And now for something completely different…
Kelly Garcia is not your conventional interior design student, yet she is representative of a growing trend in the industry. After pursuing another career and a family life, she is realizing her dream to join the world of interior design.
Though she was born in Michigan and spent most of her life in Canton, Ohio (home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, she points out), Kelly now calls Mexico home. While living as an expatriate with her husband in Monterrey, she has successfully completed two years of study through Rhodec International‘s long distance learning program in Interior Design.
(Note: You can learn more about Rhodec in this month’s LEARN, BABY, LEARN section.)
Kelly’s background is as a Director of Human Resources for a hotel/restaurant chain. She specialized in training and recruitment with a strong concentration in the legal realm of unemployment, workers compensation and discrimination lawsuits. Though life ended up taking her in another direction, she has always loved art and design: “I am getting a late start in Interior Design but have had many years of fun playing with furniture, fabrics and paint each time we’ve moved, which is a lot!”
Her unique situation has allowed her to dedicate herself to her design pursuits full-time: “I work all year round on my studies. Since the program allows for individuality and flexibility, I can set my own pace. I have a lot of contact with others students, which helps keep me motivated.”
Even though she is learning online, she is currently a student member of both ASID and IIDA: “Rhodec has an ASID Student Chapter and is in the development process of setting up an IIDA Student Community Center. The students involved with each of these groups are very driven and enthusiastic individuals. They have been working very hard to develop community service projects and a variety of other ideas to continue developing and challenging our skills and learning within the world of interior design.
The only drawback Kelly has discovered about her situation is her difficulty in landing the internship that she so eagerly desires: “Since I’ve been in Mexico, I have tried every year for a ‘Mentor’ within IIDA, but the closest one is 12 hours away. Monterrey is full of Interior Designers and Architects, but there doesn’t appear to be a set criteria for licensing designers, as I have found out in some dealings with local designers. Eventually I will return back to the States and seek an internship and/or employment as I wish to sit for the NCIDQ exam.”
Despite her internship road blocks, all of Kelly’s other experiences have been quite positive, and she is quite serious about her design studies: “I’m am completely aware that some circles don’t always consider programs such as these credible, but as circumstances have it, I don’t have access to a conventional education. I wish to be a licensed Interior Designer not a ‘decorator’. I even have dreams of continuing my education towards a masters program – via long distance, of course!”
Kelly has approximately one year of courses left, and due to her background in the hotel / restaurant biz, she is understandably leaning towards a career in hospitality design: ”I believe my thorough understanding of the various aspects of the business would be invaluable for commercial design: guest services, restaurants, nightclubs, banquets, kitchens, guest rooms, public spaces, offices, public spaces. I would like to do some residential projects, but I believe commercial business would be much more exciting.”
This non-traditional student’s situation might be daunting, but Kelly relishes the challenge: “In a program where self-motivation is required, I have developed skills to search and research via the internet, as well as locally sourcing a multitude of materials for projects and for contests. I have also had the pleasure of making indirect contact with students from all over the world via student bulletin boards and emails – we are able to share ideas and viewpoints, as well as cultural differences. Plus, I have guidance from professors – all of whom are all ID Professionals – through both phone and email contact.”
Somehow it all works for Kelly, and PLiNTH & CHiNTZ applauds her dedication to learning and her pursuit of happiness… and it’s all from a distance.
Now for our non-design questions:
P&C: What is the one location in the world you have always wanted to visit and why”
KG: I’ve been lucky enough to have lived in and visited most of the countries / places that one dreams of, but the one place I would love to live would be Italy… for gorgeous Italian men!
P&C: What magazines do you read for fun”
KG: Reading for fun consists of all the ID magazines that I can get my hands on, along with anything related to the industry. I currently have a fascination with lighting!
P&C: What’s your favorite beverage”
KG: Depending on my mood, a margarita or a good Bordeaux or Spanish Grand Reserve.
P&C: What do you hope to accomplish before the 2004 is over”
KG: For me, this year has been all about my studies. I’d like to keep up the pace and find some time to learn AutoCAD.
Have a question for Kelly” You can email her at kellcia_intl_designs@hotmail.com.
Are you a student or a new grad and want to live up to your STAR POWER” Email us at contact@plinthandchintz.com and put STAR POWER in the subject line. We will add you to our list and may contact you in the future. Now be patient and wait your turn!
