Interior Design in Chicago at Harrington College of Design! Harrington attracts support from Designers and Business leaders of the Design Community.  The interaction from these mentors with Harrington College of Design Students helps further these students creative minds!

Harrington College of Design includes experienced Designers to judge.  Obi, Designer and Owner from Orange Skin Chicago points to one of his favorite Designs, created by Cameron Wudtke.

For more information on how to contact Harrington and recruit Talented Graduating Designers, visit here.

Looking for Designers, Check out our Directory.

Find Furniture You Love at YourFurnitureLink.com, America’s favorite Furniture Search Engine and please come back to visit this Furniture Design Blog!

Search for a hip Furniture Manufacturer and Home Retailer who carry Cool Furniture Products from your favorite Signature Furniture Collection!

Wholesale Furniture Manufacturers, Distributing Furniture Companies and Furniture Dealers Retail can join here. Stop by the YourFurnitureLink FB page if your in the neighborhood!

Introducing Heather Harmston

The other day we sat down with Heather Harmston and talked a bit about her experience in Interior Design. You’ll see just as we do that her work with 3D computer rendering is superb. All eyes are on Harrington for great new design and Heather delivers.

YourFurnitureLink: What design style are you in love with right now?

Heather Harmston: I feel like my personal taste and style varies from time to time. I meet new people that open my eyes to new ideas, I find hidden treasures in markets, the more I expose myself to the world of design, the faster my style changes. Currently, I love mixing and matching furniture, textures, art, accessories. I’m very graphic and I love abstract chaotic paintings. My favorite furniture style is one that puts a modern twist on a traditional design.

YFL: Where do you find the most inspiration?

HH: When starting a project I always love to find inspiration in things that are overlooked in life. I pull inspiration from the unexpected. I find that it spices up my projects and makes them unique. Texture and color have always been a huge influence on how I envision a space. In my experience people tend to look for inspiration in beautiful visually appealing things, but what’s the fun in that? I like to take a deeper look!

YFL: What will life be like after Harrington?

HH: All I can say is whatever I do, I hope I’m happy. Harrington has taught me so much about myself and about my abilities but the most important thing I have learned is that I truly am in the right field. I am always excited to work on projects and I enjoy every second of what I do. Ideally I would love to be a part of a creative team in an Event Production Company. A company that is bold and is not afraid of color or dramatic effect, one that stands out as being over the top in their designs.

YFL: Give us a Little information on the Project we see here.

HH: This project in particular was a culmination of vibrant colors and rigid textures. When designing this restaurant entitled RUST, a Moroccan Steakhouse in the heart of Chicago the goal was to create an intimate energy amongst the diners. An escape into a new culture that provokes conversation and liveliness. The concept was “finding the beauty of man in nature”. The interior space utilizes materials such as man made metals and new technology, while still incorporating a sense of earthiness by the way they were finished. The exterior or terrace of the restaurant acts as the beginning phase of “RUST”. The necessary elements of rust or oxidation are water, air and a metal. The terrace acts as a stripped down version of the interior focusing on the basic elements needed to create rust.

Great concept and Good luck Heather, we’ll be waiting to see whats next!

Find Heather on Facebook for more info on her Interior Design future.

Love Heathers restaurants look? Check out the pieces below to add some spice to your home!

Be Primitive
About 30 Students from Harrington College of Design with Frank Fontana from HGTV enjoyed the excellent guidance from Glen Joffe and Steve Quinlan through their exiting, mysterious, unique and beautiful showroom “Primitive” on 130 North Jefferson Street in Chicago. “We learned a lot about the design from diverse cultures on the 4 floors of the showroom and we enjoyed to see the restoration shop in the lower level.” said a student.

Students listen intently to the owners as they speak about what is “Primitive”

Students from Harrington Pose with Frank Fontana for a picture after the tour.

Check out the video below for a great Interior Design Thesis project from Harrington.

The Academy of Art University was established in San Francisco in 1929 by Richard S. Stephens, a fine art painter who had accepted the position of Creative Director for Sunset Magazine. Assisted by his wife, Mrs. Clara Stephens, he opened the new school in a rented loft at 215 Kearny Street to teach advertising art. In a few years, a distinguished faculty of practicing art and design professionals was assembled and the school’s philosophy was formulated: hire established professionals to teach future professionals. In 1933 the curriculum was expanded to include Fashion Illustration, and in 1936 a Fine Art Department was added.

Dr. Elisa Stephens, the granddaughter of the school’s founder, succeeded her father as President of the Academy of Art University in 1992. Dr. Stephens has been committed to expanding the Academy’s curriculum to stay current with new technologies and industry trends, as well as making state-of-the art facilities and resources available to Academy students. In 2004, the name of the school was changed from Academy of Art College to Academy of Art University in recognition of its depth, scope and quality.

Today the University has more than 13,000 students, making it the largest private school of art and design in the country.  Students now have the opportunity to pursue a  Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Associate of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Architecture, Certificate Programs or Continuing Art Education courses, with over 30 areas of academic emphasis.

The graduate student in the Interior Architecture & Design program will be prepared for professional practice through integrated theory, design and technology in tandem with industry standards. The graduate student will be taught to achieve a balance between the mastery of design skills that meet the needs of the profession, and the creativity and imagination that will lead to better ways of thinking about our environment.

For the graduate Interior Architecture & Design student’s Final Project, a site is selected in order to redesign its function and interiors; under the direction of a faculty of professional experts, concern for spatial issues, design innovation and attention to detail are emphasized. The concept of the project will demonstrate an energetic professional approach, and will be professionally exhibited upon approval by the Final Review committee.

While attending the Academy of art you will produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in your chosen field of art and design. Solve creative problems within your field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge. Communicate your ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field. Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles. Evaluate work in the field, including your own work, using professional terminology. Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products. Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design

So If you’re stuck in a job rut and need to find something new to do or if you have completed a BA and want to continue your education with a Masters degree, right now is the perfect time to check out The Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

All photos Courtesy of the Student Works page found at The Academy of Art University website. Check out the links for more information.