From South America to Europe to the good old US of A, interior design student Jorge Michios is navigating towards a successful career. Currently a senior at the Design Institute of San Diego [DISD], he’s already contemplating a Masters in Architecture prior to sailing off into the world to find his creative bounty. But before he maps that particular course, he’s busy will the task at hand: earning his BFA in Interior Design.

Always the artistic sort, Jorge has forever been very interested in all things design. Though he considered studying Industrial Design at one point, interiors won out. His passion truly came into focus about half-way through his studies when he finally realized what type of interior design elevated his heart rate the most: Commercial – Hospitality, as in bars, restaurants, hotels, and casinos. (All of which are based around travel - see a theme here?)


All Revved Up

Though he’s going to have to wait a tiny bit longer, he’s “very ready to graduate and start working on ‘real’ projects. It’ll be nice to see the fruits of my labor come to fruition.”

And Jorge will be ready to hit the road running when he has diploma in hand. He’s happy to say that his design school experience has been a good one, and he feels that he “has definitely evolved” as he has progressed through each year of school. So far, his favorite courses of study have been CAD [Computer Aided Design] and Interior Design after the second year: “I recognize the use of CAD as an exceptional tool for interior designers to embrace and use in every aspect of the design solution.”


Fine Tuning

Fortunately for him, Jorge has been adding to his skill set by interning at OCIO Design Group, a commercial design firm. “I was drawn to the firm because they specialized in commercial / hospitality design projects. I was very specific in finding the right internship.”

So how did he land this plum position? By doing what we here at PLiNTH & CHiNTZ are always pushing hard: networking. “I found that finding an internship is absolutely all about networking. That’s how I eventually landed my internship after spending almost a whole semester looking for one on my own. I knew someone from school that was interning at a commercial firm. When she was done, I still hadn’t found an internship, so she referred me to the owner. I met with him. We had a twenty minute meeting and he asked if I could start the following week.” Sweet.


Credible Credentials

But before he books his plane ticket for Europe or South America – which is where he plans to be working by the year 2013 – he has yet a few other milestones: passing the NCIDQ Exam and becoming LEED certified. And he’s mapped out a plan for those too.

“[To prepare to take the NCIDQ Exam] I’m interested in starting the IDEP program at whatever firm I’ll be working, as well as attending study groups. I’ll have to work under a licensed architect or certified interior designer for a year and half. As soon as I can I will take the exam. This summer I’m hoping to attend a USGBC LEED certification workshop. Upon completion of the workshop, I will be taking and passing the exam to become a LEED Accredited Professional [LEED AP]. Green design is obviously important and pertinent to us and our planet.”


Past The Fork In The Road

In the meantime he’s taking advantage of every opportunity to expand his horizons closer to home. Specifically, he’s a member of DISD’s ASID Student Chapter. He attended a career day hosted by the Chapter, and “it was very informative. Robert Wright, Past President of ASID, spoke to us. There were industry vendors, and attendees received free swag. ASID is a great networking and educational tool.”

Jorge is happy with the path he has chosen, especially his choice of school. “The small class sizes [at DISD] were essential. I felt comfortable and never really felt like a number in sea of others. Your peers are future designers, and practicing designers are teaching the classes. I made the right choice in deciding to pursue a degree and the profession of Interior Design.”


Getting Personal

Who inspired you as you were growing up?
Artistically – Keith Haring and Andy Warhol. Architecturally – Frank Lloyd Wright. Musically & Culturally – not to sound corny, but my dad (Roel Elzinga). He was an avid collector of vinyl records and vintage cameras. I remember growing up listening to Classical, Jazz, Opera (my least favorite), Swing / Big Band, and even Country & Western.

What do you do to de-stress and relax?
I listen to music. There’s always music playing in the background whenever I’m at home or in the car. I never listen to the radio – iPod or CDs.

Do you have vacation plans for 2007?
I’d really like to be able to go visit my relatives in Southern Brazil and Argentina after graduation. I grew up going every year for Christmas, but I haven’t been there since 1999. It’s definitely time for another visit.

What have you been reading over the summer?
I’ve been catching up on a lot of reading. I receive at least a handful of general design and trade magazine subscriptions that I never find time to unwrap sometimes, while in school, internship and work.


Catch Him If You Can

If you want to connect with Jorge (say, to offer him a job upon graduation or to share a cab ride in Prague?), you can find him at jm_designgroup@hotmail.com.