ASU interior design student wins national contest for modern workplace

Greg Stevens
March 31, 2023

Winner, semifinalist donate prizes to ASU Design School scholarship

An Arizona Condition University inside layout pupil has gained a national opposition for a vibrant and adaptable contemporary workspace.

Madeline Magee, a senior at The Structure Faculty in the Herberger Institute for Structure and the Arts, won the Steelcase Following Pupil Style and design Competitiveness in February. A lot more than 1,200 college or university college students from 77 increased-schooling establishments submitted layouts to the contest, sponsored by Steelcase, a producer of business home furnishings.

This was the initial time ASU entered the contest. In addition to Magee, interior layout senior Chloe Cobb was a semifinalist.

Equally learners have resolved to donate their winnings towards a scholarship for an undergraduate in the inside style software. Magee received $2,500 for 1st prize, and Cobb won $1,250. Steelcase is matching the donation.

Magee claimed she was speechless when the win was announced.

Madeline Magee, a senior majoring in interior style and design, won the Steelcase Future Pupil Structure Level of competition, beating out more than 1,200 other learners from about the nation.

“I was grateful for the option and getting ready to represent ASU in anything we’ve never participated in prior to,” she reported.

“Now, ASU will be recognized as a winner, and each and every class will reference my project, and that is actually neat for this university.”

Pupils in the inside structure application find out record and concept in their first calendar year, adopted by 5-credit history studio courses each and every semester thereafter. The studio programs focus on distinctive places, which includes well being and wellness, retail and place of work style, according to Brie Smith, head of the method and a medical assistant professor of interior style.

“Our office studio has not always aligned with this levels of competition so we moved it to the slide semester, so this was our very first time collaborating,” she said.

The total senior cohort of much more than 50 learners participated, expending about six months on the venture, and the school chose three types to submit to Steelcase.

Magee and Cobb had been among the 5 semifinalists nationwide who ended up flown to Michigan to current their styles to eight judges.

“I knew I desired to do a little something bold and diverse and something that could be tremendous expressive for the reason that I’m a scholar and it wasn’t a thing that wanted to be realistic like in a serious-earth company work,” reported Magee, who will operate at a Phoenix interior design and style firm just after she graduates in May well.

The contestants had to make sure at least 80{f32667846e1257729eaaee80e922ba34a93c6414e9ad6261aff566c043b9e75d} of the furnishings in their style and design was made by Steelcase. Magee selected to use all Steelcase household furniture in her design.

“I leaned into a whole lot of exploration about the thought of do the job modes and how the modes — concentrate, collaboration, understanding, socializing and rejuvenation — can be utilized in the place of work to give possibilities to the individuals coming in every single day,” she explained.

The contest’s fictional office was established in Boston.

“I ended up making use of the Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge as an inspiration for a whole lot of the design and style components of the challenge,” she reported.

Her design provided a “mother’s room,” beverage bar, wellness space, a retail mockup place and group spaces.

This rendering by Madeline Magee of her style for a modern-day workplace includes team area.

Magee claimed that profitable the contest was the excellent way to cap her practical experience in the Layout College.

“It was the excellent conversation of schooling and qualified apply in 1 knowledge,” she explained.

Magee’s professor for the job was Cheyne Brown, a school associate who is director of workplace technique for architecture company Corgan. Cheri Jacobs, an assistant educating professor and freelance interior designer, worked with Cobb.

ASU’s interior style and design application has been increasing, Smith mentioned.

Numerous decades back, the cohorts numbered about 30 students. In an work to be more inclusive, the college altered the admission necessities for second-year college students.

“Overnight, our plan jumped to 60 pupils, and we have maintained that for the previous two or three a long time,” she reported. “We’re projecting 90 to 100 pupils continuing into their 2nd year next 12 months.”

Smith explained it was fascinating when Magee and Cobb shared their programs for their prize money.

“Most enjoyable for us, as a method, is the generosity and willingness of these pupils to want to invest again into the method and financially guidance and award other students,” Smith explained.

Magee mentioned that as a university student who’s having to pay her way by way of school, she needed to assistance those people like her.

“I preferred to make guaranteed a layout university student could thrust themselves in a job rather than choosing up a 2nd work,” she claimed.

The Style School’s accomplishment in only its initial calendar year of levels of competition has drawn focus, Smith claimed.

“Even just before it was publicly declared, we ended up being contacted by professionals all-around the place expressing, ‘Wow you have two of the five winners – congratulations,’ ” Smith said. “So that was remarkable as properly.”

Major graphic: This rendering by Madeline Magee is from her design for a modern day place of work that gained the Steelcase Subsequent Student Style and design Levels of competition. 

Mary Beth Faller

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