Interior Design as Problem-Solving

English department instructors teach students to be problem-solvers. When faced with the problem of Ross Hall’s cold, institutional vibe, members of the Inspiring Environments Action Team naturally practiced what they were teaching by coming up with a cluster of interior design solutions. The team, consisting of six faculty members (Erin Frink-Durben, Katie Fulton, Sam Piccone, Karla Ruden, Nicole Salo, and Jayme Wilken) and one graduate student (Nathan Kane-Vinehout), is one of five action teams assembled to improve the well-being of instructors and students in the English department. I sat down with Ruden, Salo, and Wilken to dissect the progress and future goals of this task force.

The three women agree: “Our goal is to make an environment that is welcoming to [undergraduate] students but also make it welcoming to ourselves as well as faculty and graduate students.” Simple changes such as leaving office and classroom doors open have been a start in the progress that has already been seen. Salo notes, “I feel like I’ve seen a few more students in here this semester than in the past. Leaving the door open makes it more inviting.” Visual cues such as turned off lights or closed doors often keep students from accessing a perfectly suitable study space. By implementing welcoming behaviors, the team hopes that students will make use of these various empty rooms and lounges. The idea is that if students discover a space, they will pass this information along to their friends or roommates, who will in turn encourage their peers to use these spaces for productivity or creativity between classes. Ruden expresses, “With these spaces, I think we just want to build community between the students who are already in the program.”

Moreover, welcoming spaces are intended to help build community across different departments and colleges at ISU. Students who want a place to talk to those they wouldn’t encounter in class are welcomed in these spaces. Ruden adds, “If we can make them welcome in our spaces, students may become interested in taking English classes.” In short, making students aware of the tangible presence of the English department may spark an intangible curiosity and desire to explore its academic world.

The interior design solution includes red wall paint, repurposed furniture, and wall decor. Salo highlights, “We’re trying to think of those creature comforts or those things from home you want to have.” The team has worked hard to blend comfort with academic rigor when refurbishing each space. Ruden praises Salo’s craftiness, saying, “Nicole has done an awesome job finding art at the ISU surplus and garage sales.” Limited funding, a typical aspect of interior design problem-solving, has inspired the team to get creative, often repurposing thrown out office materials and rehousing abandoned couches. Wilken says, “I thought we could solve some of these problems with pretty low-cost solutions, and that kind of thing is fun for me.”

Much of the budget was allotted to repainting parts of the third and fourth floor of Ross Hall red. The fresh paint provides a bigger impact than you might think. It provides visual unity to the disparate halls of the English department. Wilken highlights the cohesiveness it brings, pointing out that it alerts students they are still in English territory when they exit the elevators. Wilken adds, “We also want to display more student art and poetry in the hallways.” The team understands the importance of personalization. Displaying student work builds confidence while the familiarity in decor eases potential homesickness. Salo reveals, “The strategic plan is very intentional. I think a lot of people in the department realized that there can be an energy in a room.” Pairing this intention with a “student first” approach has given the team insight to effective solutions. Salo notes, “Of the five groups, we’re in a group where people can literally see results. That is nice, but it also gives us a little pressure.” Even with fiscal and spatial limitations, the team is dedicated to fostering an all-inclusive space where students feel comfortable.

The problem-solving of the Inspiring Environments Action Team is just one facet of the strategy behind ISU’s evolving innovative approach to learning and community building. The team was assembled initially for a three-year project, but having tuned their sense of design as problem-solving, they will undoubtedly continue to see ways to improve the environment for current and prospective students.