Acree, Lauren

Finding appreciation for the little things in life is something I strive for in order to keep a positive outlook on my goals as well as myself. In order to live life to its fullest potential, I find that showing up for yourself and being consistent is most beneficial. Apart from this, valuing others’ thoughts and feelings by being empathetic gives me a more purposeful outlook and a clearer understanding of my own values and worth. I also believe that approaching situations with a sense of humor and wit allows you to protect your own peace and maintain a healthy mindset. Being courageous and taking risks when it comes to your own beliefs and aspirations is also something of value when it comes to fulfilling your own potential.

Do you have any plans after this semester?

After this semester I will be going home to spend time with my family and friends over the holidays, as well as update my portfolio and research internships for the upcoming summer.

What type of designer would you like to be?

Ideally I would like to get into hospitality or commercial design, but I am open to any opportunities within the design field.

Can you tell me about any problems you ran into in the studio or outside?

Over the course of the semester I sometimes struggled with managing the workload, however, I really enjoyed being able to dive deeper into one project and focus on more details.

What kind of place would you like to design next?

In the future I would like to work on a retail design project!

What do you think makes a good workplace?

I think what makes a good workplace is the atmosphere and collaborative environment. Finding spaces within the office where you can seperate from work or bond with co-workers is vital to building a positive setting and creating company culture.

Can you tell me what evidence-based design means to you?

Evidence-based design is designing with researched intention. It means you have studied similar precedents and taken the successful elements and transferred them into your own design.

Compared to previous semesters, the semester may be challenging in many ways, but you may be able to see your accomplishments. Reviewing your accomplishments, what did you learn from this studio?

This studio has best prepared for my career after school. We were able to really focus on the details of one project and see the process in its entirety. I learned a lot about the more technical elements in design, such as construction documentation and structure.

Would you like to share anything with future students of this studio?

This studio can be challenging at times but seeing your results is really rewarding. Finding friends you can turn to and ways to encourage each other goes a long way!