“It’s where I first learned what it meant to be supported, inspired, and believed in,” says Jissette Jimenez, Project Manager of Modis Architect, who along with Rocio Rico Guiterrez, Charlotte Raynaud, and the rest of the committee, combine forces to make a powerhouse of leaders behind the notorious Festival of the Trees (FoT) held annually by the School of Interior Architecture at FIU.
This year’s fundraising event held at the Coral Gables Country Club, was nothing short of spectacular, where lights and creativity led the way. With more than 20 trees on display and over 350 attendees, the night was illuminated by artistic sculptures all nurtured through one common underlying mission: fostering your inner imagination.
For more than 37 years, the South Florida architecture and design community has consistently showcased its unwavering commitment to promoting exceptional interior architecture education through their involvement in the event.
Nicholas Nedev, Chair of Interior Architecture reflects on the significance of this annual event. “The designs created are consistently inspiring, and this year’s work was especially beautiful – full of imagination, spirit, visual allure and craftsmanship that make this event unique. What makes the evening truly meaningful is that it directly supports our students, not only through scholarships and travel opportunities, but through the collaborative process itself. It’s always energizing to see our students working alongside industry partners and so many alumni. The event becomes a living expression of our design community at its best.”
Echoing the impact of the event, Festival of the Trees Co-Chair, Rocio Rico, speaks on the importance of connection that takes place every year, “This event not only provides our future designers with valuable sponsorship opportunities but also introduces them to the real world by offering meaningful networking experiences.”
Behind the Trees
The creation of the trees was carefully executed by teams, all following the theme of “Design Perspective: A Paradox in Design, Shifting Perspectives.” Coming together through the use of different materials, each tree brought a different perspective to the forefront. Simply put, designers were encouraged to create a tree that would transform depending on the angle from which they are viewed—whether through shifts in perspective, scale, material, or color—creating a visual paradox that sparks curiosity and wonder. Needless to say, all of the designers achieved this making the job of the judges a little harder.
This year’s event featured a panel of judges from all walks of life that came together to collectively decide on what trees stood out in the categories. See the stellar group of judges below:
- Sandra Peebles, Emmy-Winning Journalist and Founder, Peebles Communications
- Stephanie Van Vark, CEO, StephanieCreates, Inc.
- Gabrielle Roman, Community Programs Manager, Vizcaya
- Leonard Burnett, Jr., Media Entrepreneur and Co-Founder, Uptown Magazine
- Isabel Bucaram, CEO, PerfectLink Media, LLC.
- Michelle Solomon, Editor-in-Chief, ArtBurst Miami
Stephanie Van Vark, Michelle Solomon, Gabrielle Roman
“It was my privilege to be selected to serve as a judge at this year’s Festival of the Trees event. Each installation was a creative celebration of the holiday spirit, with every designer turning the simple concept of a “tree” into a stunning piece of art with accompanying stories from whimsical to serious to convey their vision. This fundraiser is truly a testament to FIU”s commitment to artistic innovation,” says Michelle.
Creation with a Cause
All net proceeds benefit the FIU Department of Interior Architecture and its students. In fact, many of our former scholarship recipients have made their FoT return, this time as designers.
Destiny Moore, previous FOT Scholarship recipient returns to the event as a designer this year, “not only did it [the scholarship] inspire me creatively, but it pushed me into being a more confident designer.”
The unclaimed trees were donated to the Angels Reach Foundation that same evening (www.angelsreach.org), which is a non-profit organization with the mission of revolutionizing the education sector by understanding genomic coding to identify its roles in cognitive barriers and learning disabilities.
This year’s Festival of the Trees reaffirmed its role as a cornerstone of creativity, philanthropy, and collaboration within the South Florida design community. Fueled by shared purpose and artistic innovation, the event continues to expand opportunities for FIU students while strengthening meaningful ties across the industry. With continued support, FoT will remain a vital platform for inspiring the designers and design leaders of tomorrow.
