Student membership brings opportunities for expanding your understanding of industry standards and trends as you exchange new ideas with other members and establish your own network of peer and mentor relationships. IIDA students increase their earning potential, build professional credibility, connect with other interior designers, and learn from industry professionals. Membership demonstrates your commitment to advancing the industry of interior design and helps jumpstart your career.

HOW IT WORKS:

IIDA Student Membership supports students studying interior design as they work to develop their skills, experience, and connections. Our educational and professional resources go beyond those available in traditional campus settings, giving prospective interior designers better opportunities to thrive after graduation.

Accessible and affordable membership
Simple application process
Mentoring and job shadowing with industry professionals and established design firms
On-campus student centers
Network-building opportunities with other passionate students
Educational and volunteer events
Student design competitions with industry prestige and cash prizes

UPCOMING EVENTS

There are no upcoming events.

GET INVOLVED

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

APPALACHIAN STATE CONTACTS

Alex Poorman

Faculty Advisor
poormanja@appstate.edu

Grace Neve

Campus Center President
nevegi@appstate.edu

WINTHROP UNIVERSITY CONTACTS

Quintel Gwinn

Faculty Advisor
gwinnq@winthrop.edu

QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE CONTACTS

William Furman

Faculty Advisor
furmanb@queens.edu

Liz Rand

Campus Center President
randl@queens.edu

Haley McIntosh

Campus Center Co-Director/VP/Treasurer
mcintoshh@queens.edu

UNC GREENSBORO CONTACTS

Stephen Skorski

Faculty Advisor
sskorski@uncg.edu

Aida Zamani

Campus Center President
adzamani@uncg.edu

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY CONTACTS

Shelby Hicks

Faculty Advisor
sshicks@wcu.edu

Abigail Gulley

Campus Center President
afgulley1@catamount.wcu.edu

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Celebrating Student Leadership

Recognizing passionate, talented, and innovative future professionals.

Interested in the 2021 Shining Star Scholastic Award? All full time-student design or architecture students that are active IIDA Carolinas student members are eligible to apply!

APPLY HERE

Winner of 2022 shining star award

Isaac Wood | Class of 2022
B.S in Interior Design with Minor in Building Science at Appalachian State University

Isaac Wood is a passionate student, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design with a
Minor in Building Science at Appalachian State University, in Boone, North Carolina, and will
graduate in May, 2022. Through interior design, he aspires to affect the user of a space
positively by impacting the occupants’ philosophy, quality of life, and environmental awareness.
Isaac has a passion for sustainable and environmentally ethical design, which is emphasized in
his work and personal practices. He focuses on sustainable and healthy project scopes: how to
limit carbon emissions of the building industry and how to improve the health and wellbeing of
all living things impacted by the built environment. In 2021, Isaac won the international NEWH
Undergraduate Student Green Voice Design Competition with a resort project located in Loei,
Thailand; his design was greatly influenced by Thai vernacular architecture, environmentally
sensitive building strategies, the climatic region of Loei, and local materials.
Throughout his young adulthood he worked in his father’s construction business in York County,
South Carolina, which provided valuable skills and experience in the building and construction
industry. He expanded on these skills during his tenure in Appalachian State University’s
IDEXlab (Integrative Design Experience Laboratory). In IDEXlab, he designed, developed, and
created various projects alongside other interior design, architectural design, construction
management, and sustainable technology students for local communities, including the
proposed design of the Yancey County Resource Center for the Town of Burnsville, North
Carolina.
Isaac is actively involved in the Interior Design program and the Applied Design Department at
Appalachian State University. He has been faculty appointed as a student program ambassador
for three years in a row and the lead ambassador for his cohort for two years in a row.
Moreover, Isaac worked with other student ambassadors to create and film an introductory
program video for the virtual open house during the height of Covid-19 in the 2020-2021
academic year, to encourage potential student engagement and interest during a wholly virtual
period. Isaac has also worked as a teacher’s assistant for various studio and lecture courses,
mentoring and learning from the next cohorts of interior design students.
Outside of the studio and into the great outdoors, Isaac is an avid hiker who takes full
advantage of the gorgeous Blue Ridge Parkway in the backyard of Boone, North Carolina,
further developing an appreciation for nature and a passion for stewardship.
After graduation, he will pursue his NCIDQ certification, in addition to LEED and WELL A.P.
Isaac also plans to pursue a Master of Architecture, focused on design-build, after gaining
valuable professional experience.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Neocon

IIDA Carolinas sent two student members to Neocon 2019. They participated in the IIDA Design Charette, and Kaitlyn James, IIDA Carolinas Student Member from WCU, was on one of the winning team, making two years of consecutive wins for our chapter.

Western Carolina University

One of our campus centers hosted a fabulous student event this year with guest speaker Cheryl Durst. It was an amazing event for our chapter and for our students.