A few years ago Angela Lynch nobly considered pursuing a future in nursing. Before she donned her scrubs and Crocs, however, she arrived at the logical conclusion that if watching surgery performed on television made her queasy, then participating in procedures firsthand would certainly not make her feel any better. Her fortunate moment of clarity drew her toward another career that contributes to the health, safety and welfare of the public, albeit without the hypodermics and latex gloves. A native of the Village of Greendale – a small, picturesque suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Angela will graduate December 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee. Though she stayed close to home for school, Angela is now ready to travel wherever her interior design career takes her.

What made you want to pursue a career related to the interior design industry”

Ever since I was young, I used to redecorate and rearrange my room multiple times throughout the year. I would get sick of the same old colors, bedding, and accessories, so changing that often helped me keep busy as a child. I even had a phase where I painted my walls ruby red and accessorized with golden dragons, Asian fans, and hanging lanterns. I remember this one specifically because it took five coats of red paint. I’ve always had a passion for designing, drawing, and space planning, and because I loved it so much, I decided to make a career out of it.

How has being in an interior design program been different than you thought it would be”

It’s a lot more work than I had intended it to be. I have spent a lot of sleepless nights preparing for presentations and finishing boards. It has definitely challenged my ability to work under pressure, but I was surprised to find out that I tend to work better that way as it seems to stimulate my creativity and push me to be organized and get things done.

You are currently the ASID Student Chapter President at Mount Mary College. Why did you decide to take on this leadership role, what have you learned from it and how have you benefited from it so far”

I was on the Student Chapter Board last year as Publicity Chair and learned a lot by taking on a role to organize and volunteer at events. There were a lot of events and opportunities I wanted the students to get involved in that year but there just wasn’t enough time for it all, so I took on the role as President in hopes to accomplish that this year. This year we officially became an ASID/IIDA Student Chapter which was great because it allowed students to use both organizations to their benefit.

I’ve learned that communication and delegation is a huge part of being a leader and that has been the toughest thing so far this semester.

The biggest benefit for me has been networking. This past summer I went to the ASID Chapter Leadership Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. While there, I expressed my passion to move out of Wisconsin and relocate to Texas to an ASID Wisconsin Chapter professional member. She then led me to a former ASID Wisconsin Chapter President who had relocated to Dallas, and I connected with her while she was in Wisconsin teaching the STEP Program later that month. We talked for about three hours, and she gave me contact information for fellow designers that I should connect with in the DFW area. I took a trip to Dallas this past October in hopes to expand my network and connect with people who might assist me in furthering my interior design career outside of Wisconsin. I’m still in the process of looking at and getting leads on jobs in Texas, but if it wasn’t for networking I wouldn’t be in the position I am today. Hopefully that trip will help me obtain my first job out of school in the near future.

Do you work during the school year or during the summers” If so, what do you normally do”

I’ve been working at Lexco Tile and Stone part-time for the last year and a half while going to school. I work with contractors, designers, and the public on new construction and remodeling projects primarily in residential areas. We provide design services that allow my skills to be perfected by drawing up diagrams, layouts, and writing specifications for clients. Working at Lexco gave me a chance to work in the interior design industry while pursuing my four-year, CIDA accredited degree in interior design at Mount Mary College, and I’m very grateful for the experience and knowledge I have gained from that. 

Have you ever had or wanted to get an internship in the design field while you’re going to school” If so, what did you / what would you hope to learn from it”

I interned at Quorum Architects, which is a small commercial firm that focuses heavily on sustainability and offers services in architecture, interiors, landscaping, planning, and renovation. I worked there last semester and stayed on for summer as well. I mainly took care of the resource library and sat in on “lunch and learns” with (sales) reps, which really helped my knowledge expand on all the different products. I would also prepare concept sketches, assemble boards, and assist with picking out finishes. Another opportunity I had while interning was to travel to Chicago to attend NeoCon, which gave me an enormous amount of information on products, as well as an experience that I will never forget.

I feel very fortunate to have worked and interned at places that focus on residential and commercial design. I’ve learned things at one place that I wouldn’t have learned from the other and vice versa. I hope that in the end my experiences in residential and commercial design will help me become a better and well-rounded designer.

Are you aspiring to practice any particular type of design”

I’m really interested in commercial design focusing on hospitality and retail.

When do you graduate and what do you hope to do after you receive that diploma”

I graduate this December, and I hope to have an out of state full time interior design job lined up for early 2010. I’m currently looking at Dallas, Texas, as a primary residence, but I’m open to other opportunities that might come along.

On a more personal note…

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving tradition”
I wake up early to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while paging through the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to look at all the new Christmas ads. The food is also a favorite part of mine – all I have to say is turkey, green bean casserole, cheesy potatoes, and pumpkin pie, Yum.

What’s the best present that you ever received”
My mom surprised me with two ‘N Sync tickets back when I was in middle school, so I would have to say that’s probably the most excited I’ve ever been about a present.

What do you do to relax”
When it’s warm outside – which it rarely is in Wisconsin – I like to sit outside, listen to music, and talk with family and friends. When it’s cold, I like to sit by the fireplace, watch movies, and drink hot cocoa.

What do you hope to accomplish before 2009 is over”
I hope to have an out of state full time interior design job lined up for early 2010.

If you are an employer looking for an assured go-getter for your firm, then connect with Angela via LinkedIn here or simply contact her through that “old fashioned” method called email: angmlynch@aol.com.