Barbara Young, NCIDQ, RID, LEED AP

Barbara Young is an Assistant Professor of Interior Design at Purdue University in West Lafayette and a Registered Interior Designer in the state of Indiana. With over 7 years of practice experience, she has regularly organized real-world projects in service-learning partnerships throughout her 19 years of teaching. Barbara has won design awards and published in journals examining her engagement in design projects by questioning decision-making in the design process and studying design outcomes.

Please respond to at least one of the below:

What impact has your work with CIDA had on your personal or professional growth?

I have been a CIDA site visitor since 2009. One of my favorite things about being a site visitor is being able to witness the diversity of programs that deliver quality interior design education. CIDA sets specific standards for programs to ensure graduates are ready to participate in entry-level interior design practice yet is structured to allow flexibility in how educational goals are delivered depending on a program’s philosophy. I am inspired by the unique and innovative curriculum approaches that are reflective of a program’s context and faculty specialties. Understanding the way different programs deliver interior design education has broadened my perspective on the breadth and depth of the field as well as the varying ways that interior design contributes to contemporary society. It has also made me more reflective of the way I approach my teaching and consider ways to continually innovate within my own research areas and institutional context.

I don’t think I have ever been on a visit where someone has not uttered the sentiment “Meeting the students is always the best part”. While this is true (their excitement about the future in the profession is exhilarating), I have equally enjoyed getting to know the faculty who tirelessly toil to provide the highest quality experiences for their students, their investments made clear by the care in putting together a meticulous site visit. These are my peers and role models, and they set the bar high. The same holds true for the band of dedicated site visitors who volunteer countless hours to do the work of on-site reviews. I have met so many wonderful people; I am rarely a stranger in the room when I walk into a gathering of interior design educators.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about volunteering or getting involved with CIDA?

Go for it!

I won’t lie, it is a lot of work in a short amount of time, but it is very rewarding.