Ukrainian Pre-College Student Valeriia Scherbyna Takes Nothing for Granted
When the Russian Federation’s invasion and annexation of Crimea, in 2014, forced her family to immigrate to New York, it was Valeriia Scherbyna’s love for art and design that kept her happy, and eventually led her to NYSID. We chatted with this rising senior from Ukraine, a recipient of the ASID Florida South Scholarship & Angelo Donghia Foundation Pre-College Scholarship, before her final presentation in Pre-College II on July 25.
Valeriia Scherbyna was eight when the Crimea Incident turned her hometown into a war zone. Her parents were correct to fear that more danger lay ahead: the invasion marked the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Scherbyna and her family immigrated to the United States in 2015. During Scherbyna’s first 5 years in the United States, her family lived on Staten Island. Her parents took her to see New York City’s museums, restaurants and other public spaces, and she was awed by the architecture and design of her new city. She says, “I have gone through many difficulties of constant moving and financial hardships for the past 9 years, and there was always one thing that kept the fire burning inside me: that magical thing was design. It may have come as art or decorating a dollhouse but either way, it was something that gave me peace of mind.”
Scherbyna’s family eventually moved to Sarasota, Florida. When she was a rising junior in 2023, she did the online version of NYSID Pre-College I (Residential Design) through a scholarship from ASID Florida South. This summer of 2024 (July 14-26), as a rising senior, she traveled to New York City to do the in-person version of NYSID Pre-College II (Commercial Design - Hospitality), thanks to scholarships from ASID Florida South and the Angelo Donghia Foundation. We sat down with Scherbyna on the day of her final presentation to discuss her experience of two summers of NYSID Pre-College, and her work.
Why is design so important to you?
Design has been a constant in my life. I might move over and over, but I see each new place with fresh eyes and in design I find new inspiration. It’s been like this ever since I was in elementary school and we moved to New York. The city sparked my love for design. I was the kid in hotel lobbies and cafes wondering, Why did they put that chandelier there? Why did they use that fabric there? I try not to let anything stop me because design keeps me happy. I should say I am extremely grateful to my parents for getting me to America, and for the opportunity to study this country’s design influences from all over the world.
So it’s interior design you are most interested in studying?
One million percent. Interior Design is my thing.
How did you find your way to NYSID Pre-College?
I asked my parents to take me on a tour of NYSID when I was a sophomore and we were visiting friends in New York. That’s how I found out I could apply for a scholarship to NYSID Pre-College.
Were there big differences between the Pre-College I & II experiences?
For me, there were big differences, especially since I took Pre-College I online and Pre-College II in-person. I got a strong base in design through Pre-College I and loved the course, but being here in person for Pre-College II was even more incredible. I am a very tactile person, so I loved getting to go to all of the showrooms, and NYSID’s textiles library, to touch all of the materials. Something clicked in Pre-College II, and instead of focusing on how to do the basics, I was able to just go and be adventurous in my design. I really felt the improvement. . . Also, I stayed in the dorms at Fordham (through NYSID’s partnership with Summer Springboard), and that really gave me the feeling of a first college experience.
The perspective drawing of your restaurant is incredible. How did you learn to draw like this?
I am dual enrolled in my high school, Suncoast Polytechnical High School, and a college, Suncoast Technical College, and this has allowed me to learn AutoCAD (rendering software) early. I think I have absorbed some knowledge about perspective techniques from that, and it comes out in my drawing.
Will you tell me about the concept for your project?
It’s called Sea Salt Hotel & Bar, and the restaurant I created is called The Salt Bar. It’s a seaside restaurant and I wanted it to feel coastal and relaxed. That’s why I made it so airy and open. . . used soft colors, and put an aquarium right behind the reception.
What was the most important thing you learned in Pre-College II?
I learned that everything in the space has to have a purpose. You can’t overcrowd a space.
What was the impact of Pre-College on you?
Taking both courses added a lot of skills to my toolkit. Those skills come out when I’m designing and help me create better designs. It was also important to meet so many amazing people and designers. It made me one million percent sure I want to be an interior designer. Interior design captivates me.
Thank you, Valeriia.
Thank you! I want to say how grateful I am to the people who gave me these scholarships. This program impacted me alot. . .I will be applying to NYSID.
NYSID Pre-College Scholarships change lives. To find out how to support NYSID’s Pre-College Scholarship Fund, reach out to NYSID’s Director of Development Joy Cooper at Joy.Cooper@nysid.edu, or make a donation here.
To inquire about applying for a Pre-College scholarship, reach out to the Pre-College office.
In recent years, major support for NYSID’s Pre-College Fund has been provided by the ASID Florida South Chapter, Brian McCarthy, Bunny Williams, Charlotte Moss, Cullman & Kravis, The Decorators Club Education Fund, Donghia Foundation, Jamie Drake, James Druckman/New York Design Center, the estate of Joseph Gruszczak, John Rosselli & Associates, Kaleidoscope Project, Kravet Inc., Studio Designer and other donors.