FSU School of Design

As our four-week London Study Abroad program comes to an end, we reflect on a semester filled with discovery, inspiration, and unforgettable experiences.

Throughout their time overseas, our students explored some of the world’s most influential architectural and design landmarks while engaging deeply with the history and culture of their surroundings.

Swipe through to read some of their favorite aspects/memories of their time abroad!

📸: Emerson Lewis (Slides 1-4)

Week 3 of our Design Studies program in London brought another incredible mix of architectural and design history, design theory, craftsmanship, and cultural immersion.

Students began the week at the iconic Queen’s House, where they experienced Inigo Jones’ celebrated Tulip Stairs firsthand. From there, students explored Old Royal Naval College through an architectural tour that included the breathtaking Painted Hall, the Chapel, and the historic Skittle Alley. The group then traveled to Brighton, experiencing the energy and character of one of England’s most vibrant seaside cities while observing how leisure, tourism, and coastal identity shape the built environment. Students also visited multiple showrooms during Clerkenwell design week.

Later in the week, students visited Red House, the home designed by William Morris and Philip Webb, where they explored the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement and its lasting influence on design, materiality, and making. The week concluded with visits to both Leighton House and Sambourne House, offering students an immersive look at Victorian interiors, artistic identity, storytelling through space, and the layered relationship between art, architecture, and domestic life.

One of the most rewarding parts of this program continues to be watching students make meaningful connections across sites and time periods; exploring how historical, civic, natural, and technological influences, along with natural disasters, craftsmanship, ornamentation, and culture, continue to shape the way we experience and design spaces today.

From Palladian villas to museums and even prehistoric monuments, Week 2 in London immersed our Design Studies program students in the power of design to shape experience, culture, and memory.

This past week included visits to Chiswick House, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Sir John Soane’s Museum where students examined how architecture, interiors, collections, and landscapes shape human experience through light, movement, materiality, and narrative. Students also attended Hamilton, exploring the role of stage, lighting, and performance design in creating immersive storytelling experiences.

The week concluded with a trip to Bath, Stourhead House and Gardens, and Stonehenge, prompting conversations about urban planning, preservation, ritual landscapes, and the enduring human desire to create meaningful places.

One of the best parts of study abroad is watching students connect ideas across disciplines and recognize that great design is never just about aesthetics; it shapes how we feel, interact, and remember.

The 2026 Design Studies Program is officially underway, and our new cohort of 13 interdisciplinary students began the term with a climb to the top of Christopher Wren’s St Paul’s Cathedral. Starting 528 steps above the city offered the perfect frame for what this month is about: shifting perspectives, reading the built environment closely, and engaging London as a living laboratory of design.

In the weeks ahead, students will move through an extraordinary range of sites and experiences, from the domestic worlds of Leighton House and Sambourne House to the architectural clarity of Chiswick House, from the V&A and Design Museum, to Greenwich’s Painted Hall, from Clerkenwell Design Week to the radical language of Brutalist architecture. The program will also extend beyond London, including time in Bath, Brighton, and the botanical landscapes of Kew Gardens.

Each visit invites students to consider how design operates across time, culture, and discipline. Last week’s climb set the tone, and London has much more to reveal.

And, they’re just getting started.

Undergraduate Spotlight of the Month: Honors in the Major 🌟

This month, we’re proud to highlight Julia and Ellie for their incredible work in FSU’s Honors in the Major in the Interior Architecture and Design program—where students have the opportunity to explore meaningful, research-driven design topics and push their thinking beyond the classroom.

Julia shares:
“I focused on rethinking Aging-in-Place by examining how intergenerational communities can reduce social isolation and create more supportive, engaging environments. I investigated how interior spaces can be intentionally designed to encourage daily interaction, connection, and a sense of belonging across generations… It pushed me to think more critically about the role of interior design, showing me how impactful it can be in shaping healthier, more inclusive environments.”

Ellie reflects:
“I was really excited to pursue Honors in the Major because of my interest in sustainability and the environment… Through this experience, I was able to dive into The WELL Building Standard and learn how it can actively support student wellbeing. It pushed me to think more intentionally as a designer and showed me how meaningful our work can be.”

We are so proud of Julia and Ellie for using design as a tool to address real-world challenges and create more thoughtful, impactful spaces.

Congratulations to you both! 👏✨

Professor Londy’s graduate class, Graphic Design Foundations 2, had the privilege of having a special guest speaker, accomplished mural artist and graphic designer Amoz Ben Wright!

Amoz was on location in Venice Beach when he called in to chat with the class and share some of his work. Amoz, a Chicago native, and graduate of Depaul University, was discussing the value of capturing design opportunities when they arise; these “serendipitous moments” that could change the entire trajectory of your career. After sharing his creativity, a few stories, and words of wisdom, he thoughtfully discussed the part of design that very few love to embrace (The Financials) - how and what to charge for time/ materials, pay structure, and knowing when to hire a professional for these for help in these things. He is a creative that embraces community, bridging culture, art and design to bring people together.

We are thankful for the time he spent with us! A link to his website: https://www.sonamoz.com/

What a year of awesomeness for students in the Department of Interior Architecture & Design!

Another year of that first step into design, a demanding year of growth and development, and a final year of celebration and success.

Heckuva time to be a Florida State Seminole. Go Noles!

As we wrap up the spring semester, we want to extend our sincere thanks to the mentors who generously worked with Studio VI students this semester on their developing capstone projects. This year’s work spans a wide range of project types, including hospitality, sports, museum design, mixed‑use/retail, immersive entertainment, cruise ship design, and an adolescent trauma teen center, and benefited deeply from your real‑world insight and professional guidance.

Your expertise, time, and thoughtful feedback played a critical role in shaping these projects and supporting our students as they transition into professional practice.

Thank you to our Studio VI mentors:
Hannah Smith, Chandler Bonney, Maurer Architecture / Beyer Blinder Belle, Gregory Ashton, Jenn Lindner, Stacey Twigg, Amy Lowey, Ashley Becklund, Gaby Landa, and Karen Hansen.

Your willingness to engage with students, share real‑world insight, and challenge their thinking made this capstone experience truly meaningful. We are grateful for your partnership and the impact you’ve had on the next generation of designers.

The students are Sarah Tavares presenting her immersive, neuroinclusive theatre design and Nicky Valencia Arrieta presenting her play-oriented, family-friendly hotel.

🌟 Faculty of the Month: Jim Dawkins 🌟

We’re proud to recognize our department chair, Jim Dawkins, as Faculty of the Month!

An architect by passion in every sense—through education, practice, and teaching—Jim earned his BA in Design (’86) and Master of Architecture (’88) from Clemson University. After 20 years of professional experience in Atlanta, Georgia and Vail, Colorado, he followed a calling to education in 2009, joining FSU at a pivotal moment of growth and transition within the program. His expertise in hand sketching, drawing, and hospitality design continues to shape the foundation of our students’ learning.

Beyond his experience, Professor Dawkins’s positive personality and approachable nature are a defining part of our program. He is a constant source of support, a trusted guide, and always willing to lend a helping hand to students and faculty alike.

We are incredibly grateful for his leadership and the lasting impact he makes on our IAD community every day.

Thank you, Professor Dawkins, for all that you do! 👏✨

Graduate Highlight of the Month 🌟

This month, we’re proud to highlight our graduate students who attended the IDEC Annual Conference, where they engaged with emerging ideas, research, and conversations shaping the future of interior design.

Stephanie Altamirano is an MFA Interior Design candidate at FSU and a Florida native from Palm Beach, where she also earned her undergraduate degree in interior design. She shares:
“The IDEC Annual Conference challenged how I see the future of interior design and made me more aware of the purpose behind what we do. I was especially surprised by how intrigued I was by conversations around AI in design practice and education, which left me more excited to see where the field is heading.”

Sarah Aldwaikat is an MS (Thesis Track) student from Jordan, pursuing her goal of earning a PhD and building a career in academia, with a focus on how cultural perspectives in design can connect people across the world. She reflects:
“Attending my first conference in Chicago was a turning point for me. It opened my eyes to the depth and diversity of research in design, strengthened my passion for academia, and inspired me to think more critically about my own work.”

We would also like to recognize Rosemary Wagner, who attended the conference alongside them and contributed to this enriching experience.

We’re so proud of our graduate students for representing FSU and continuing to expand their perspectives within the design field! 👏✨