6.4.13 | New York, NY | New York School of Interior Design presented honorary doctorate degrees to Betty Sherrill of McMillen Inc.; editor-in-chief of Metropolis magazine, Susan Szenasy; and design icon Thom Filicia, who also gave a lively and inspirational commencement address. NYSID's BFA Thesis Projects Exhibition and MFA Thesis & MPS Studio Projects Exhibition are now open, on view through Sep. 13. The college also launched its first online course, Introduction to Interior Design.

Thom Filicia

Commencement

What a day! NYSID’s 2013 commencement ceremony took place on Thursday, May 23rd in one of the most dramatic interior spaces in all of NYC—Jazz at Lincoln Center. The College’s vital position in the global design community was clear, from the notable industry leaders present to the promising graduating students who will design our collective future. See photos from the event here.

Honorary doctorate degrees were presented to Betty Sherrill of McMillen Inc.; editor-in-chief of Metropolis magazine, Susan Szenasy; and design icon Thom Filicia, who also gave a lively and inspirational commencement address. 

Each year, awards are presented to exceptional students and faculty at commencement. This year, the Chairman’s Award was given to Erika Reuter (MFA-2) and Tae Hyun Yu (MFA-1); the Ana Blanc Verna Award for Excellence in Interior Design was given to Dohwe Gu (BFA); and the Alumni Award was presented to Elisa Carlson (BFA). The Robert Herring Travel Prize was awarded to Jess Silverio (BFA), who will travel to Asian countries to research healthcare facilities, and Libby Rose Augarten (MFA-1), who will travel to view and study Rem Koolhaas’ projects around the world.

NYSID also honors one of its faculty members annually with the William Breger Faculty Achievement Award. This year, the award was given to Christopher Welsh, who has served as a NYSID instructor and administrator for over two decades.  Congratulations to all graduates!

Thesis Exhibition Openings

Every year NYSID’s undergraduate and graduate thesis projects imagine spaces for living, working, learning, healing and community, offering a window into the talent nurtured by the College and a glimpse into the future of interior design.

More than 80 thesis and studio projects were unveiled at two opening receptions, the BFA Thesis Projects Exhibition Opening on Tuesday, May 21st, and the MFA Thesis & MPS Studio Projects Exhibition Opening on Wednesday, May 22nd. Both events were packed with graduating students and their friends and families, NYSID faculty and staff, and industry leaders.

Both exhibitions will be on view through September 13, 2013. The BFA Thesis Projects exhibition is at the NYSID Gallery, 161 East 69th Street. Summer gallery hours are Monday - Thursday, 10am - 5pm. The MFA Thesis & MPS Studio Projects exhibition is on view at the NYSID Graduate Center, 401 Park Avenue South at 28th Street, 3rd floor. The exhibit is open by appointment only; e-mail [email protected] or call (212) 452-1500 x405.

New Online Course

The time has come for NYSID to open its digital doors to the world. Introduction to Interior Design is the College’s first online course, launching June 10th through our Institute for Continuing & Professional Studies (ICPS).

This 6-week course is for people considering a career in interior design, who want the flexibility and convenience of online learning. Through interactive discussion forums and video lectures, the class provides a broad introduction to the profession and the process of interior design. NYSID faculty members will cover the elements of interior design, such as working with color, applying basic design principles, the influence of history and environmental psychology, and learning how to draw in scale.

Students will also design a living room step-by-step, including: understanding a client’s needs, creating a design concept, drawing a floor plan, sketching design ideas, selecting furniture and materials, and creating inspiration montage boards. Weekly discussions with the instructor and fellow classmates are lively, focused, and interactive. 

Getting Out of Town!

What better way to kick off summer than to get out of town! NYSID students are currently on two exciting study abroad trips—one to Paris and the other to Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing.

Instructors Sean Weiss and Tom Morbitzer are guiding students through Paris’ endless sites, from the awe-inspiring ancient Roman ruins to the city’s contemporary design scene. While art historian, critic and curator Zhijian Qian and Dean Ellen Fisher are accompanying students on a thrilling two-week tour of Buddhist caves, Ming dynasty interiors, and international landmarks. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see pictures from the trip. We look forward to hearing the travel tales from all!