September 6, 2024
Interior design students recognized for creativity and innovation in national contest
Students in the interior design program in the College of Architecture, Planning & Design at Kansas State University have earned third place in the prestigious 2024 Interior Design Educators Council Video Competition.
This year's competition focused on the theme of "Artificial Intelligence + Interior Design," encouraging students to explore the growing role of AI technologies in the design industry.
The K-State team, composed of interior design students Chris Nastars, Paige Gerster, Lauron Birmingham and Maddie Rose, submitted a thought-provoking video titled "The Sky's the Limit: Artificial Intelligence in Interior Design," which creatively captured the potential and challenges AI presents to the future of interior design. Their project was advised by Professor Migette Kaup.
The Interior Design Educators Council's competitions, such as the Student Design Competition and the Video Competition, are key initiatives that offer students the opportunity to apply their design knowledge in practical settings. These competitions foster creativity, allowing students to demonstrate hands-on design skills while engaging with contemporary issues in the field.
Interior design, by nature, is a creative discipline that addresses complex design challenges through human intelligence, empathy and innovation. As AI technology continues to evolve, it has become an indispensable tool for designers, offering new capabilities in spatial planning, data analysis and simulation-based forecasting.
"The integration of artificial intelligence is changing the process and the business of design," Kaup said. "With AI tools, students are empowered to make more informed decisions, streamlining the process of spatial analysis and creative content generation. This competition gave our students the perfect platform to demonstrate their ability to professionally communicate the value and purpose of interior design professionals who work at intersections between creativity and technology."
In their video, Nastars, Gerster, Birmingham and Rose illustrated the dynamic collaboration between human creativity and AI, emphasizing the role of AI in enhancing, rather than replacing, human-centered design solutions.
The team's achievement highlights APDesign's commitment to preparing the next generation of designers to navigate the technological shifts in their industry. As part of the Next-Gen K-State strategic planning initiative, experiential learning opportunities such as these allow students to continue, excel and contribute meaningfully to the future of design.