Intern Spotlight: Gina Hicks

Gina Hicks is interning this spring at Lisa Sherry Interieurs.  Lisa Sherry Interieurs is located right in the heart of the furniture capital in High Point, North Carolina.  As Gina interns and completes her second year at Randolph Community College in the Interior Design program, she hopes to continue to learn as much as she can about the industry.  Lisa Sherry, the principle designer of her firm, has been featured in numerous national shelter and fashion magazines including LONNY, Rue and an upcoming summer feature in the re-established Domino Magazine.  Lisa’s self described style is “Casual Luxe,” and she certainly and effortlessly subscribes to her own style.  One of her internship highlight, so far; was meeting editor of, Michelle Adams.  "It was such a thrill to meet Michelle, and to see what a big time photo shoot entails (not much if you are already effortlessly chic like Lisa!)"

During her internship, Gina has helped with client projects, blog ideas, Computer Assisted Drafting (also known as AutoCAD), and is currently assisting on a trio of window displays for Hooker Furniture.  Gina credits her 4 plus years of working at Anthropologie, and helping with numerous friends’ weddings as a great source of training for the window displays.  “I’m currently working on covering giant flower pots with fabric and making over-sized paper flowers to create a magical floral fantasy at market.”  says Gina of her current task.

Hicks, who is a mother of three, returned to college after being a full-time stay at home mom.  Previous to that, she studied French and Communications at UNC-Chapel Hill.  In addition to Interior Design, Gina enjoys spending time with her family, working in the garden, travelling, and skating with Greensboro Roller Derby.  After graduation, Gina plans to work with the newly established Vivid Interiors in Greensboro.

Article was written for Randolph Community College by Gina Hicks.  For more information on Gina you can check out her blog at:  http://chickgirldesigns.blogspot.com/

For more information on the Interior Design Program at Randolph Community College contact Holly Barker, Department Head for Design Programs.  Holly can be reached at 336-633-0284 or via email at hdbarker@randolph.edu.

Welch Wins Big In National Design Competition

Our Department is so excited to announcement Addie Welch as first place winner in the second-annual Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library Interior Design Competition.  The competition was open to over 200 Interior & Furniture Design programs nationally who offer an Associates, Bachelors, and Masters level design programs.    As part of the competition, the DES 241 Commercial Design class, under the direction of Holly Barker, Department Head of Design Programs; students designed a two-story barrier-free youth camp for traditional and special needs children ages 8-14 in the Northeastern Poconos.  To gain a better understanding of camp design for youths with disabilities we visited and conducted research at Victory Junction. 

Welch will be recognized nationally on April 7^th at the prestigious Pinnacle Awards during the High Point Furniture Market.  For her win she will received a check for $10,000 which she intends to apply towards furthering her education.  

Having completed a degree from Sandhills Community College in Architectural Engineering Technology, Welch transferred to the Interior Design Program at Randolph Community College to to focus the on more creative side of interior design.  She currently works and interns for Marta Mitchell Interior Design in Greensboro.  After graduation she is considering completing her bachelor's degree at University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the Interior Architecture program.

Addie resides in Robbins, North Carolina with her husband,  Chris, their two year old son Miles, and they are welcoming their second child in August.

Let us all congratulate Addie for her amazing design accomplishment!

With more than 5,000 furniture and design specific volumns the Furniture Library is largest furniture specialty library in the World.  For more information on The Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library please see their website at: www.furniturelibrary.com

Article was written by Holly D. Barker, Department Head of Design Programs at Randolph Community College.  For more information on the program and a career in Interior Design contact Holly at 336-633-0284 or via email at hdbarker@randolph.edu