Marymount University was well-represented at a recent American Society of Interior Designers panel discussion, with three alumni and Interior Design Department Chair Douglas Seidler talking about the connection between education and the industry, issues surrounding mentorships, and how the needs of emerging professionals may be shifting.
“A lot of the discussion focused on attracting and retaining talented young professionals and how they can best support the mission of an architectural or interior design firm,” Seidler said. “One area they can be thought leaders is with emerging technology. Another is through evidence-based design.”
Seidler said young designers instinctively turn to social science journals and data bases to find research that relates to particular projects.
The Marymount alumni included:
- Michelle Bendit, (bachelor’s degree, ’15) an interior designer at Perkins Eastman
- Tama Duffy Day, (master’s 2008), health & wellness practice area leader, Gensler
- Charlie Turner, (master’s 2006) director of interior design, Chambers
The Washington Metro Chapter’s Spring Industry Panel was held March 23 at the Lutron Commercial Experience Center in Washington, D.C. It was led by Kia Weatherspoon, principal of Determined by Design and a former MU adjunct faculty member. Other panelists included Annie Elliott, the principal designer and CEO of Bossy Color, and Matt Karner, an architecture and design representative for Knoll.
“The event certainly reinforced how connected and respected our program is in the D.C. interior design community,” Seidler said.
Marymount University is an independent, coeducational Catholic university offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in a wide range of disciplines.
Photo caption
Marymount University was well-represented at a recent American Society of Interior Designers panel discussion. From left: Kia Weatherspoon, a former MU adjunct faculty member; Michelle Bendit, Class of ’15; Interior Design Department Chair Douglas Seidler; Tama Duffy Day, master’s ’08; Charlie Turner, master’s ’06; Annie Elliott; and Matt Karner.
