[portfolio]
nikki mancuso | interior design
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n|e|m interiors
[resume] education
484.995.9162 | phone nelizabethm515@gmail.com | email behance.net/nikkimancuso | portfolio references available upon request
philadelphia university
philadelphia, pa
bachelor of science, interior design, august 2011 - may 2015 | gpa: 3.2 minor in graphic design
university of arkansas rome center
rome, italy
bachelor of science, interior design, august 2013 - december 2013 study abroad, fall semester
skill highlights
programs adobe
autodesk other
microsoft
presentation & design hand rendering perspective sketching space planning
model making 3D modeling and rendering conceptual development
foreign languages french - professional working proficiency italian - limited working proficiency
other skill-based interests acrylic painting oil painting
experience
sewing creative writing
jacobs [formerly klingstubbins]
philadelphia, pa
interiors intern, summer 2014
organized materials library and aided designers with various tasks such as ordering samples from representatives, test fit planning, specifications, & materials selection.
activities & awards AIAS Liaison & Member, IIDA PA.DE.NJ Chapter | September 2012 - present Participated in 13th Annual Jacobs Competition | October 2014 (unable to be judged due to policies regarding prior employment)
Third place, Phildelphia University College of Architecture and the Built Environment Border Crossing Station Project [Architecture and Interior Design Collaboration] | March 2014 Four studio projects archived to be used in Philadelphia University’s Interior Design program CIDA reaccreditation exhibition | Fall 2013 Who’s Who Certificate of Distinction in French Language | June 2011 Award of Artistic Achievement from Chester County Arts in Education Council Member, National Honor, French Honor, and Art Honor Societies | 2010-2011 Recipient of Honorary Scholar Award from AP College Board
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[contents] treatment center for alcohol and drug dependence
program book | 6-7
the germantown museum of architectural history
museum| 8-9
philadelphia loft apartment
residential | 10-11
icon set, poster & instruction manual
graphic design | 12-13
edgar allan poe and the dark side of philadelphia
exhibition design | 14-15
signage system for the architecture & design center
signage design | 16-17
old academy players theater lobby
renovation | 18-19
maverick22 advertising agency
corporate | 20-21
hussainiwala traverse: india|pakistan border crossing station
int’l service port | 22-23
study abroad in rome, italy
photography | 24-25
cloisters of santa maria delle pace in rome, italy
drawing | 26-27
onnisciente bookstore
retail | 28-29
gucci showroom
fashion | 30-31
the guggenheim museum bilbao by frank gehry
case study | 32-33
senior|child mentoring center
recreation | 34-35
ophthalmology medical office
healthcare | 36-37
select furniture of the 20th century
furniture sketches | 38-39
kerkida: small greek restaurant
restaurant | 40-41 5
[program book]
capstone research and programming fall 2014
the j.g.f. treatment center for alcohol and drug dependence
section 1: project objectives
For our final thesis project, we were required to spend the fall semester writing a ten-section research and programming book about our chosen project in preparation for designing the building in the spring.
section 2: historiography & global context
My chosen project is a treatment and rehabilitation center for alcoholics and drug addicts located in Annapolis, MD. My final book measures 8.5x8.5 and the final page count was 200. The following are select spreads from the first eight sections.
section 3 - case studies
To view a digital version of the full book, please visit my online portfolio (see “Resume� for the link).
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section 4 - design & technical criteria
programs used
test fit plans
section 5: topical explorations
section 6: existing site, climate and zoning
code compliance
section 7: program development & documentation
section 8: building analysis, code regulation and standards
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[museum]
interior design studio seven fall 2014
the germantown museum of architectural history
exterior view of entrance
This project is an architectural history museum incorporating circulation and structure inspired by the original railroad that helped from the Germantown, Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy, neighborhoods in Philadelphia. The idea is derived from the first railroad’s construction in the Philadelphia area in 1832. Prior to this event, the Germantown area was a small settlement of German immigrants, but soon became a bustling residential community thanks to the railroad allowing people to move out of the city. From this idea came the idea of the museum seeming as though it is inside of a train station, similar to Reading Terminal Market and the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Bridges act as a connection between floors and the exhibits take patrons on a journey through time.
lower level plan
first floor plan
second floor plan
elevation of museum store
The museum’s official logo is representative of its base concept: the railroad.
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perspective of second floor
programs used
view of museum from store
longitudinal section
cross section
The lower level features the multi-purpose room, where events ranging from lectures to cocktail parties may be held, and a supplemental bar and reception area. Around the perimeter are studios featuring curtain walls so that patrons can view the archival process inside. The floor floor features the main entrance, main gallery spaces, store and outdoor courtyard. Additionally, the storage loading dock and administration offices are located on this level. The ceiling is generally comprised of exposed wood structural beams to give the space a more industrial feel. The curved lines emanating yellow light represent metal mesh fabric curtains surrounding an LED track light that runs along a path between exhibits to represent wayfinding in the form of a journey. The second floor features more gallery spaces and the conference room. There is also a small snack bar area, closed off from the gallery space, that opens out to a green roof with beer garden-esque seating via an overhead garage door. This can be used at any time of the year and is accessible from the courtyard in case of special events.
view of lower level studio from bar
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[residential]
advanced visualization for interiors fall 2014
philadelphia studio loft
The goal for this project was to build an open layout studio loft apartment using a floor plan provided. This was a residential interior design project in that we were challenged with designing a layout for the small space including a place to sleep, dine, lounge and prepare food. The contemporary modern space is designed to be logical, functional and aesthetically inventive. We could use furniture and built-ins to define space, but no additional partition walls.
view from kitchen
A section drawing was not provided, so we had to decide how to creatively handle the vertical experience and ceiling (14’ high). We addressed design details such as trim, windows, built-ins, hardware, appliances, art and decoration (including window treatments). These details help support the illusion of realism. My individual design is a direct interpretation of my personal aesthetic - earth tones with white and a pop of color. Details such as the books, paintings, and wall art reflect my personal hobbies and interests. 10
view from couch
programs used
This project progressed in incremental steps as follows: • Sketching & designing the space • Modeling & massing the space in SketchUp • Adding architectural details • Adding entourage • Exporting to 3D Max • Add daylighting, electric light and textures/materials • Test rendering • Final rendering
required settings in 3D model: Field of view settings: • Viewport viewing angle: 70° or higher view of kitchen
3D Max settings: • Use Daylight system • Use daylight portals when appropriate • Electric lights must be turned on • Light fixtures/lamps must appear to glow (“look turned on”) • Proper Mental Ray materials and settings 11
[graphic design] icon set Topic: Hospitality Management/ Rehabilitation For this project, I used Adobe Illustrator to create sets of three icons relating to my chosen topic. We began by sketching out 50 ideas for icons, then forming three relating ideas from these sketches. After developing three sets, faculty members came in to judge the icons based on their readability. The following are the two finished sets that were deemed the most readable. The intended message of the top set of icons is ‘Room,’ ‘Board,’ and ‘Communication.’ The intended message of the bottom set of icons is ‘Mind,’ ‘Body,’ and ‘Spirit.’
poster Topic: Hospitality Management/ Rehabilitation This project involved choosing a controversial issue related to our chosen topic and then creating a poster that addresses the issue in some way. The final poster measures 16x20 inches, and there were no restrictions regarding color, imagery, type, or method so long as the message is clearly communicated.
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graphic design & communications studio three fall 2014
programs used
instruction manual Topic: Hospitality Management/ Rehabilitation The goal was to create a small booklet detailing the process of using a chosen tool as per our topic. The instruction manual must adequately depict the process without using text. The following booklet explains how to use a yoga mat. The booklet’s size is 6x6, and was bound using a book binding stapler. We learned how to set up a printing file so as to be able to compile it as such. The booklet was comprised of a front cover, back cover, and five interior spreads. Both covers and three of the spreads are shown to the left.
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[exhibition design]
exhibit design & signage fall 2014
edgar allan poe and the dark side of philadelphia
the reading room
This was a collaborative project between myself, a graphic design major and an industrial design major. We were to choose a museum located in Philadelphia and design a special exhibition to be featured at the museum. Our chosen museum was the Edgar Allan Poe house on Spring Garden Street. After a site visit, we decided to design the exhibit around Edgar Allan Poe’s time in Philadelphia - both his personal life and the general events that took place in the city during his time living there. The total exhibit is placed within a 20’x30’ space, designed in the style of a house. The first three rooms showcase events in Philadelphia, including the prominence of photography and various murder trials. This sets the scene as a partial explanation for the inspiration of Poe’s works, including The Black Cat, The Man in the Crowd, and the Raven, showcased in the Nevermore Room at the end. 14
the man in the crowd exhibit
entrance
programs used
graphics
the murder room
advertisement
the tell tale heart exhibit
the nevermore room
information cards poetry exhibits
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[signage design]
exhibit design & signage fall 2014
new signage proposal for the architecture & design center
first floor directory
I chose the Architecture & Design Center, home of the College of Architecture and the Built Environment, primarily because it is the location of my own studio. Functionally, I chose the building because it is in need of a new directional system as many outside professionals enter the space for lectures and as guest jurors in critiques.
first floor directory
Conceptually, my design relates to the existing structure and modern style of the building.
second floor directory
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materials
programs used
pictograms stairs
stairs
restroom
restroom
office
office color pallette
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[renovation]
integrated community service spring 2014
old academy players theater lobby
For this project, we formed teams of three and four to renovate the lobby of an old theater in Philadelphia. Located in the northwestern neighborhood of East Falls, the building has been home to the Old Academy Players theater group for over 80 years. The group has performed hundreds of plays in total and it was here that Hollywood actress and princess of Monaco Grace Kelly began her acting career.
floor plan
Our concept was based around Grace Kelly and old Hollywood glamour, so we chose rustic gold, champagne, seafoam green, and silver as our main color pallette to represent 1940s theater and the silver screen.
elevation of north wall
The overall goal was to create a plan that addresses aesthetics, circulation, and storage within a $5,000 budget. The leaders of the association will choose the design that best caters to their vision and have it carried out. elevation of west wall
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elevation of east wall
programs used
color pallette
perspective from west wall
elevation of south wall
perspective from reception desk
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[corporate]
interior design studio six spring 2014
maverick22 advertising agency
This project was an advertising agency that focused on exciting and unique workplaces and sustainability. The building is located in northeastern Philadelphia, near the airport. My concept was based on the city grid.
entrance perspective
This space will feature a contrasting color pallette in order to create an energetic work environment. The bright purple, yellow and turquoise will pop against the dark flooring and existing structure that shall be comprised of different shades of gray, with a few white elements to add contrast and create a further sense of modernity. The color selection is meant to mimic the excitement of a city lit up at night, and will not only provide a sense of excitement for its users but also serve as wayfinding. The material selection for this space creates a modern and fresh space by utilizing sleek materials. Dark carpet with a simple design will be used for main circulation, offices and workstation areas, while a dark plaster laminate will be used in the unique conference room, brainstorming pod, and outdoor seating area. Selected upholstery is both comfortable and sustainable and will provide a pleasurable and exciting experience for its users. 20
perspective of hallway
programs used
site analysis & sustainability diagrams
perspective of conference room
perspective of workstations
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[international service port] hussainiwala traverse: india|pakistan border crossing station
Border Crossing Station at India and Pakistan. Entry for the 2014 ACSA Steel Design Competition. Awarded Third Place in the studio-wide competition for Architecture/Interior Design Collaboration. The board, which measured 40x40� in total, was comprised of four quadrants, each at 20x20�. The first one is located in the top left. Along with some main perspective views, we decribed the background of the project, focusing on the relationship between the two countries we were designing for (India and Pakistan) and the location and general climate information for the region. The board to the right is located in the bottom right quadrant. It includes a large perspective of the marketplace area, some cultural information, and a section of the site. 22
interior design studio six fall 2014
programs used
This board is located in the top right corner. On it we included a traffic circulation plan, plans at the ground, ramp and roof levels, a corresponding key, a bird’s eye view of the entire site, structural diagrams of the roof structure over the customs building, and a section perspective of the site. Finally, the last board is located in the bottom right quadrant. We focused on the interior spaces on this board with a perspective view of the customs building, a perspective view from the other side on the ramp, a section perspective of the interior, and a cross-site section along the bottom.
The 3D model was built using SketchUp and Rhino for the main massing, and Grasshopper for the curved canopy structure. Plans were drawn in AutoCAD, and the detail diagrams were done in Adobe Illustrator. Sections were taken from the final model, and the section perspective on the fourth board was partially hand sketched following a digital rendering. 3DSmax was used for the final renderings, and Adobe Photoshop was used both for enhancing the renderings and designing the board. 23
[photography]
study abroad fall 2013
study abroad in rome, italy When I studied abroad in Rome, Italy during the Fall 2013 semester, I brought along my mother’s vintage Minolta camera and four rolls of 35mm film. Although I traveled to a few other places in Europe during my semester abroad, I chose to showcase photographs taken while exploring the city of Rome itself.
castel st. angelo
I took around a total of 100 pictures with the camera. The following are some of the best ones.
villa borghese
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via dei coronari around christmastime
camera used
view of ponte sisto from ponte garibaldi
konica minolta maxxum 7000 autofocus 35mm SLR circa 1985
view of ponte vittorio emmanuelle II from ponte umberto I
via luigi santini in the trastevere neighborhood
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[drawing]
visual journaling in rome fall 2013
cloisters of santa maria delle pace in rome, italy I took this class while I was studying abroad in Rome, Italy, so the class essentially consisted of us walking around the city and sketching monuments and buildings through floor plans, sections, perspectives and details. At the end of the semester we chose one of the buildings we examined and made a final project with a plan, section, perspective and detail drawing on an 18x24� paper.
the full board
The drawings had to be completely shaded and drawn to a scale, as well as arranged in a nice way that reflected the building itself. I chose the Cloisters of Santa Maria delle Pace, which was a few minutes’ walk down the street from my school. I laid it out this way because the building is essentially a courtyard, and so its design relies heavily on horizontal and vertical lines.
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perspective view from the second level
second level plan
lower level plan
column detail
section
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[retail] onnisciente bookstore
This project was comprised of a bookstore and a cafe in a four-story building. Since I was studying abroad in Rome, Italy at the time, we were provided with a building located in a neighborhood called San Lorenzo between Termini Train Station and Sapienza University of Rome. We began the project by creating a client whose wishes we would try to accomodate. I decided that my client would be a retired university professor of classic literature who wanted a place for people - mainly college-age and younger - to be able to come and do research and homework as well as buy books. Since the invention of the Nook and Kindle as well as dependence on the internet has rendered the purpose of bookstores almost useless, my client wanted to make reading and researching “cool� again. As such, he wanted the design to be modern, but incorporate a university library environment.
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interior design studio five fall 2013
programs used
view of cafe
longitudinal section
cross section
When I came up with this client, the first thing that came to mind was a few of my favorite books that I read in literature classes in high school, such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1984 by George Orwell, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, and Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. When I analyzed the plots of these novels, I realized that all of them incorporated the motif of sight, however obvious or subtle. This led to my using the motif of sight in my own design by incorporating a skylight and an open area leading down from it, symbolizing the idea of someone from the outside being able to look in and see everything that is going on inside, like an omniscient narrator of a book. This is also where the title of my bookstore came from: “onnisciente” is the Italian word for “all-knowing.”
3d model
view of technology help desk
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[fashion]
interior design studio five fall 2013
gucci showroom
This project was the first to be done entirely on the computer. exterior elevation
It was done while studying abroad in Rome, Italy. The building used is an existing Zara department store located off Via del Corso. Only the front portion of the building was used. I was very inspired by the simplistic yet elegant linear style of Gucci, the designer brand for whom I chose to design the showroom. After research on the history of the brand, I was also inspired by the time period in which it was created: the 1920s. A high-end hotel in England called the Hotel Savoy and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald also served as inspiration.
second floor plan
From this, my concept became creating linear structure from a sense of chaos (relating to the busy atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties) using layers. The second part of the project was showcasing the most significant details of the design. For mine, I chose the window displays, as they relayed the design’s concept while serving as the main attraction to viewers.
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first floor plan
longitudinal section
short section
programs used
details
view of showroom 2
3d model view of reception
view of showroom 1
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[case study] the guggenheim museum bilbao by frank gehry
This project was a semester long research paper and analysis. This was my fourth and final historical case study project; the previous ones included research and analysis of the Second Bank of the United States; a comparison between Hever Castle in Kent, England, and the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain; and an analysis of an ancient artifact showcased in UPenn’s Museum of Archaeology. At the start of the semester, we were to choose a building that was designed and constructed during the time period covered by the class. Since the lectures covered modern and contemporary architecture and interior design, I chose a building that was designed fairly recently. The prompt was to choose a building that we can compare to a work of art located in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I chose the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao because I found the controversy over its status as an architectural masterpiece interesting.
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history of architecture IV: modern & contemporary spring 2013
programs used
The painting I chose was “Knife” by Juan Gris, an abstract artist from the same city as the museum. I compared Gris’ abstract style with Gehry’s seemingly random architectural style. The final paper incorporated six sections: an introduction, background on the architect, his other works, background on the area and time period, analyses of the building and painting, and a contextual analysis including all information. We were also required to produce hand drawings, including plans, elevations and sections, to scale. To read the full case study, please visit my online portfolio.
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[recreation]
interior design studio four spring 2013
senior|child mentoring center
floor plan
This is an entirely hand-rendered project. It is a senior/child mentoring center located in Philadelphia, where inner city kids can meet with senior citizens to do homework and projects together in a safe, pleasing atmosphere. Since we were dealing with senior citizens who might have trouble getting around, we consulted with the Occupational Therapy grad students to closely study the Americans with Disabilities Act.
reflected ceiling plan
My main source of inspiration was the idea of young and old representing the tree of life and new generations. My concept dealt with the Tree of Life, and the plan subtly took the shape of a tree with branches.
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key plan of reception desk
location The heart of South Philadelphia on the 900 block of Tasker Street
view of instructional kitchen
elevation of reception area
sketch of exterior entrance
view of reception area
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[healthcare]
interior design studio four spring 2013
ophthalmology medical office This was our first project for my Design IV studio class, done entirely by hand. We had a choice between an ophthalmologist, dentist, or audiologist medical office. I chose ophthalmologist because I had just gotten new glasses and was very inspired by eye doctor offices. When thinking of ideas for a concept, I discovered an ancient book on ophthalmology that detailed the original analysis of the eye and its components. I decided to use these ideas as a basis for forms and colors. The allwhite hallway represents how light travels through the eyeball and reflects onto the retina (the mirror at the end of the hallway).
floor plan
reflected ceiling plan
longitudinal section
My color theory involved: - Earth tones to correspond with the idea of elements and to create a calming environment - Blue is considered a calming color and is used as a pop - White colors used in the hallway to create a statement piece that mimcs light waves progressing through the eye
elevation of back wall
- Dark colors used on the floors and most furniture to create contrast and warmth
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elevation of waiting area
wood model
view of reception and waiting area
elevation of reception desk water wall
view of examination room
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[furniture sketches] select furniture of the 20th century In this class, we had weekly homework assignments for which we had to sketch famous pieces of furniture using the drawing techniques we learned in class. These drawings included the Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe, the Paimio Scroll Chair by Alvar Aalto, and the E1027 Bibendum Chair by Eileen Gray. At the end of the semester, we compiled these sketches into a small booklet.
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presentation techniques spring 2013
programs used
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[restaurant]
interior design studio three fall 2012
kerkida: small greek restaurant
second floor reflected ceiling plan
This is an entirely hand-rendered project. We were given an existing five-story building located in Old City Philadelphia (it is currently a furniture store called Minima), and on the top two floors and roof we designed a loft and then a small two-story restaurant on the two lower floors. The basement served as the kitchen, and the third floor was to be rented out by the owner, our client, who hails from a chosen country: either Japan, Denmark, Mexico, or my chosen country Greece. Thus, the loft and restaurant had to be designed based on this culture, since the client is not only from this country, but also serves that kind of food in the restaurant. I came up with my concept of layers from looking at photographs of the Greek islands and noticing how the landscape is extremely rocky and so the homes are built on different levels and tiers of the cliffs. From this I decided to use Lightblocks on the walls and ceilings to create a layered effect, in the traditionally Greek colors of blue and white with some pops of color in the furniture upholstery and contrast with dark wood for tables and booth seating. The Greek key-shaped booth seating arrangements are a custom idea. 40
second floor plan
first floor reflected ceiling plan
first floor plan
basement (kitchen) floor plan
wood model
perspective from entrance
longitudinal section
cross section
seating detail
bar elevation
first floor perspective view
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