Getting to the heart of Interior Design

Kelly DeVore, Assistant Professor and Chair of Interior Design, shares what’s shaping the industry and how CCAD prepares its designers to be on the cutting edge for their entire careers — even after the shiplap ship has sailed.

Illustration by Jacob Cartagena (Illustration, 2018) for CCAD Student Agency

How can interior design tell a story?

Interior Design is about how people inhabit and interact with their environments. It has a direct relationship to how people feel. Our home is about the light, sounds, smells, and people living inside those spaces. Commercial design and companies are the same. It’s about the whole experience.

What are some current trends in interior design?

There are “trendy” things, like tiny houses and shiplap, but we focus on a user-centered design approach so our students can respond to the heart of the matter: How will someone use and benefit from that space?

In what ways is the story of interior design misunderstood?

The professional world of interior design is complex and more related to architecture and user experience than simply “decorating.”

What distinguishes interior design at CCAD?

CCAD students experience a wide range of project types, professional opportunities, and facets of interior design so they can navigate how to influence the world of design through their interests. The market is driving toward a more holistic way of thinking about space, products, services, light, and sounds— all as pieces of a bigger picture narrative about a company or individual.

What cool projects are CCAD Interior Design students working on?

We always have something new going on, which is very exciting. This semester, we have students designing active spaces for teens with Down syndrome and investigating how an environment can affect people with PTSD. We have a group working on mobile retail solutions for Airstream. And our juniors are designing retail spaces to inspire a collection by our Fashion Design students, just to name a few.

Learn more about Interior Design at CCAD or apply here.