Category: Students

On Saturday, April 26, the IIDA Northern California Chapter proudly hosted its annual Student Design Charette at Gensler’s San Francisco office. This high-energy event brought together 27 interior design students from across the region for a one-day collaborative design challenge that pushed the limits of creativity, adaptability, and collaboration.

Students, many of whom had never met before, were placed in multidisciplinary teams and given just 2.5 hours to respond to a surprise design prompt. This year’s fictional brief challenged participants to reimagine a Silicon Valley office building for a tech company seeking redemption by turning its space into a vibrant, community-driven hub. The prompt asked students to explore themes of transparency, trust, and social responsibility—all through the lens of design.

The Design Process: Learning on the Fly

Judging Criteria: More Than Just Looks

The judging panel, made up of respected local design professionals, evaluated submissions based not only on aesthetics but also conceptual depth, storytelling, and clarity of communication. While many teams produced beautiful visuals, the winning team stood out for their clear design rationale and process documentation.

“Given the small amount of time these teams have to work on their presentations, it can be really difficult to balance good graphics with a strong, thoughtful design narrative,” said Jonny Bywater, Assistant VP of Student Affairs.

“While a few teams focused intensely on the look of their presentations, it was the thoughtfulness and reasoning behind specific design decisions that ended up being the deciding factor. The winning team certainly proved this. I really commend each team on an incredible range of ideas and design resolutions, and I hope they can take this experience and the judges’ feedback and apply it to future projects.”

Congratulations to the Winning Team

The winning team’s concept, inspired by the structure of DNA, conveyed powerful themes of interconnectivity, identity, and transparency—a response that aligned beautifully with the challenge’s intent.

Congratulations to the members of the winning team:

• Ana Castaneda – Cañada College
• Monce Perez – CSU Sacramento
• Amy Bam – West Valley College
• Sheree Poon – Cañada College
• Amy Zumout – San Jose State University

Special recognition goes to Monce Perez, who has been selected to represent the Northern California Chapter at the National Student Charette, taking place at NeoCon in Chicago, June 9–11, 2025.

Thank You to Our Partners

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of Gensler San Francisco as our event host, our esteemed panel of judges, and of course, the students, whose energy, ideas, and dedication brought the challenge to life.

On January 29, 2025, IIDA Northern California hosted StEP Part 3: Student Empowerment Program in San Francisco, bringing together aspiring interior designers and industry professionals for an evening of mentorship, career development, and networking.

A Night of Professional Growth

The event kicked off with a Professional Roundtable, where students had the opportunity to engage with leading design professionals from firms such as Gensler, Huntsman, Revel, and MillerKnoll. Each expert shared insights about their career paths, industry trends, and strategies for standing out in the competitive design field. One of the most impactful moments was hearing firsthand from design professionals about the many different options available within the industry. Students realized how non-linear professional journeys often are, with many discovering that alternative paths can lead to even more valuable opportunities.

Resume & Portfolio Review + Personal Branding

One of the highlights of the evening was the Resume & Portfolio Review session, where students received one-on-one feedback on their work. In parallel, the Build Your Brand workshop guided students in refining their professional identity, leveraging LinkedIn, and crafting a compelling personal narrative to enhance their job search. Many students left with a better understanding of how to promote themselves beyond just their resumes, incorporating their unique experiences and personal stories into their branding.

Showroom Tour & Networking

The evening concluded with a showroom tour and networking session, allowing students to experience innovative workplace solutions while continuing conversations with industry professionals in a more informal setting. The networking session was particularly engaging, as students were able to strategize on how to individuate themselves and stand out to employers. It was eye-opening for many attendees who had never engaged with design professionals outside of their college professors, providing the

Memorable Moments & Impact

Throughout the evening, the energy in the room was incredibly positive. Attendees frequently applauded and laughed during the panel discussion, highlighting the engaging and insightful nature of the conversation. Several students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to better understand how IIDA and its events can support their transition to the professional world through portfolio reviews, design competitions, and networking opportunities.

Special Thanks

A huge thank you to our guest speakers, mentors, and volunteers who made this event possible. Your guidance and expertise provided invaluable support to the next generation of designers.