Exposure

from Design 5 Interior Design Studio with Prof. Lisa Phillips

Cameras capture moments in time, connecting and preserving the past, present, and future. More specifically, the overlapping, opening and closing, aperture mechanism of a camera aids in the capturing of an image, a moment in time. These images have transitioned in color over time from black and white to color. In the design of this retail store, one can experience visual sensations, through overlapping floor levels representing the repeating fin shape of the aperture plates, arcs that convey an overlapping effect and guide one’s view to focus on the present, and the gradual transition of color that carries through each level and ties to the purpose of each space.

Mallory Katen
B.S. Interior Design '22
Listening to The Mason by Jake Scott

In the future, I can see myself working at a design firm using my degree and expertise to make the world a better place through design. Knowing that there are so many areas that I can pursue with this degree gives me the feeling that I may not always be working in a firm, but definitely doing something that I love related to design and well-being.

What experiences have shaped your designs?
The experiences that I have had with nature and mental health have shaped my designs the most, especially in terms of well being and human experience and how interior design can positively impact that.

In terms of mental health, I make sure to pay careful attention to human behavior and well being in my designs. My ultimate goal as an interior designer is to create spaces that have a positive impact on inhabitants, contributing to overall mental and physical well being. I have personally struggled with mental health disorders, specifically anxiety and depression. Design has provided me with a new perspective of how to cope with this and has influenced me to curate the same experience for others in my projects. I have developed a personal interest in this type of restorative design and discovering new ways to bring that into interior environments.