FIU’s Department of Interior Architecture, in partnership with the IIDA & NEWH South Florida Chapters, hosted the 2nd annual Emerge event, on February 2, 2019. Approximately 170 students, alumni, speakers, sponsors, and industry manufacturers attended the event.
Emerge, formerly known as Student Day, is an all-day event that brings together students, design professionals, educators, and manufacturers’ representatives. The event showcases a variety of sessions that educate students about different career paths within the industry, give them the opportunity to speak with working professionals about their portfolios, and introduce them to cutting-edge ideas in hands-on workshops that encourage students rethink the way they design.
Senior Instructor Katie Rothfield conceived of and spearheaded the student-oriented event with support from Department Chair Newton D’Souza and the event committee. Graduate student and event Co-Chair, Cassandra Charles, championed this collaborative effort as an instrumental leader of the committee.
“Emerge creates many unique opportunities for the design community,” said Katie Rothfield, “Students learn from and engage with professionals, manufacturers showcase their products and network with future and current designers, professionals recruit new talent, and alumni return to campus, joining other design professionals in giving back to and enhancing the learning experience for students.
This year, students received more than 180 portfolio and resume reviews from over 28 design firms and companies. The outstanding reception we received from everyone involved clearly indicates the value of the event. We only expect it to grow in future years.”
For the 3rd annual event, Emerge will undergo a re-branding with a new name, D3E (Designers Engage, Empower, Emerge), as well as revamped marketing initiatives to nationally target students from all design disciplines. As part of this re-branding, D3E will serve as a precursor workshop for the FIU School of Architecture Career Fair happening March, 2020.
THANK YOU TO:
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Elena Manferdini, Principal and Owner
Atelier Manferdini
SPONSORS
Allsteel
Barbarosa Leather
Caesarstone
Daltile | Marazzi | American Olean
Design Within Reach
Don Pablo Coffee Growers & Roasters
EoA
Formica
Galaxy Glass & Stone
Gunlocke
Herman Miller
IIDA South Florida Chapter
Interface
JC White
John Stillman Photography
Knoll
LBU Lighting
Maya Romanoff
Miami Dolphins
Miami Marlins
Mosa.
Nora by Interface
OFS
Shaw Contract
Sherwin Williams
SmartArt Art Consulting
Spartan Surfaces
Tropitone
Yarn Design Associates
9 Lives Reserve
SPEAKERS
Jason Tapia, Principal
Building Center No. 3, LLC
Patricia Rothman Brown, Interior Designer & TV Personality
HGTV
Steven Burgos, Technical Designer
Gensler
Jennifer Delmas, Director of Operations
EoA | Edge of Architecture
Shayan Khalilahmadi, Brand Designer
Gensler, FIU Alumna
Andrea Tagliaferro, Founder
Taglia, Inc., FIU Alumna
REVIEWERS
Bryan Liska, Director of Design
Hilton Latin America & the Caribbean
Jissette Jimenez, Project Coordinator & FIU Adjunct Faculty & Alumna
TSAO Design Group, FIU
Scheherezade Marles, Interior Designer, FIU Alumna
Studio DADO, Inc.
Isabel Collazos, Design Coordinator, FIU Alumna
Stantec
Claudia Machado, Project Director, FIU Alumna
HBA | Hirsch Bedner Associates
Leanne Yarn, Owner | Founder | Interior Designer
Yarn Design Associates
Adriana Lacruz, Senior Lead Designer, FIU Alumna
Adriana Hoyos Design Studio
Lisette Boosooboy, Interior Design Lead, FIU Adjunct Faculty & Alumna
M.C. Harry & Associates
Kristyna Borden, Associate + Designer/Manager, FIU Alumna
Stantec
Nina Laguna, Senior Space Planner, FIU Alumna
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Romina Vignolo, Design Program Manager, FIU Alumna
Starbucks
Yi Belanger, Healthcare Studio Director, FIU Alumna
Nelson
Bobbie Olson, Senior Interior Designer
V Starr Interiors
Domonique Carey, Junior Designer
V Starr Interiors
Christian Triana, Senior Project Designer
EoA | Edge of Architecture
Elieser Duran, Interior Design Manager
Cube 3
Anel De Castro, Director of Design Services
DCOTA | Design Center of the Americas
Christina Conde, Senior Interior Designer
CallisonRTKL
David Rifkind, Associate Professor & Chair
FIU Architecture & Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design
Jessica Nalasco, A+D Representative
Herman Miller
Rossana Diaz, Sales Manager
Construction Specialties
Jamnary Moreno, Interior Design Manager
Marriott International
Larry Weiner, Manufacturers’ Representative
Hospitality Furnishing Consultant
Elizabeth Irizarry, Market Sales Manager
Kimball
James Padron, Founder & CEO, FIU Alumnus
The Padron Group
Carlida Tang, Designer, FIU Alumna
EoA | Edge of Architecture
Annette Lucille, Southeast Commercial Sales Executive
Brintons
View Emerge’s photo gallery here.
For more information on Emerge or to become a sponsor next year, please visit our website.
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