February 12, 2025
Bright Futures in Interior Design

Photos courtesy of Sydney Marie Branz  

Bright Futures in Interior Design

Today, accredited colleges and universities across the country and beyond are investing time to train the next generation of interior designers. At Minneapolis-based Dunwoody College of Technology, for instance, interior design students are taught the core principles of interior architecture and design to be best prepared for a career in residential or commercial design. Sydney Marie Branz, a fourth-year interior design student at Dunwoody, is just one of the many talented learners in the program. “While my path to interior design wasn’t linear, I’ve always gravitated toward creative fields,” she explains. “After exploring marketing at Normandale Community College and St. Cloud State University, I realized my passion lied elsewhere. I wanted a career that allowed for greater self-expression, and that’s when I discovered interior design.”

Throughout Dunwoody’s design program, there is a strong emphasis placed on hands-on learning experiences. In fact, Branz and a few other students recently had the opportunity to create their own custom light fixtures, which will be displayed at this year’s Minneapolis Home + Remodeling Show (Jan. 31-Feb. 2) as part of Tomorrow’s Designer Showcase.

MH: Tell us about the inspiration behind your light fixture.

SMB: My designs are heavily influenced by nature’s organic patterns and shapes. I believe nature offers a wealth of inspiration, and we can learn a lot from its unique and captivating forms. For this lamp project, we were tasked with drawing inspiration from different company brandings. This led me to focus on sustainable, organic, and nature-driven products.

We were fortunate to be able to reuse parts from old lamps, which aligns with my desire to incorporate sustainable practices [in my designs]. The design reflects growth by attaching the shade to the base and allowing it to rise toward the light source. 3D printing the shade provided control over the material and size, which allowed me to choose a material that would diffuse light and create a calming ambience.

How does your lamp reflect your personal style?

This lamp embodies my love for nature’s influence while maintaining a clean, simple, and effective design. I’m always drawn to sustainable products, and crafting this lamp primarily from reused and repurposed parts was incredibly rewarding. There’s a special satisfaction in breathing new life into old pieces.

What excites you most about being part of the Minneapolis Home + Remodeling Show?

I’m incredibly excited to participate in the Minneapolis Home + Remodeling Show. It’s a tremendous opportunity that I don’t take for granted. It motivates me to keep pushing myself and the boundaries of design as I develop my skills and career.

What are some of your future goals as a designer?

As a designer, I want to create positive change and [leave] lasting impacts that benefit the greater good. I hope to someday collaborate with landscape designers, delve deeper into biophilic design, and explore how to create innovative and inspiring spaces while remaining mindful of environmental impacts.


link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *