Sulzer (left) and Xu (right)
Two Marymount University interior design graduate students, Gabriella Sulzer and Zhuyun “Joy” Xu, placed first in the graduate category of the national Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Student Competition.
The win was a surprise for the design duo, both of whom are career changers who came to Marymount to pursue their creative passions. Sulzer, a DMV native, began her professional career as a private wealth management consultant with Morgan Stanley in New York, but later decided to return to school and explore a different career path.
“I was thrilled when I found Marymount’s program,” Sulzer said. “I loved that the school was small and that it had the CIDA accreditations I was looking for. Looking at the alumni network, I could see graduates who already had very successful interior design careers in the area, so I knew the Marymount program would be a great professional stepping stone for me.”
Similarly, Xu previously worked full time in data analytics in Toronto, but found herself feeling unfulfilled. Rather than return to a large university environment to study design, Xu opted for Marymount’s smaller, more personalized program.
“In my undergraduate years, I was in classes with 200-plus people and I wasn’t able to make any meaningful connections with my professors,” Xu explained. “What I love about the Marymount experience is the personalized attention I’ve received. I’ve built amazing relationships with my professors and peers, which I know will be useful as I begin my interior design career.”
Sulzer and Xu paired up at a health care seminar and combined their talents to design an intergenerational space that serves a variety of uses and promotes overall wellness.
“The goal of an intergenerational space is not just to have members of multiple generations simply coexist together, but rather help them create meaningful interactions,” Xu said. “We settled on using music as our central theme because our research showed that music is a huge unifying force between generations as people come together to both enjoy and create musical experiences.”
In just two short weeks, Sulzer and Xu designed “Symphony Grove,” a hybrid outdoor and indoor multi-use space that “uses music to create spontaneous interactions between generations.”
“Symphony Grove is an intergenerational space built in a circular infinity-inspired shape, featuring two circles that collide and coexist together, one signifying young and another old,” the presentation details. “The focus was to create a space that bridged the gap between generations using music. This inclusive design encourages exploration, reflection and connection, providing a harmonious environment where all ages can coexist and thrive.”
The space includes built-in musical instruments, such as an interactive floor-embedded piano and a hanging xylophone, that provide a chance for self-guided musical exploration and discovery. The design promotes sustainability by using recycled materials throughout the space and features such as non-slip flooring and non-threshold entries and exits, which increase accessibility.
Upon its completion, Symphony Grove was submitted alongside other student projects to the annual IDEC Student Design Competition and nabbed the top spot in the competitive graduate category.
Adjunct Interior Architecture and Design professor Danya Hakky says the win was no surprise to her, considering the caliber of Sulzer and Xu’s work.
“Both Gabriella and Joy are very talented individuals and designers,” Hakky explained. “They worked very well together, balancing each other and playing to their different strengths. They found ways to push the envelope and propose solutions that were both meaningful and aesthetically engaging.”
Sulzer says the win is a validation for both designers, who are relative newcomers to the design world.
“It was validating for both of us, especially because we came late into the design field and left very lucrative careers to pursue our passions. There’s a lot of uncertainty and a lot of doubt when you do that, so winning a competition like this reminds me that I’m on the right path and that all the risks I’ve taken have been worth it.”
Joe Hicks, Director of Marymount’s School of Design and Art, extended his congratulations to Sulzer and Xu and expressed his hopes that Marymount can continue to help every student achieve their full potential.
“We are always proud of our students, but it’s a greater celebration when they are recognized by national organizations like IDEC,” Hicks said. “These talented Saints earned recognition for their dedication and innovative ideas and won first place in an important competition—this is a testament to the strength of our students, faculty and program.”
