The Interior Design Summer Workshop enjoyed record-breaking enrollment this year, despite complications from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Normally, the workshop is offered as a week-long intensive experience on campus. Due to past success, the department had planned to expand this year to include a second session. But with the pandemic, organizers switched gears and turned the workshop into a month-long online experience.

The program gives high school students an opportunity to experience interior design firsthand. At completion, students have a portfolio of work, which is a required component of the application process in many accredited interior design programs. After participating in the workshop, many students will return to Ball State to enroll in the program.

The one-of-a-kind program offered the expertise of two interior design faculty members, Associate Professor Reza Ahmadi and Assistant Professor Sarah Angne Alfaro. Each taught and supervised the online program with help from three Ball State interior design students. The crew went above and beyond to make this program successful and open to all interested students.

A high school student from the Virgin Islands wanted to attend the workshop but was unable to get necessary supplies delivered from Amazon, so Ahmadi purchased the materials and sent a care package himself so she could participate!

This is just one of many examples of the dedication and creativity that our CAP faculty have shown throughout the pandemic. We are proud of them!