SF State interior design majors have put their own creativity to the test. Much like the reality show “Trading Spaces,” a group of students will soon be turning an otherwise ordinary room on campus into a contemporary one.

Students enrolled in the residential design class, ID 640, are transforming room BH 334, a small space in Burk Hall, into a furnished home. The space will include a living area, entertainment area, kitchen and bedroom, according to members of the group.

Kenneth Fehrman, a professor who teaches the course, said it has been around for about 40 years. It is distinguished from other institutions, because it gives students hands-on experience in their field of study. It is also a requirement for interior design majors.

“It is one of the capstone classes of the bachelor’s degree in interior design, and it prepares them for the real world in that they will have to do all these processes as a professional designer,” said Fehrman, who is an SF State alumnus.

The first part of the process begins for the student designers when they are divided into five teams. Then they conceive a theme for the space, select materials and furnishings, including paint colors, fabrics and accessories. Finally, they must stage the space.

“It teaches them that design is not done in a vacuum,” said Fehrman. “It is always a collaborative effort.”

The theme for the first group’s design is pop art. The walls are painted royal blue with red, blue, and yellow accents, sleek geometric shapes, some newspaper-covered walls, and a projector to create an atmosphere with sound and imagery.

Each individual group has one week to install its design. The completed work is then showcased the following week. Students are issued a letter grade based on the quality and implementation of the design, their ability to work as a team, and the amount of work each student dedicates to the design.

“We wanted a unique space that would set the stage for the upcoming groups,” said Nicole Garcia, 26, an interior design major. “I love that this class is giving us the opportunity to put our design ability into action. The research, color schemes, and materials we have chosen have demonstrated our talent.”

In the spring semester, photographs of the finished rooms will be on display in the Galleria, one of three buildings that compose the San Francisco Design Center located on Henry Adams Street. It is an excellent opportunity for students to market their skills to potential employers, according to Fehrman. The SFDC has 100 showrooms that feature 2,000 manufacturers of home furnishings.

Makenna Howard, the first group’s team leader, compared the time spent on the design and staging process to a full-time job. She admits, however, that the hands-on experience she received in the class was priceless.

“Just seeing the room transform into a studio space that we all created in one week is extremely inspiring,” said Howard, 24, an interior design major. “I hope that our entire group knows how much we are capable of, and how much the future holds for us.”

Students enrolled in the course are also responsible for the flower arrangements in the Burk Hall Lobby, the One Stop Student Services Center and the Vista Room.

Their interior design will be on display Sept. 29 in the Lighting Lab, BH 334 in Burk Hall.
For more information about the interior design department, call (415) 338-1219.