Brilliant Designs
Jaime Winston BA ’22, Marketing & Communications
Kristen Arnold, Program of Interior Design coordinator and associate professor, marvels over the stunning designs her current and former students create.
She also makes sure everyone knows their work goes far beyond aesthetics.
“We all love beautiful spaces, but the top priority is to make sure that they function well and that they’re safe,” said Arnold, who has taught in the program for 16 years.
The program, now in its 55th year, prepares students for careers designing commercial spaces, churches, healthcare facilities, schools and more while ensuring projects meet all local laws and building codes.
Students can become certified in AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit and other design software. The program also prepares them to take the IDFX exam upon graduation and, ultimately, earn industry-recognized NCIDQ certification after two years into their career.
Arnold said small classes where teachers know each student create an intimate, friendly environment. However, students also step out of their comfort zones by working on projects in the community.
They also team up with students from other majors for the Interdisciplinary Charrette, a competition to find creative solutions to design problems, and they refurbish chairs for the annual Charitable Chair auction. In past years, the event has supported charities like Boys & Girls Clubs of Weber-Davis, Junior League of Ogden and others.
Interior design students can travel internationally and domestically to learn about architecture, culture and design history. A recent trip took students across the country to visit buildings designed by architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright.
Arnold said these experiences prepare graduates to meet any interior design challenge. “When they get out into their careers, it’s really amazing to see all the wonderful things they do and the work they produce,” she said.
The following students and graduates exemplify the program’s brilliance.
Jen Frazier,
91风流 spring 2025 interior design graduate
Intern interior designer at VCBO Architecture
Her Featured Project
As a student, Frazier worked on many commercial and residential projects that gave her the skills to design a new kitchen and living space in her home. “Every aspect of the space was carefully considered with intentionality and care,” she said.
Early on, Frazier discovered stone for the kitchen featuring a unique blue veining, which inspired the rest of the project.
“I incorporated blue throughout the spaces, selected elegant, timeless finishes and added elements that surprise and bring joy,” she said. “Every time I walk into my home, I feel a surge of elation and pride. This is the experience I want to create for my future design clients: spaces that inspire the same sense of fulfillment and connection.”
Discovering Interior Design
After raising a family and pursuing other academic areas, Frazier followed her longtime passion for architecture and design as an interior design student. “As an older student, I believe my life experience enriches my work,” she said.
It Takes Planning
Good design follows a process where each phase is as important as the others.
“Taking the time to research and space plan is just as rewarding as selecting finishes and furnishings,” she said. “I have come to appreciate every step of the process and find it fulfilling to see the project evolve into something tangible and complete.”
When designing, she sees herself as a “problem solver,” considering how occupants can best use the space while carefully balancing functionality with aesthetics.
Jen Frazier applied her interior design education to complete a new kitchen and living space in her home. “Now that I’ve used the space for many family gatherings, I can confidently say it functions perfectly,” she said.
Photos by Benjamin Zack
An Added Surprise
Frazier creates successful spaces by applying best practices for balance, scale and color, but she also enjoys adding a personal touch.
“To complement the more traditional aesthetic, I enjoy incorporating a surprising element that elevates the experience for the occupants, whether through color, texture or a unique feature that evokes joy and brings everything together,” she said.
After Graduation
Frazier told Wildcat she planned to continue her work at VCBO Architecture, where she works alongside architects, vendors and clients.
Ashley Badali
2017 91风流 interior design and professional sales graduate
2017 Western Governors University Master of Education graduate
Studio 333 Architects senior interior designer
91风流 interior design assistant professor
Her Featured Project
Among her many projects for Studio 333 Architects, Badali recently worked on the 100,000-square-foot Goldenwest Credit Union corporate office space in Washington Terrace, Utah.
“The design highlights the stunning views on all sides of the building while bringing daylight into the core,” she said. “We emphasized a timeless minimalism and integrated company branding throughout.”
The interiors of the space include natural finishes like polished concrete, maple, stone-like tile and steel.
Discovering Interior Design
A second-generation Wildcat, Badali wanted a major where she could express her creativity, utilize technology and be relevant in the workforce. She soon found the interior design program, which she discovered is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation and endorsed by the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
On the Job
Badali appreciates the attention to detail her colleagues display at Studio 333 Architects.
“This is showcased in each phase of our design process,” she said. “From the way we produce our drawings, making it easier for construction to go smoothly, to the final design where all aspects have a meaning and a purpose.”
In the classroom, she draws on her industry experience to teach students skills she knows they will need for their future careers.
Meeting Client Needs
When working with clients, Badali gets to know them and their goals and communicates with them through each step of the process. She also visits the future space with them virtually. “We use 3D technology to model a space that the client can virtually experience and make decisions from, so they know the finished space will be exactly what they are hoping for,” she said.
The Goldenwest Credit Union corporate office space is the largest project Ashley Badali has worked on yet. As a 91风流 assistant professor, she brings her experience to the classroom.
Photos by Benjamin Zack
Advice for Students
“Interior design takes a lot of passion and excitement for learning. It is a hard career to just shut off at 5 p.m., but with that can come feeling inspired each day with new ideas and new technologies,” Badali said. “You need to have enthusiasm to continually move forward. I learn something new every day, and I hope that never stops.”
Zack Myers
2017 91风流 interior design and professional sales graduate
WRJ Design senior interior designer
His featured project
WRJ Design, based in Jackson, Wyoming, began work on The Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa in 2020 after a previous hotel burned down. “We designed the interiors to honor the existing glory of the previous hotel while also modernizing and refreshing the previous design elements,” said Myers, who worked as lead designer.
Rush Jenkins, CEO of WRJ Design, served as principal creative. Myers and Jenkins created the project with owners Ron and Brandon Harrison, Rowland + Broughton Architecture, and the Raeder-Whaler procurement team.
Discovering Interior Design
Myers chose the university his siblings, parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents attended. “My mom also taught at Weber State as a Spanish literature professor for over 35 years,” he said. “I also remember attending 91风流 basketball games, football games, concerts and ballets from a young age.”
He initially wanted to study architecture after taking college-level architecture and civil engineering in high school. However, an entry-level interior design course at Weber State convinced him to join the program. “I loved that the field related to architecture. However, it also encompassed other elements of design that I’m passionate about, like furniture, lighting, fabrics and finishes,” he said.
Biggest Takeaway
Myers recalls instructor Rob Call teaching him always to have a “why” when designing. “Whenever we presented our projects in his class, he would make sure that we could back up those choices through articulate reasoning,” he said.
Designing in NYC
Myers interned with Jeffrey Beers International in New York City in 2015.
“The experience was eye-opening,” Myers said. It also led to work with LMK Interior Design upon his return to Utah. After graduating, he worked with Gensler in hospitality design in Las Vegas before finding his position with WRJ Design.
Zack Myers worked as lead designer of the Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa in Jackson, Wyoming, where guests can enjoy a comfortable stay in a setting designed to complement the city’s natural beauty.
Photos by Lisa Romerein
The Best Part of Interior Design
Myers’ favorite design aspect lies within the “design development phase.”
“I love to source furniture, lighting, finishes and fabrics and begin to see the design come together in a cohesive package,” he said.