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what's happening in the college

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!

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.

Students Light it UP

3/19/2019

Interior design instructors know how important lighting is to any project. They gave students an opportunity to learn from the ground up by creating their own unique fixtures. Their creations range from fun and whimsical to hard and angular and everything in between. What a fun project and a great hands-on learning experience!

Lessons on transforming an old space

11/28/2018

Lots of hard work, some outdoors at the height of a hot Alabama summer, went into a design project for seniors taking CTD 425 Advanced Residential Design. As part of a semester-long project, instructors had interior design students measure Tuscaloosa’s historic Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion from top to bottom and inside and out. Once done with that, they were tasked with creating a concept for the house, uses for each space and detailed designs for several rooms.

From music schools to private residences, each design was unique and expressed the creativity of the individual student.

The class culminates with Critique Week when students make mock client presentations in front of a panel of experts. The project represents a large part of their grade for CTD 425. More importantly, each student receives thoughtful suggestions from experienced professionals that will help them to perfect designs for their portfolios.

Another example of experiential learning that prepares HES students for success after graduation.