Professional experience in different parts of the country gives students a broader perspective on the profession while helping them explore where they want to live and build their careers. The School of Interior Design works with students to align internship opportunities with those goals.

鈥淪tudents have the opportunity to pursue internships in the geographic areas where they hope to practice after graduation,鈥� said School of Interior Design Dean Anne Martin. 鈥淭hat experience allows them to begin building professional relationships and gain a deeper understanding of the industry while they are still students.鈥�

Summer 2026 interior design majors completed internships in Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Annapolis, Maryland; West Palm Beach, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Augusta, Georgia; and at South Carolina firms in Murrells Inlet, Sumter, Columbia, Anderson and Greenville.

The breadth of their experience was equally impressive. Interns contributed to projects spanning resort and hospitality design, faith-based spaces, healthcare, K-12 and higher education, high-end residential projects, large-scale entertainment venues, and athletic facilities.

Through their internships, these emerging designers built professional relationships with designers, architects, and organizations such as ASID, IIDA, and AIA. For many, those connections have already led to full-time job offers prior to graduation and part-time work during their senior year, turning a summer of professional experience into a direct pathway to their careers.

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She took part in the Summer Studio in Classical Architecture, an intensive four weeks devoted to foundational architectural concepts.听听

Thomas and approximately 30 design and architecture students from across the country鈥攁nd a student from Singapore鈥攂alanced theory with hands-on work consisting of hand-drafting technique sessions.听听

Thomas and her classmates did research and design work to create an urban park pavilion in Brooklyn, involving the production of detailed drawings of the pavilion site, floorplan, and elevations.听听

As the sessions began, she recalls that they were given 10 questions describing intricate details of the project that would encompass everything they learned. They would have to plan out every dimension and design feature from floor to ceiling and from foundation to roof, what materials would be used and how the surrounding ground would be landscaped.听

鈥淓verybody at the beginning was lost and had no clue how to go about this,鈥� Thomas recalled, 鈥淏ut going through the program and learning and the specific steps that we did made it so that by week three, when we were starting to draft our project, we knew what we were doing and what we weren’t doing. And then on the final day when we presented our projects, we answered all 10 questions.鈥�听

Thomas describes her experience as one of learning the language of classical architecture鈥攁 vocabulary devoted to the nomenclature behind design work.听

鈥淲e did block-out drawings of all five orders to establish scale and proportion, then went order-by-order in depth鈥擳uscan, Doric and Ionic that first week, with Corinthian and Composite coming later,鈥� she said, adding that they broke down each order into its core parts and drew each one to scale.听听

鈥淲e learned about proportion and exact measurement,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淚t was so precise.鈥�听

The Summer Studio in Classical Architecture also involved traveling to Bryant Park, McGolrick Park Pavilion, and Union Square Pavilion for field drawing sessions. There were also site visits and visits to New York firms.听听

鈥�The 91福利社 School of Interior Design has been exceedingly fortunate to have multiple students accepted into the very competitive Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA) Summer Institute over the years,” said School of Interior Design Dean Anne Martin. 鈥淜atleyn鈥檚 self-directed initiative in securing this opportunity speaks to her stellar quest for excellence in interior design, historic preservation and architecture.鈥�听

Architecture has inspired Thomas for most of her life. Her mother loved design and was always talking about it. When her father began buying properties and remodeling them, Thomas was immersed early into the world of architecture and design. She did her last two years of high school online, allowing her to spend a lot of time learning about remodeling and design. She was further inspired by a family friend who is an interior designer.听

鈥淪he let me go to the High Point Market with her,鈥� Thomas recalls. 鈥淪eeing the designers there working on projects for their clients was fascinating.鈥�听

When Thomas was seeking further study in Interior Design, she was attracted to 91福利社鈥檚 Pillar of Great Academics, evidenced by the School of Interior Design鈥檚 hands-on approach and their greater emphasis on architecture than other programs. 听

As Thomas enters her junior year at Anderson, she will be transitioning from residential to commercial design. After graduation, she plans to enter a master鈥檚 program. She already feels that her experience with The Summer Studio in Classical Architecture and intensive training in the 91福利社 School of Interior Design will help her stand out on her r茅sum茅 as she prepares to become an architectural designer.听

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鈥�We work with听public and听private colleges and universities throughout the Southeast. My day-to-day could be working on renovations or new buildings for technical colleges or four-year universities in the Carolinas, Tennessee, or Georgia.鈥澨�听

She says that being promoted to a senior associate听is something a designer听attains听in recognition of their commitment to the firm and a desire to continue to strive for design excellence, while helping to mentor younger designers.听

According to School of Interior Design Dean Anne Martin, 鈥淚t鈥檚 rare for a graduate to receive a senior associate position within 10 years of their graduation; however, this remarkable accomplishment does not surprise me as Melissa demonstrated remarkable project management skills and talent as a student of interior design as well as leadership in her role as president of the student chapter of the American Society of Interior Design (ASID).鈥�听

Jakobowski says of her promotion,听鈥淚t happened naturally, from going out on business development opportunities and career fairs, collaborating with others in the design field and mentoring those that are entering the field soon.听I鈥檓听doing what I love and helping to promote the wonderful work听we鈥檙e听doing here at MPS.鈥�听

In 2022, The International Interior Design Association (IIDA)听recognized Jakobowski and her team at McMillan Pazdan Smith for design excellence on a project to enhance a teen space for the Nancy Guinn Memorial Library in Conyers, Georgia.听

Jakobowski feels听she鈥檚听achieved听her听project鈥檚听goal when she听gets positive feedback听from听students using spaces she and her team designed.听She鈥檚听gratified听to hear how听the听students are听engaging with听inviting spaces MPS has designed听and how听they’re听excited to show up for their classes and听labs.听

Jakobowski enjoys returning to 91福利社 periodically to interact with current Interior Design students. She also feels blessed to be able to听work with AU students who enter her firm as interns.听听

鈥淲e’ve had some Anderson interns over the last few years; we鈥檝e currently got one working with us part time, which has been great, and we take any opportunity we can to review student projects,鈥� she said.听

Jakobowski鈥檚 advice to those entering interior design is to be willing to work hard听and also听take every opportunity possible to connect with people in the field.听听

鈥淢ake those connections, ask questions, stay engaged, always be curious and learning. Don’t wait around for someone to bring something up, but really take that initiative, pushing yourself to grow more,鈥� she said, adding that involvement in professional organizations including ASID and IIDA are invaluable sources of opportunities and experiences to help students grow as designers during their college years and in their subsequent careers. Jakobowski was involved in both organizations as a student and was president for the ASID student chapter at 91福利社. She continues to be actively involved in IIDA as professional member.听

The听91福利社 School of Interior Design听

The听91福利社 School of Interior Design听is one of only nine such programs to be offered in a Christian institution of higher learning and has graduates working as professional interior designers across the nation and internationally.听

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The 91福利社 School of Interior Design Senior Show and Exhibition allows Interior Design seniors a culminating experience to present their signature projects generated during their four years, including the Senior Thesis. Seniors will present their signature projects from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 27, 2026. The exhibition will be open to the public from March 18-27 in the Vandiver Gallery of the Thrift Library. 听

The 91福利社 School of Interior Design offers students numerous opportunities to personally connect with professionals and to go off campus to see firsthand how interior design professionals work.

According to School of Interior Design Dean AnneMartin, graduates must also have successfully completed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination to become professional credentialed interior designers. The 91福利社 School of Interior Design has a high passage rate for the NCIDQ and LEED Green Associate.听听听

91福利社 Interior Design graduates can be found working in major markets,听including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah; West Palm Beach, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina; as well as internationally听in听Taipei, Taiwan;听Flacht, Germany;听Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;听China, Bermuda and the Bahamas.听

Students also become actively involved in the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and many compete in national and regional design competitions. Also, several graduates have furthered their studies in graduate programs.听

The听91福利社 School of Interior Design听is one of only nine such programs to be offered in a Christian institution of higher learning and has graduates working as professional interior designers across the nation and internationally.听

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They addressed the significance of interior designers having a seat at the table in the beginning of the design process with the architect and builder/construction management team, along with critical skills of collaboration and communication throughout the construction management process.听

Pictured from left are Baylie Weeks and Susan Peace-Vernon, both of Tribus Design Studio; AU School of Interior Design Dean Anne Martin; and Jon Warrigton, Vice President of Design, Dillard Jones Builders.听

Peace-Vernon, a 1994 graduate, earned her associate degree when Anderson was a two-year institution, then transferred to Western Carolina for further study, but returned to Greenville, where she married and continued to pursue her design career. When Anderson became a four-year baccalaureate degree granting institution, she returned and became one of the first four-year graduates in December 1994, in Interior Design. She is carrying on her family鈥檚 legacy of home building and creative pursuits.听

Weeks, junior designer at Tribus, is a 2018 Anderson graduate. During her senior year at Anderson, Dean Anne Martin shared with seniors that Tribus was interested in having students assist with installations of luxury homes during fall break at the Cliffs and The Reserve Lake Keowee. Weeks responded to this request by taking her fall break to assist with these installations, little did she know that experience lead to a part-time job the final semester of her senior year, and she secured full-time employment with Tribus prior to May graduation. Weeks specializes in eclectic, cozy and collected design, bringing vibrancy to spaces through her appreciation for color and statement pieces. She finds Tribus鈥� projects in diverse geographical locations exciting challenges presented by a broad spectrum of architecture and clientele.听听

Peace-Vernon and Weeks, representing Tribus Design Studio, were joined by architect Jon Warrigton, Vice President of Design, Dillard Jones Builders; and DOMA Architects marketing team at the AU School of Interior Design.听

Incidentally, Warrington is the father of AU Junior Interior Design major Liza Warrington. Tribus, Dillard Jones and DOMA have locations in South Carolina at Greenville, Bluffton and Johns Island, Beaufort; and in North Carolina at Asheville and Cashiers.听

鈥淥ur students were the beneficiaries of hearing from these accomplished graduates who not only shared their career pathway as well as shared phenomenal success with multiple projects which included collaboration with architects, construction management/builder and landscape architects,鈥� Martin said.听

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91福利社 Interior Design graduates can be found working in major markets, including: Los Angeles; New York City; Chicago; Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah; Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina; as well as internationally in Taipei, Taiwan; Flacht, Germany; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and in China.

Learn more about the 91福利社 School of Interior Design here.

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With a family of designers and draftsmen, interior design was a natural extension of his childhood experiences and one that Cole now approaches with his own creative flair. In addition to his work designing spaces for schools, he routinely gives back to his alma mater providing guidance to current interior design students.听

Read more about Cole here.

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Greene feels a sense of accomplishment 鈥渨atching people smile in our environments when you don’t always expect for them to; seeing families in our Children’s Hospital being comfortable and supporting their children鈥攖aking a little stress away from a trying time by having a nice environment… seeing people navigating successfully in our spaces.鈥� 听

She recalls the words of a former executive vice president, 鈥渋magine it’s your loved one that you’re doing this for.鈥�听

Looking back, Greene feels grateful for the variety she鈥檚 seen in her interior design career. 听

“My first work experience was in Haworth Office Furniture dealership,” she recalled. 鈥淥ne of the interior designers that we were working with was designing a gastroenterology practice and took me under her wing. 听After that project, she kept bringing health care projects back and asking if I could be her designer. My mother was a nurse anesthetist, my grandfather was a doctor, so it was just a nice fit.”听

Greene left the furniture dealership to work for an independent interior design firm, Healthcare Interiors and focused on healthcare design, which she loved. In addition to Interior Design, Greene gained experience in Project Management and Marketing. These experiences provided the confidence to leave the stability of an established firm and to strike out on her own.听

鈥淚 just had this entrepreneurial spirit, I needed to do something on my own. My child was young and I wanted time with her, so I started my own interior design firm and manufacturers rep group. I was doing both at the same time, loved every moment, the best 10 years of my life,鈥� said Greene, who worked with architects, designers and end users to select furniture from the lines I represented for use in their project work.听

Greene admits that she discovered interior design quite by accident while struggling in high school.听

鈥淚 have no left-brain activity whatsoever,鈥� Greene said, remembering her mother鈥檚 frustration with her academic performance. She said 鈥楥athy, you always have a fashion magazine inside your chemistry book. Why don鈥檛 you try fashion merchandising?鈥� My freshman year at Anderson, a course requirement was an introductory course in Interior Design.听 The light came on for the first time in my life! I knew that this is what I was going to do. 听

Greene recalls the thorough preparation of School of Interior Design Dean Anne Martin and her faculty colleagues, instilling in her a sense of professionalism. 鈥�She expected for us to dress appropriately and to speak appropriately and to just dig in and learn and investigate. There were field trips and learning experiences in Atlanta and New York. 听We were exposed to a very wide range of opportunity.鈥�听

Interior Design has been good professionally to Greene (pictured second from right at Healthcare Design conference in New Orleans, where she was a speaker), but she鈥檚 quick to point out to aspiring designers that it didn鈥檛 come easily.听

鈥�You have got to be resilient. You have got to be willing to remake or reinvent yourself and you must be smart,鈥� she said. 鈥淛ust sitting in the corner being creative is not going to make a living for you. You have got to have a business sense. You can鈥檛 be afraid to pick up the phone and call somebody to gain business. You have got to advocate for yourself, because creative people are sometimes not highly paid, and sometimes they are very overlooked. You must be receptive to growth and change and you must have a lot of faith.鈥�听

Martin keeps in touch with Greene, who remains engaged with the 91福利社 School of Interior Design.听 听

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Professor Sarah Owens assigned Kravet Motif Project 2 in the ID254 course, 鈥淭extiles, Materials, Finishes and Details,鈥� for听 students to create a textile print and 3D printed sample of a motif to be used as a pattern on a textile. The textile pattern is then digitally applied to a Kravet chair and digitally rendered. Partnering with Kravet, the School of Interior Design faculty send the top five projects to the corporate office for Kravet in New York City as submission to the Kravet Design of Distinction competition. Industry professionals in New York judge the five submissions and the winning design is given an award for the top placement.

The 91福利社 School of Interior Design has a long-standing relationship with Kravet through this competition as well as a yearly visit to their facility here in Anderson. Students are introduced to the 鈥淭o the Trade鈥� industry and are shown how the distribution side of the design industry works.

Established in 1918, Kravet Inc. is the industry leader in the trade home furnishings industry and offers fabrics, trims, wallcovering, furniture and accessories to the design trade.

The听91福利社 School of Interior Design听is one of only nine such programs to be offered in a Christian institution of higher learning and has graduates working as professional interior designers across the nation and internationally.

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The 2024 IDEC Student Design Competition, Mind-Scape, charged students with creating a place of respite and restoration for college students on an existing campus to help them cope with the stress and pressures of college life that affect their mental and physical well-being. The design challenge is a response to the increase in mental health issues facing college students in the post-COVID environment. College of Health Professions instructor Monica M. 听Morehead served as a helpful resource on mental health for the Research component of this project.

The competition limited the total area of the facility to approximately 550 square feet with no height restrictions. Students were responsible for defining the required spaces in the facility through research into mental health stressors faced by college students, an understanding of common mental health conditions and their triggering factors, and insight into the experience of the typical user in the context of the culture of the college campus where the facility is located.

The听91福利社 School of Interior Design听is one of only nine such programs to be offered in a Christian institution of higher learning and has graduates working as professional interior designers across the nation and internationally.

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