In early January, the interior design and landscape architecture departments within Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP) launched DesignWeek, a collaborative design event that engaged more than 200 students across both disciplines this semester.

What is DesignWeek?
DesignWeek is a judged, team-based experience designed to unite students across all years—undergraduate and graduate—from both ID and LA. Thirty-one mixed-discipline teams leverage their unique skills and perspectives to tackle a shared design problem. Each group is led by a student team captain, creating a studio-like environment that mirrors professional practice.

Why do we do this?
At its core, DesignWeek is about learning to collaborate and developing a shared design language between two closely allied CAP professions. It’s a chance to think beyond disciplinary boundaries, communicate ideas clearly, and design together from day one.

The Project:
This year’s challenge is playful—and serious at the same time. Teams will design and build a four-player game that meaningfully integrates both interior design and landscape architecture concepts.

Project parameters include:
A board or “playing space”
Clear, quickly understood rules
A fully self-explanatory game (no designers are present to explain it to judges)

Judging is by faculty, who look for, among other things:
Creativity and originality
Quality of craftsmanship
Clear integration of both disciplines
Educational value—can you learn about ID and LA while playing?
Ease of use and clarity

The event was organized by Craig Farnsworth, Roan Distinguished Professor of Practice in the Department of Landscape Architecture; Jeremy Merrill, assistant professor of landscape architecture; Sarah Alfaro, associate professor of interior design; and April Westcott, assistant teaching professor of landscape architecture.

At the end of DesignWeek, a game night will give students the chance to play each others games while winning raffles and awards.

With all that in mind, DesignWeek sets the tone for the semester as a collaborative, creative launchpad—bridging interior design and landscape architecture perspectives into a single thoughtfully crafted design project.

FIRST PLACE
Common Threads:
Abby Shaw, Lilliana Sensibaugh, Morgan Clark, Keira Snow, Ayden Napier

SECOND PLACE
House Party: Tatum Mastin, Darwin Hiller, Rebekah Fortman, Anna Schneider, Nicole Jones

THIRD PLACE
Path to CAP: Jorja Wood, Ella Basarich, Liam Westlund, Cordell Turner, Angelika Villarroel, Grace Provenzano

HONORABLE MENTIONS: