Pre-College 2016

NYSID had another successful Pre-College program last month! See photos here. The two-week program took place July 11-21 and provided an introduction to the creative and rewarding world of interior design.  It was led by NYSID instructors Don Kossar, Francisco De Leon, Ana Peñalba Estebanez, and Randi Halpern.

Students visited the offices of celebrity interior designers, award-winning architects, and top showrooms all over New York City. These trips gave students a chance to speak with top industry professionals and provided students with a sense of what it is like to work in a collaborative environment with other design colleagues. Showrooms visited included Material ConneXion, Sicis Official, and Ralph Pucci International; as well as residential firms Drake Anderson, Vicente Wolf, and Studio Sofield; and contract firms Perkins & Will, Cook Fox, and Gensler.

Students also participated in design workshops on drafting, space planning, and material selection to assist them in completing a portfolio-quality design project. The assignment was to design a 1200 sq. ft., one bedroom apartment in New York for a young professional in an artistic or creative field. The students presented their final projects to their fellow designers, faculty, and parents at a special reception at the conclusion of the program.

Throughout the program, instructor Don Kossar stressed that his main goal was to teach students the value of an interior design education. “Interior design is quite different than decorating.” He said. “There are so many complex components to interior design—it affects people’s health, safety, and general well-being. I hope students walk away from this program understanding this, and also how important getting a design education is in their success as interior designers.”