ID Journeys
NEWSLETTER | University of Northern Iowa Interior Design
Explore the paths of our Interior Design program, from its rich roots at SIDNI to the exciting directions our students and alumni are heading today. ID Journeys connects you to the energy of our studios, the achievements of our students and the stories of our alumni who inspire the next generation.
In this issue, discover how alumni are shaping careers across diverse practice sectors and contributing to student success through mentorship and advice. See our students in action — crafting projects, exploring new design technologies and gaining hands-on experience through internships, competitions and immersive design trips.
This newsletter is your window into the vibrant life of UNI Interior Design, a space to celebrate past achievements, current explorations and future possibilities.
2025 EDITION
ID Voyagers | alumni space
ID Explorers | student space
ID’s Program Path | program space
ID Voyagers | alumni space
We inaugurated the ID Alumni Advisory Board with these wonderful alumni who represent various practice sectors and career stages. Two meetings, one in each semester helped us gain advice that is directly relevant to student success. Thank you to all of them. For the alums who welcome us so warmly during our visits - we appreciate you so much. We want this space to be dedicated to you alums - please fill out this survey so that we can spotlight you and your achievements as well in our future newsletters. The survey will also help us understand how to connect you to our students in meaningful ways - through studio guest speaker sessions, tours, or portfolio review meetings.
Jane (Honkomp) Miller
Principal, Practice Group Leader at ISG
Waterloo, Iowa
Angie Nees
Principal, Registered Interior Designer
at INVISION Architecture
Waterloo, Iowa
Carol Carroll
Interior Designer at UNI
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Shannon Boyle
Founder / Designer at designloveseattle
Seattle, Washington
Brianna Arpy
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Katie Lewis
Owner and Interior Designer
Grundy Center, Iowa
Chloe Cumberland
Jenkins Build
Austin, Texas
Hannah Brunko
FEH Design
Des Moines, Iowa
Anastasia Spyratos
Interior Designer Mackenzie
Portland, Oregon
ID Explorers | student space
All cohorts of our hard-working students are fully engaged in their studio projects and learning experiences. The seniors who will graduate in Spring are creating their credentials and will welcome your feedback as mentors. If you wish to sign up as a mentor, please contact Gowri. They are actively seeking internships in Iowa and beyond - so if you know of anyone who is hiring, please contact us! Last year’s interns explored firms in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois in various residential and non-residential practice sectors.
Meanwhile the student organizations are very active - Student Interior Designers of Northern Iowa (SIDNI) which is also our NKBA Student chapter had a pumpkin painting session, and a Chief Architect training session to introduce this new program to the students. The officers also planned the Fall Design trip to Kansas City which was an amazing experience. The officers of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Student chapter had a successful kickoff session and will be visiting local design firms in the Cedar Valley very soon.
ID’s Program Path | program space
Our studios and design centers are energized right now - students are using their drafting tables, cutting mats, light tables and the design center materials as they are crafting their mid term projects. We have now started using additional lab spaces to accommodate increased class sizes and instruction methods.
Our program continues to evolve its strong curriculum through feedback from alumni, industry, students and our accreditation body to fine tune the projects. We now have two residential studios along with a residential focus in our early classes, and multiple commercial design studios. In all courses, a human-centered design approach creates the strong core from which to expand creativity. Students are encouraged to explore different software programs and an interdisciplinary approach to their designs. They also have opportunities to pursue ideas outside the curriculum through Independent Studies and participation in student competitions. The Accessory Dwelling Unit project that we started a few years ago is coming in handy for our interns who are now working on those designs at their firms.
Fall Design Trip | Kansas City
We had a successful Fall design trip to Kansas City - visits to SRS, Visual Comfort Co. HOK, DRAW Architecture, Mercer Zimmerman and Built Solutions, KDR showrooms, the Design Library and the Nebraska Furniture Mart enhanced student perspectives about the multifaceted opportunities and resources in the design industry. Very informative docent-led tours at Union Station and the Nelson-Atkins museum, and a trip to the beautiful National WWI Memorial connected us with history and a hopeful future. Our next trip in September/October 2026 will be to St.Paul/Minneapolis. If you are reading this from that area, and know of potential places to visit and/or are willing to host us, please reach out!
Students have plenty of opportunities to participate in the program and college rhythms - as teaching assistants, design center assistants, officers of the student organizations, and student ambassadors. We have a great group of students who will make excellent future leaders and colleagues at your firms. We are encouraging them to connect with you via LinkedIn.
