking the elements surrounding the site, the balance of these contrasting ideas will shape a workplace worth experiencing.

design development

mood board

inspiration

The concept is inspired by the Great Trinity Forest, aka the “Best Kept Secret In Texas” (CBS News), which is 20 minutes from downtown Dallas. The forest is hidden which cannot be seen from the city and is not well known within the Dallas community. Concealed and revealed aspects of space will further support distinctive areas for heads down work and spaces for collaboration.

Materials include organic shapes and forms to emulate the surrounding site of the Great Trinity Forest. Accent colors will follow earth tone colors to create a relaxing yet productive environment for workers.

design goals

community flexibility experience

acoustic balance

space diagram

user engagement throughout office

promote flexibility of a worker

mimic elements surrounding the site for visual engagement separate high and low acoustic spaces

studio iii: office design

original floor plan

3rd floor isometric

level 3 floor plan

logo

custom reception desk

front view

privacy screen for receptionist

top view mimics the border of Great Trinity Forest

side view

ADA sign in nook

next office| reception/entry

A central focus point for clients and workers alike to enter and recognize NEXT. The custom reception desk is an ode to the Great Trinity Forest as it is the outline. The accent wall acts as a barrier between the entry and cafe to conceal and soon reveal.

next office| work cafe

The cafe is located in the center of the space to mimic the concealment/reveal of the Great Trinity Forest. The adjacency to the client presentation room allows for clients and workers to easily grab refreshments.

04 04 qwell

convergence: stories to be told

Qwell aims to inhabit a mixed use facility that supports the LGBTQIA+ community with a special interest in affordable senior housing, a queer owned business, an overnight unhoused center and a queer focused community center.

Three marginalized groups include people of color, the unhoused, and the LGBT population who each face a unique set of challenges. The concept draws inspiration from the overlooked stories of these marginalized communities, whose voices are often unheard or silenced. Qwell’s community concept will bridge the variety of these diverse paths to shared points of convergence. The communal spaces will embody this central theme, with a blend of public and private areas branching out from the heart of engagement, promoting unity and inclusivity.

design development

mood board

inspiration

With these three marginalized groups and their shared set of societal burdens, Qwell’s mission to cultivate a refuge while fostering a strong sense of community will be achieved throughout this space.

Honoring the building’s historical significance and the stories it holds, local Austin materials will be utilized, complemented by a palette of soft tonal colors with contrasting elements to aid in wayfinding and will emphasize unique perspectives while ensuring a hub for all.

design goals

privacy adaptability

unity independence inclusivity

space diagram

quick sketches

independence with secure environment

accomodations for those with disabilities

user interaction in communal spaces sense of self-reliance for seniors

users to coinhabit spaces with equal access to services provided

parti

qutopia

The Qutopia Large Event Center is one of the larger points of convergence for this level, prompting all users and local businesses to gather.

unhoused center

rooftop dining

The Unhoused center serves as a place of refuge for the unhoused to dwell with all walks of life.

The Rooftop dining is a bonus space of convergence for the restaurant while revamping the historic building.

qwell | reception

Qwell is located in the point of convergence from the path of entry. The terrazzo flooring highlights the reception as the heart of engagement by visually signaling the difference between the circulation (path).

qwell | two bedroom one bathroom unit

This 2 bedroom/ 1 bathroom unit incorporates variation of wall color to provide familiarity and adaptability for seniors. Residences are in close proximity to points of convergence and promotes user engagement.

05 05 personal expressions

unhoused, not unhuman

The reasons behind homelessness are commonly misunderstood and can lead to harmful stereotypes, causing housed individuals to unintentionally look down upon them. Over the past year, I have engaged with people who live among the streets of downtown areas, seeking to understand their unique situations. These interactions provide unhoused individuals with a sense of trust, comfort and connection within the community. Through my quick sketches, my aim was to capture the beauty of each person, focusing on who they are rather than their circumstances.

design

I love observing the nature that is among us and I feel at peace when I hear waves crashing or birds singing.

In my free time, I draw or make graphics. I created a flyer for the first majorette team at Texas State University for their annual dance showcase.

graphic