New York

September 2022

On my recent trip to New York, I got the amazing opportunity to meet and learn from firms and designers leading the way in the design industry, while of course taking advantage of and soaking up all New York had to offer.

I met with a designer from HoK, an international, interdisciplinary commercial architecture and design firm, and learned about their company’s values, design process, projects, and internships. I was truly blown away by the scale of their projects and in particular, their approach to creating design solutions for these multimillion-dollar projects that feel so personable and curated. In addition, I met with Susan Tillotson’s firm, a world-renowned lighting design firm. Designers from her firm took me on a tour of MoMA to showcase their design solutions for different areas of the space and the science behind them. I gained great insight into the role that lighting plays in design and it definitely changed my perspective on the importance of lighting in an interior sense and light pollution in urban areas.

Lastly, I met with City Relief, a non-profit for homeless aid based in New York. I got a first-hand witness on their current set-up to deliver these services and participated in their student design competition to create better design solutions based on their values and needs. I am truly grateful to LSU for this opportunity and the friendships made along the way and I cannot wait to go back!