Shruti Narasimhan was born in Madras, India and grew up in Washington D.C. Her mother is an interior designer and her father is a technology entrepreneur. After graduating from high school in 2009, she enrolled at NYSID and is currently in her final year of the BFA program.
 

Why did you want to study interior design?
I always had a passion for design and art. When I was applying to college Ii didn’t know if I wanted to study interior design, architecture, or photography. I ultimately chose to go to NYSID because it was somewhere in between architecture and decorating. It was really more like an interior architecture program, which, for me, was the best of both worlds. And the program has lived up to its reputation. I’m learning about lighting design, textile design, furniture design, and everything that goes on behind the walls too.

What is student life like for you at NYSID and what was it like living in the dorm?
It’s definitely not a typical college with fraternities and football games, but it’s really fun. The city is the campus, which is amazing—so many of the best museums are just a few blocks away, and there are lots of opportunities for socializing. I was on the student council, and we went on a few overnight trips to interesting design destinations and there were lots of local excursions.

As for the dorm, living there also provided a lot of opportunity for socializing, and not just with NYSID students. The building, which is run by Educational Housing Services, houses students from many other colleges in the city. You get to meet so many different people and there are always lots of organized events like picnics, museum trips, and soccer games in Central Park. And the rooms are not your typical dorm rooms; they are really big for New York City. You have your own bathroom, which is a plus, and communal kitchens, which a lot of residents use.

What’s it like going to school with people of all ages and backgrounds?
I really appreciate that my fellow students have a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Everyone is driven and focused and we really help each other out. And since people come from so many different backgrounds and careers, no one project looks like any other. It’s funny, because in my Residential III class, it’s the older students who create the more avant-garde designs and the younger students who have a more classic style. Go figure!