Internship Spotlight: Bonnie Mabry

Bonnie Mabry has been fascinated with floor plans, fabrics, home design, and custom wood working since childhood.  This desire was fueled and encouraged by a father who enjoyed all types of woodworking and furniture building, and a mother who enjoyed crafting and sewing for others as well as the family.  "There was always some type of project underway which brought a lot of excitement and enjoyment as a child," Bonnie says.  However, it wasn't until Bonnie had children of her own that she decided to pursue a degree and career in Interior Design.  She began her design career with drafting classes and has continued to expand her experience in that field for the past six years.

Currently, Bonnie is an intern with Lorna Milner-Brown Design of HIgh Point, North Carolina, assisting with showroom design in conjunction with the High Point Furniture Market.  Bonnie states that one of the most interesting and challenging aspects has been further developing her eye for color, along with choosing room accessories, draperies, bedding, and other accents based on the elements of design learned in the classroom. "There is so much to be said for actually transferring the book knowledge in hands on experience out in the field.  This practical exposure and insight is truly invaluable as far as developing a good design concept for a space."  Bonnie has quickly learned some of the differences that make showroom design stand apart from residential design.  One of first things she noticed is that showroom design is a very fast paced environment and things can change very quickly in this environment.  "It is very common for things to change drastically from one day to the next or even one hour to the next.  Many times a piece of furniture, or even an entire group can be pulled from the line and the designers must improvise to keep the room design cohesive."  Also, the focus of showroom design many times is more on aesthetics than function, whereas in residential design, the family's needs and habits must be taken into strong consideration.  "During my time with Lorna one of the highlights of working with the furniture collections was the showroom window design.  We worked countless hours on the planning and production and in the end it really paid off.  Our windows were a huge success with everyone attending our showroom this past furniture market."

Bonnie says that there have been a multitude of opportunities while working with Lorna Milner-Brown.  In addition to showroom design, Lorna also works as a photo stylist for several furniture collections.  Bonnie has had the privilege of assisting with these photo shoots and observing all of the details that goes into the making of a magazine or catalog.  "Lorna has been a true inspiration to me and has been amazing to work with.  She is always more than happy to share her knowledge and experience in the field of design.  She has involved me in all aspects of showroom design from the planning stages all the way through to the final execution."

Upon graduation, Bonnie aspires to continue her career in Interior Design in the High Point area.  Bonnie looks forward to finding a position that will allow her to implement her space planning skills, CAD experience, and most recent design experience.   ​

 

Internship Spotlight: Danielle Long

Danielle Long has been intrigued with the design process for years and found herself passionate to learn more. After studying Early Childhood Education she realized her personality and interests were changing, and leading her in a more creative, design-centered direction.  This path led her to the Interior Design program at Randolph Community College. In addition to a thorough education, her time at RCC has brought forth many fantastic opportunities.  She has been privileged to intern with the gents of Madcap Cottage, John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon at their High Point, North Carolina- and New York-based interior design firm.

Through her time and experience with Madcap Cottage, Danielle has been exposed to vital aspects of the design field.  She has worked on product marketing and online sales on One Kings Lane; assisted in choosing furnishings, fabrics, and room placement for various projects; and worked on many applied design tasks. Danielle has been given a broader perspective in relation to her sense of style and palette.

“Working with my supervisors and the incredible Madcap gang has provided me with a higher level of knowledge and confidence as a designer. Jason and John are constantly pushing me to think outside the box and “Expect the Unexpected!” I have been given a charming group of people to work alongside with who are all so friendly and encouraging; and also passionate about the Madcap brand.  I’ve become quite fond of the collaborative and welcoming environment.”

Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke have been phenomenal supervisors to Danielle by opening her up to a whimsical world of possibilities and a greater sense of what interior design is made of. Danielle has enjoyed and appreciated this opportunity to learn from a set of such prominent, “clued-in” designers that she can share her love of color and pattern with. She is thrilled and eager to see where her future is headed.

Intern Spotlight: Shannon Smith

Shannon Smith is currently an intern at Jollay Design Center under the direction of Carol Jollay. In the beginning, Shannon’s duties included organizing files, updating catalogs, and pricing products. Her responsibilities now include space planning, contacting vendors, choosing furniture and finishes, and assisting clients as needed. She is learning the intricacies involved with coordinating fabrics and designing window treatments. Understanding a client’s needs and budget is also a part of Shannon’s training as she makes furniture selections.

Shannon is also assisting the Jollay Design Center with the set-up of various showrooms for the upcoming High Point Furniture Market. While doing this, she is learning about visual merchandising and how to direct crowds through a showroom through the placement of products. She is enjoying the process and development of furniture market.

Currently living in Kernersville, North Carolina, Shannon is interested in staying in the High Point area upon graduation. She enjoys space planning and choosing furnishings, and would like to work for a residential design firm.

Cutline:  Photography Credit:  Kolby Ingram and Carol Jollay.  Article was written by Shannon Smith.  For more information on the Interior Design Program at Randolph Community College you can contact Holly Barker, Department Head of the Design Program at 336-633-0284 or by email at hdbarker@randolph.edu. 

Intern Spotlight: Kolby Ingram

Kolby Ingram has always appreciated the creative, stimulating process of design. After starting her educational career in Psychology at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, her creative side pulled her to her true love of design and she knew that the interior design program at Randolph Community College was the perfect fit. Her career at RCC has opened the door to a great opportunity to work as an intern with Barbour Spangle Design group; located in High Point, North Carolina.

Barbour Spangle Design allows Kolby to assist with almost every stage of design. They have given her the opportunity to visit job sites, see the installation process, work on showroom setup and help choose fabrics, finishes, and paint colors for current projects. Kolby has learned key skills from her internship and continues to mature her taste and style through her hands-on work environment.

“The opportunity for me to grow as a designer is made extremely easy at Barbour Spangle. Every day provides a new chance to understand and conduct design in ways that I have never thought of before. The Barbour Spangle Design team has welcomed me so warmly and has included me on so many wonderful projects. I could not have possibly asked for a more enriched environment. Each designer brings a unique element to the table and I am just trying to pick up on the creative thought processes that each one displays to further my knowledge of design.”

Christi Spangle and Christi Barbour have been wonderful supervisors to Kolby and have really taken this opportunity to teach her as much as possible about the field. Kolby is appreciative to have the chance to learn from such distinguished designers with a unique style and is excited what the future will hold for her.