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Interior Design Instructor appointed Newest Commissioner

3/23/2022

Ian Crawford has been appointed by the Governor to represent the University of Alabama on the Alabama Historical Commission. He will be replacing Dr. Shirley Foster who is retiring after serving on the Commission for thirteen years. Mr. Crawford holds a Master of Preservation Studies degree from Tulane University, where he received the Most Outstanding Thesis award.

Currently, he teaches and serves as an advisor for students in the interior design program of the Department of Clothing Textiles, and Interior Design. His courses include “Recording Historic Structures”, “History of Interiors”, and “Introduction to Commercial Design”. He also teaches the art history of the American South periodically in the art history department at UA.

Mr. Crawford served as the Executive Director of the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society from March 2016 through August 2018, and as Director for the Jemison Van de Graaff Mansion Foundation from May 2011 through March 2016. His expertise with historical interiors and regional art and environment will be a great asset to the Alabama Historical Commission. Congratulations Ian!

Flag flown in honor of commissioner foster

2/22/2022

For the past thirteen years, department of clothing, textiles, and interior design chair and professor, Dr. Shirley Foster, has helped to protect, preserve, and interpret Alabama's historical places, as part of the Alabama Historical Commission. In honor of her upcoming retirement and years of service to our state, the governor's office flew an Alabama state flag over the State Capital on February 11, 2022. Afterwards, Foster was gifted the flag with a certificate of recognition as thank you for her loyal and dedicated service to the citizens of our great state. We commend Commissioner Shirley Foster on this well-deserved honor!

Senior Interior Design Student wins IDIES Award

10/8/2021

Senior Interior Design student, Sophia Ragusa, won first place in the Student Choice Category of the IDIES, a biennial award of the state chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). The research and creative design solutions Ragusa utilized in her concept, the Uplift Center project, clinched her Best of Students win.

Ragusa described the concept for Uplift as "a center for integrated learning, focused on the cognitive, language, physical, and socio-emotional development of children ages 5-8. Uplift would serve as a center to encompass a broad spectrum of sensory, cognitive, and social differences while also offering opportunities to foster social inclusion and enhance the wellbeing of students."

She continued by saying, "The [design] concept 'interconnected' is derived from the curvilinear contour lines of a hot air balloon. When the structure of the balloon is exposed, we can see how the shape is formed by interconnected lines that are all working toward the same goal. The curvilinear forms, shapes, and lines in the building's design help avoid an institutional feel and incorporate visual, sound, and tactile clues."

Ragusa's vision for the center would utilize "universal design, biophilic design elements, and differentiating spaces will provide predictability for students and aid in a decrease of anxiety, stress, and confusion during the transition between activities." She went on to explain that "to reduce sound reverberation, the design features a variety of acoustical ceiling baffles and Type II wallcoverings.

"Overall, the Uplift Center would provide a stimulating, accessible learning environment for children with learning disabilities, that boosts confidence and fosters growth. The goal: through the Uplift Center, students from all kinds of backgrounds would overcome obstacles and soar to new limits.", explained Ragusa.

CTD Faculty Named Outstanding Educator

6/1/2020

ASID Alabama announced that the 2020 recipient of the Dr. Mary Ann Potter Outstanding Educator Award is CHES instructor, Mr. John Peaslee, ASID, RID. In addition to teaching at the university for 25 years, Peaslee has also served on the Alabama Board for Registered Interior Designers and as Regional Chair for the Interior Design Educator's Council.

Most recently, he served as the Faculty Advisor for the ASID Student Chapter at The University of Alabama where his encouragement and guidance led the chapter to new heights of achievement and participation. ASID Alabama noted that Peaslee is a dedicated advocate for the profession and, above all, a friend.

The entire ASID Alabama Board of Directors and the state Chapter are grateful to Peaslee and say he has been and will continue to be one of their heroes. We at CHES join ASID Alabama in congratulating Mr. John Peaslee on this great honor!

The annual Dr. Mary Ann Potter Educator Award honors the educator in our state who has shown outstanding and significant contributions to interior design education and/or the Alabama ASID chapter. The award recognizes educators who have promoted interior design professionalism within their respective programs.

Fashion for Life Celebrated 10 Years of Giving

12/4/2019

For a decade, apparel design students have made the most of an opportunity to showcase their best work and make a difference to those in need. Student fashion designs hit the runway on November 24 in UA’s Ferguson Center Ballroom. Called Fashion for Life, the show offered designers from CHES an opportunity to share their collections in front of friends, family and members of the community while raising money for Tuscaloosa DHR Children’s Christmas Gift Fund.

Fashion for Life is the culminating experience for senior apparel design students. Student designers used knowledge and skills gained from years of study to meet the challenge of this experiential learning opportunity. The collection development process and fashion show experiences mimicked what they will encounter once entering the apparel industry after graduation.

In this year’s show, designers were inspired by their own personal experiences in life. Fashions incorporated sustainability, size inclusiveness, cultural backgrounds and model diversity among other themes.

The designers were Marc Biancavilla of Eastchester, New York; Jael Brooks of Woodbridge, Virginia; Ian Burch of Herndon, Virginia; Sydney Good of Houston, Texas; Mara Baez-Velazquez of Phenix City; Alexandra Gibson of Tuscaloosa; Gizelle Macias of Bradenton, Florida; Kaitlyn Sarao of Coral Springs, Florida; Leah Sneddon of Harvest; Millie Steed of Huntsville; Mo Taylor of Birmingham; Kailyn Thomas of Tuscaloosa; Coleen Tolentino of Huntsville; Pang Vang of Spartanburg, South Carolina; Jannell Whitfield of Atlanta, Georgia; and Kendall Worrell of Boston, Massachusetts.