The New York School of Interior Design’s one-year, post-professional Master of Professional Studies in Lighting Design (MPSL) has a 100 percent employment rate for graduates within 6 months of the program’s completion, and has for years…. MPSL Program Director Shaun Fillion, LC, CLCP, Educator IALD, as well as alumni Estefania Diaz ’15 (MPSL) / ’16 (MPSS), Lighting Designer at Ventresca Lighting Designers; Iliana Filotheidi ’19 (MPSL), Senior Lighting Designer at HLB Lighting Design; and Diogo Coelho ’18 (MPSL), Lighting Product Manager at Amerlux, share their insights.
NYSID’s Alumni Council is led by two dynamic designers: President Marie Aiello ’04 (AAS) and Vice-President Krista Gurevich ’16 (MFA1). When alumna Leslie Robinson ’21 (MFA1) caught up with the pair, they were excited to discuss the new Alumni Council Scholarship, which was first awarded at Gala 2023.
Age diversity makes NYSID’s BFA program stronger. Monica Seroiczkowski ’20 and Cielo Cortes ’21, two BFA students at different stages of life, discuss their journeys to NYSID, and what they’ve found at the College.
On the brink of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City, we sat down with alumni at the architecture and interior design firm Stonehill Taylor to discuss their careers and recent projects. During the lockdown, we spoke with the firm’s interiors principal, Sara Duffy, about how the company is adapting and looking toward the future of hospitality design in this uncertain time.
MFA-1 students Mika Jiaravanont ’20 and Joanne Park ’20 spent the past two summers participating in community service projects for Safe Horizon, an organization that provides shelter, counseling, and other services to victims of violence. Here’s a deep dive into their experiences!
Erika Reuter ’06 (BFA) / ’13 (MFA-2) never expected to be a Registered Architect or a project manager. Now she’s both. Her drive and openness to new challenges have moved her interior design career forward.
Phillip Thomas ’05 (BFA) worked for Ingrao Inc. for six years after graduation. In 2011, he struck out on his own and founded Phillip Thomas Inc. This Manhattan pied-à-terre was one of the first projects he designed as the principal of his eponymous firm.
In “The Maker School,” Mona Nahm ’20 (MFA-1) brings together art, technology, and innovation to encourage students to explore their relationship to materials and the act of making. Nahm’s goal was to create a space that encourages users “to create meaningful things and to make them well.”
Fei Wang ’20 (MFA-2) pushed the boundaries of the traditional textile showroom in this store design for Kvadrat, the Danish textiles brand. According to Wang, “The store aims to educate the public—displaying the intricacies of the textile industry and the beauty behind the fabrics.”
Brittany Snyder ’20 (BFA) based her concept for the Chakra Holistic Healing Center & Cannabis Consumption Lounge on an ancient Hindu mandala called Sri Yantra, which uses sacred geometry to attract positive healing energy into its center while dispelling negative energies through its four sides.
Marissa Kronenfeld ’20 (BFA) intended this hospitality space, Elysium, to be a hub for locals who love craft beer, as well as an immersive experience into sustainability for hotel guests.
NYSID’s 2020 gala raised more money than any event in NYSID’s history, securing nearly $580,000 for the College’s scholarship fund. Over 350 friends and members of the interior design community turned out to honor Brian J. McCarthy, Gale Singer, Andy Singer, and Elizabeth Lawrence.
Residential designers and NYSID faculty members Lawrence Levy ’05 (BFA), principal of Lawrence Allan Inc.; Stefan Steil ’08 (BFA) / ’10 (MFA-2), principal of Steilish Interiors and Architecture; and Alejandra Munizaga ’11 (BFA), principal of Natura Interiors share insights into their careers and what drives them to design homes.
Michelle Jacobson ’18 (MPS-S), NCIDQ, WELL AP, LEED AP ID+C, ASID, was working on this kitchen project while she was still at NYSID. An interior designer with 20 years experience, her studies in sustainability have changed her perspective on what’s possible in design.
NYSID’s MFA-1 has changed significantly since its inception in 2009, but the resolve of its career-changing students has remained a constant. Shannon Andrews ’11 of HLW, Andrew Kaplan ’14, Topaz Wong ’16 and Carrie Anne Li ’16, all of Gensler; Nick Domitrovich ’12 of NICOLEHOLLIS; and Brett Helsham ’12 of Brett Helsham Designs discuss the education behind their exciting careers.
Ever dream of being a studio director at a major firm? Becky Button ’01 (BFA) leads a studio for Gensler, and provides us with some insights into her job at a company that employs more than 27 NYSID alumni around the globe.
In the 13 years since he graduated from NYSID, Alberto Villalobos ’06 (AAS) has made a name for himself in high-end residential design. As this issue’s visual thinker, he shares the ideas and sourcing behind one striking room design.
Fifty percent of NYSID’s BFA studios are devoted to residential design. Gideon Mendelson ’07 (AAS), founder of Mendelson Group, and Brooke Lichtenstein ’10 (BFA) and Yiannos Vrousgos ’10 (BFA), co-principals of Input Creative Studio, talk about the foundation in residential design that got them where they are today.
