A Student's Perspective

Tom Van Dessel, Owner/President of SPLASHWORKS speaks with Stephen and Paige from Spring 2023 High Point Market in the SPLASHWORKS ‘Shoffice’.

”Art and technology meet at SPLASHWORKS, where their team of artisans and detail-minded manufacturing mavens work side by side to design and make artful home decor, including wall art, decorative pillows, fabric wall covering and more! SPLASHWORKS game changing technologies allow the faithful reproduction of original art, custom graphics, and content of all ilk directly onto fabric. We have few limitations and love a challenge. The SPLASHWORKS showroom, studio and complete manufacturing facility are located in a 100-year old hosiery warehouse, made over with a fresh modern vibe”

Along with the aesthetic products that SPLASHWORKS offers, Tom has leveraged years of experience in the manufacturing and furniture industries focused on acoustics within design to create a breathtaking blend of functional and aesthetic products for residential and commercial spaces. 

Additionally Tom is at the forefront of the revitalization and reimagination of High Point as a year round design destination as Chair of the Board of Directors for Highpoint X Design. 

Gabriella Nowak speaks with Gabriella Bermea, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, Associate Design Architect at VLK Architects in Austin, Texas. Recognized by the AIA Austin with a 2023 Emerging Professionals Award, and currently nominated for an Austin Under 40 Award, Gabby is an inspiring guest to wrap up season 8 of A Student’s Perspective. Gabby “has a passion for philanthropy, education, and advocacy, with an architectural specialization is in the K-12 sector, with a focus on long range facility planning, design, and construction of educational institutions. Gabriella is an advocate for public education students, currently serving as a board member for her local education foundation and as the SchoolsNEXT Regional Coordinator for the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), focused on creating the ‘School of the Future’ as designed by partnering K-12 schools. A champion for bringing new voices to the profession, she serves as the Director of Student Recruitment with ACE Mentor Program of Austin and is the Communications Director for the Young Architects Forum and Editor-in-Chief of Connection Magazine. This overlap of mentorship, advocacy, and service influenced her to further her knowledge and skills in architecture, philanthropic service, and K-12 design.”

We are grateful to Gabby for taking time to speak with us and we are sure that this conversation will resonate with young designers and students contemplating their role in design.

Make sure to like, follow, and subscribe to keep up with all of the inspiring conversations to come this Fall in season 9.

Stephen Garrison speaks with Cheresse Thornhill-Goldson, Director of S.E.E.D. at adidas. Cheresse has been an educator and Industrial Designer focusing on the shoe design industry, working for companies like Nike and currently adidas.

Cheresse believes in design as a service and wants to "transform the world by leveraging diversity of thought and creativity to create innovative design solutions, teams, processes and strategies that in turn inspire and unleash the potential of all creatives."

Hear Cheresse speak about design education does outside of the traditional classroom, and empowering creatives to explore their fullest potential and continue to build a space for all voices within the design industry now and in the future.

We are grateful to Cheresse for taking time to speak with us and we are sure that this conversation will resonate with young designers and students contemplating their role in design. Make sure to like, follow, and subscribe to keep up with all of the inspiring conversations to come in season 8.

Paige speaks with Jim Bastardo, Photographer/Art Director at Bastardo Studio.Jim Bastardo’s photos have been featured in many media venues across various design segments, from fashion, jewelry, lifestyle, product, and furniture.

If you are a fan of design in any form, you have most likely marveled over one of Jim’s photos of the world’s most iconic furniture designs for Design Within Reach, Heller Furniture, and numerous others.

Hear Jim speak about how your education does not end at graduation, but only begins again as you learn in the field and can apply your own aesthetic to new and allied areas if you are open to the opportunities.

We are grateful to Jim for taking time to speak with us and we are sure that this conversation will resonate with young designers and students contemplating their role in design.Make sure to like, follow, and subscribe to keep up with all of the inspiring conversations to come in season 8.

Gabriella speaks with Arezoo Mohebpour, architect and co-host of the Design to connect podcast with Hadil El-Baba.

We talk about Arezoo using social media as a means of reflection on her experiences in the architecture industry and finding that she was not alone. There are more opportunities than ever to connect with people around the world who are sharing similar journeys and to build your network of support. It is okay to know that there needs to be questions asked and to not know the answer(s), but sharing the load of searching will allow for the greatest growth potential.

We are grateful to Arezoo for taking time to speak with us and we are sure that this conversation will resonate with young designers and students contemplating their role in design.

Make sure to like, follow, and subscribe to keep up with all of the inspiring conversations to come in season 8.

Courtney and Jen speak with Aimee Kurzner , Director of Furniture at Currey & Company about how the design processes during school continue into the professional world, learning from the past and working through ‘mistakes’ helps to create successful product.  Hear about how how Aimee has navigated the home furnishings industry at various scales leading to her position as Director of Furniture at Currey & Company.

Jen and Maia speak with Dawn Sweitzer, Designer, Artist, & Owner of Dawn Sweitzer Studio, and special guest Milvia Ricca, former Director of Product Development for Anthropologie, about how they each made their way into the design industry. In this clip hear about how they capitalized on their allied talents and interests and immersed themselves in the cultures of the makers and artisans that they were able to meet in order to develop a truly authentic approach to design.

We are grateful to Dawn for welcoming us into her studio during Spring High Point Market 2022 and she and Milvia for taking time to speak with us.

Stephen  Garrison, producer/director of A Student’s Perspective, speaks with  almost all of the ASP hosts that you have followed during the 4 years  that we have been bringing you encouraging and enlightening  conversations about the design community…from a student’s perspective.   We recap the journey of the first 100 episodes and begin to look towards  the next 100.

Cruz  Garcia, artist, architect, theorist, activist, curator, educator, and  co-founder of WAI Think Tank with his partner Nathalie Frankowski,  speaks with Jen on his multi-faceted approach to physical and  theoretical design through the lens of human emancipation at many  levels.  As designers we have a potential role in not only the spaces  that shelter people in their daily lives, but also in creating a just  and equitable relationship for all people with their environments.

Tobias  Harris Wangsadihardja, otherwise known as Tobias Harris W.,  speaks  with Maia on his 15+ years of leadership in Human to Environment  Interaction design and his proven expertise in experiential design for  global brands. His unique approach to creating a memorable physical and  emotional brand experience is based on his deep love of the art of  living life, where aspiration is balanced with reality to achieve  greatness.  Tobias has worked on projects for major national and  international companies and retailers such as Coca-Cola, Hilton  Worldwide, Samsung, Serta, Target, 5/3 Bank, McDonald’s, KFC,  Chick-Fil-A, Pizza Hut, Busch Worlds of Discovery-Dubai, and Hershey  Chocolate World, and now wants to explore how human centered experience  principles that are so integral to successful retail designs can be  applied to homes, products, and other everyday interactions.

Christopher  Grubb, award winning interior designer, product designer, and host for  House Tipster, speaks with Katie and Maia from the ZUO Modern Showroom  during Fall High Point Market 2021.  Christopher speaks about the  development of his career into the realm of furniture and product design  and how he values education and connection as he speaks around the  country at various trade shows and exhibitions.

John  Conrad, Executive Director of the International Society of Furniture  Designers, and the Design Between the Lines podcast, speaks with Katie  and Maia from Congdon Yards during Fall High Point Market 2021.  John  speaks to the evolution of his career and how he has seen the industry  adapt to the unprecedented global pandemic.  Hear about how the ISFD  works to support and connect students with industry professionals  through competitions, internships, and networking events.

Henning  and Camille Martin-Thomsen talk with Katie about their careers in both  academia as well as the profession of architecture and how each  influences the other and allows them to grow fuller as designers.  They  speak to the equity of good design no matter the station of the client  or location or scope of the project, everyone deserves quality design.

Also  hear how their roles as educators allows for their students to  influence their personal designs, whether through their investigative  curiosity, or introducing new disciplines to Henning and Camille’s  framework.

Marketing  Maven Serena Martin spoke with Katie and Vanessa live from the Phillips  Collection showroom during Fall High Point Market 2021. Hear Serena  speak to her love of connecting people and finding out the stories and  strengths of each of her clients throughout the years has allowed her to  work with some of the top brands and individuals in the home  furnishings industry. Serena’s boundless drive has led her to launch her  personal marketing consultancy for the home industry, 24/7 Creative  Agency, as well as recently signing on to become the full-time Director  of Marketing for the award winning Phillips Collection.

Educator,  author, and designer Stephanie Sickler speaks with Maia about how  choosing to appreciate the often overlooked parts of design education  can set you apart in a sea of other graduates, as well as the importance  of building and maintaining industry networks throughout your career.

Stephanie  coordinates the Foundation Design sequence for Interior Architecture at  Florida State University, as well as owning Chrysalis Fine Fabrics and  Furnishings, and volunteering her time as Director of Service for the  Interior Design Educators Council .

Designer  Robin Baron speaks with Vanessa and Jen about how her love of fashion  blended with interior design (lighting and hardware are the jewelry of  the room) has allowed her to build a successful design career in  furniture, lighting, hardware, textiles, fashion, and beautifully  detailed spaces. Remaining authentic in a budding, and now permeating,  social media age has also been important throughout her career.

Robin  has been featured on @hgtv , @bravotv , @nbc , @openhousetv , and in  @housebeautiful , @elledecor , @traditionalhome , @wsj , @chicagotribune  , as well as being named one of the top 200 Interior Design Influencers  for 2022 by @fixr_com .

Between  the 1950’s and 1970’s American designer Adrian Pearsall was one of  America’s most successful post-war furniture designers while leading  first Craft Associates, and then Comfort Designs. Both companies were  based in Pennsylvania, with Craft Associates at one time being the  largest employer in Wilkes-Barre after its beginnings in the basement of  a Kingston, PA duplex.

Adrian  Pearsall was known for bold designs which brought the ‘high style’ of  the Atomic Age and Mid-Century Modern, to the masses. Here with Bianca ,  Adrian’s son Jim Pearsall recounts his father’s career from the  perspective of both a son and a colleague, having been a manufacturer’s  represenative for Adrian’s designs.