Interior Design Challenges – Students Design Our Reception Here at CAT Kelowna
Interior design isn’t just about working with and visualizing abstract spaces. It’s about bringing new life to familiar spaces in a way that meets the needs of its particular function while also remaining aesthetically pleasing.
So, with that in mind, when you run a Design School, the least you can hope for is a little free design advice from time to time – and that’s exactly what College for the Arts and Technology got this term, thanks to the students taking our wonderful Interior Design program.
As a part of their Theory of Interior Design course, some of our Interior Design students were tasked with redesigning CAT’s reception area – no small design feat, mind you, as the reception area is the first thing visitors encounter when they step onto our campus!
“We have done this project four times previously. It gives the students an opportunity to interview a user and design to their needs and specifications,” says Jennifer Yeo, Department Head of Interior Design here at CAT.
“For this project, students must interview the user, do a site audit, analyze a space to see where the key traffic areas are, and then they propose a solution that they feel is better suited to both the user and user groups, and try to solve any of the problems that have been identified. Things they have to think about are visibility, image and branding, functionality, and acoustics.”
According to WorkSpace Resource, there was a time when reception areas were largely an afterthought – and put together without the care and attention they require.
After all, reception areas are the first things your potential visitors – whether clients, or in our case, students, encounter when they drop by. They need to feel inviting as well as reflective of your brand and identity.
Reception areas are also not just lobbies – they’re meeting spaces where a variety of activities take place. So more likely than not there’s no single way to tackle the problem of how best to organize this space.
“The most challenging part of the project was taking into consideration the variety of users who will be using and interacting with the space from day to day. I learned how important the reception desk is in representing the image of the school.”
“I appreciated having to interact with someone in real life to gather insight, just like a real client,” says Leia Finbow, Interior Design student.
“It was also cool to learn more about the school and the image it portrays to outsiders, and understanding how to use that knowledge to guide the project.”
Of course, the ongoing COVID pandemic altered the interior design landscape and also played a part in the design process – especially when the students were tasked with maintaining an aesthetic look to the reception area
“One of the unique things about this particular session is that they also had to address health and wellness – due to COVID – and the solutions had to be appropriate for both temporary and permanent installations,” explains Jennifer.
“It was challenging to address the COVID-19 protocols to maintain the aesthetics and the new CAT brand and reception desk design,” agrees Delane White, Interior Design student.
“Some of the really interesting things about this year’s project were the materialities that were chosen by students,” discloses Yeo.
“Things like materials, context, sustainability and clean-ability for health and wellness all came into play. Ergonomics were also important because they address the interaction between the physical desk and the user groups – the receptionist and the people visiting.
Students also needed to look at the human body in relationship to space and the functional use of the desk itself. For example, they had to think about things like wheelchair accessibility, which is expected on campus.
Acoustics is another major design factor – how to mitigate sound transfer in a space that is very ‘live’, and also from the amount of activity in the vicinity.”
Projects like this are the bread and butter of any Interior Design course as it lets students exercise their vision and creativity while also having to meet specific demands set down by the space and potential future clients.
“The most challenging part of this project was blending function with aesthetics,” says Delane. “Stacey had specific requirements for the space and it was challenging to make them look pleasing, clean and organized to clients and students.”
“There is a range of design possibilities to solve one problem,” adds Leia, “there is no right or wrong, as long as the requirements have been met first.
All in all, we’re very proud of the ideas generated by our students! It’s not every day that you get to reimagine a familiar space that you pace through every morning.
In any event, here are some key takeaways below:
Frequently Asked Questions about Interior Design Reception Areas
1. Why is the reception area a key focus in interior design?
The reception area sets the tone for visitors, creating a first impression that should be welcoming, functional, and reflective of the brand’s identity.
2. What challenges arise when designing a reception space?
Designers will need to balance aesthetics, functionality, and the needs of diverse users while ensuring the space aligns with the client’s branding goals.
3. What skills are essential for tackling interior design challenges?
Successful projects like this one that was envisioned here require strong communication, research, creativity, and the ability to translate client needs into practical and visually appealing designs.
4. How can real-world projects benefit interior designers?
Hands-on experience with real clients and spaces helps designers develop problem-solving skills and adapt their designs to meet practical and aesthetic goals. This is something we hope to instill in all our students when they take on design projects like this!
Are you passionate about interior decorating, design, and conception? Graduates from our Interior Design Program have gone on to find tons of success and opportunities in the industry!
If you’re curious to know more, fill out our online inquiry form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
ed to clients and students.”
“There is a range of design possibilities to solve one problem,” adds Leia, “there is no right or wrong, as long as the requirements have been met first.
By Deborah Lampitt-McConnachie