IIDA Campus Centers create a design community where design professionals can exchange ideas with students and educators that is essential to design innovation. By offering students and educators an opportunity to work together on different projects and initiatives, we help shape the future of interior design one student at a time.

The 2023 Campus Center Awards Winner, George Fox University’s submission of the Sleeping Pod for the Houseless Population project showcased their outstanding achievements and active involvement in the school’s design program and community. One of the main goals of George Fox University's Interior Design program is to ensure all students have the resources, opportunities, and experiences necessary to be skilled in their field.

In 2021, assistant professor of Interior Design at George Fox, Casey Martin, IIDA took over the program and updated it to have a focus on connection, utilizing resources for students to gain hands-on technical knowledge and she created a program that is able to also give back to the community. Martin supports students in all levels at their design career to help foster strong and creative empathetic designers for the next generation.

While working on the Sleeping Pod for the Houseless Population project Martin and students created and learned from each other. When searching for a project, Martin knew she wanted something that students could do in their first semester and where they are able to work in small teams. She also wanted something that would allow them to work with the design community in Portland, so she reached out to Portland State’s Architecture’s Center for Public Interest about the project. The shells for the pods had already been designed so this was an opportunity for Martin and the students to step in and re-imagine what the inside of these pods could actually be. The most important part of the project and goals of the campus center is to help students understand the part designers play in our society, helping to solve some of the issues facing our current world today.

Martin and students Hannah Farrugia, Student IIDA and April Stuckey, Student IIDA, talk with us about their experience working on their design solution, the significance of winning this award and the importance of being a part of a campus center.

What was your favorite memory working on the Sleeping Pod for the Houseless Population Project?

CM: I loved seeing the students engage with this project. The whole discussion around the houseless population can often be a daunting one to take on, but my students approached this project through the lens of empathy. How could this project create actual homes for someone experiencing houselessness? How can these tiny pods be functional and comfortable and sustainable and beautiful? The students really dove in and it was beautiful to watch.

How did you all reach this design solution and what did you learn from students during the process?

CM: We worked with shells of the pods given to us by Portland State University’s Architecture students and from there, really researched trauma-informed design and talked with organizations that provide support for the houseless population in Portland. We did our due diligence before jumping into design and I loved seeing the students using what they learned in the research phase and how that directly impacted their designs.

How important was this project to how you view the future of designing environments?

CM: I think the future of design is how we, as designers, can actually use our specific skill sets to help solve some of our world’s problems. It’s through that innovative design thinking that we have a unique view into how future spaces could be designed.

What sets your campus center apart from others? Why would you encourage design students to get involved in their IIDA campus center?

CM: The George Fox University Interior Design program is unique and it’s an exciting time to study interior design in our program. Our curriculum is brand new within the last 3 years and it’s based on CIDA standards as well as industry feedback. I regularly change out projects and talk continuously with our local design industry partners to make sure that what our students are doing is actually relevant to the current state of the design industry. We work with local firms like SERA often, as well as partnering with giants like Gensler each Fall for our Space Planning Class and participate in many IIDA events within our local Portland chapter. Our program is also small enough that the students are really known by their instructors and as professors, we can actually hand place many students in firms and jobs that they want as they graduate as we really know what their skill sets are and where they will excel. We work really closely with our local IIDA Portland City Center and our students participate in many events such as the local, regional, and national design charrettes, as well as local awards dinners and other events. We really focus on community connectivity in our program and our students graduate with their own network of industry connections so that they can thrive in this amazing design community.

What have you learned from being a part of IIDA Campus Center that you don’t learn in the classroom?

AP: Being involved in IIDA has given me many opportunities to challenge myself and my design skills. Participating in experiences with IIDA expands my ability to enjoy fellowship with students and professional designers alike. One of my favorite events to attend has been the annual design charrettes. Working alongside students to complete design challenges has helped me learn how to balance my talents in a collaborative setting. Having the foundation of a positive and expansive learning environment at George Fox University has been so crucial for my education, but it all gets put to the test when I collaborate with folks from outside of my campus. Gaining support and encouragement from other students and industry professionals has boosted my confidence and given me the chance to show what I can accomplish when teaming up with other creators.

HF: In being a part of an IIDA Campus Center, I have had opportunities that I didn’t even think were possible while in school. I have had the opportunity to be mentored by industry professionals, work with firms in both Oregon and Montana, get feedback on large projects, and so much more. We have been provided with many networking opportunities, have worked with company reps, worked on real projects with clients, and have been able to collaborate with other architecture and interiors programs around the world. The program pushes us to not only learn the technical work that comes with design but also the social skills needed to succeed in a communication-heavy industry. We are truly set up for success and cared for deeply by our professor, Casey Martin.

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