GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Deborah Lowry, lecturer at Chaminade University and assistant director of its interior design program, and Liz Teruya, right, a recent graduate of the program now employed with Architects Hawaii Ltd., stand amid the materials of the trade, fabric swatches and building material samples in the school's resource library at Eiben Hall.
INTERIOR MOTIVE In the thinking process, most people favor one side of the brain. The predominantly left-brained ones are more analytical, sequential, thinking in parts rather than wholes. The right-brained types are more intuitive, subjective. Perfect for the field of interior design.
More than just decorators,
Designers’ awards banquet celebrate finest interiors
interior designers work to
enhance quality of life for all
By Ruby Mata-Viti
rmataviti@starbulletin.comTo be in a room surrounded by predominantly right-brained types such as interior designers can leave someone left-inclined feeling out of sync, and vice versa.
Tell left-brained types you want to be an interior designer, most would probably respond as if you had said artist or musician. What an interior designer does and what it takes to be one is not common knowledge. Most schools support more down-to-earth careers, and when the budget gets cut, fine arts programs are usually the first out. TV sitcoms like "Designing Women" and do-it-yourself programs on the Home and Garden network contribute to misconceptions of the profession.
"People think we just move furniture around and get walls painted or we're just a bunch of women who sit around looking at swatches and gossiping all day," said Liz Teruya, who last week received recognition from ASID (American Society of Interior Designers of Hawaii) for her work as a student co-liaison. "In fact, many designers are men."
One of the goals of an interior designer is to enhance living space and quality of life for clients or the users of the space, said Teruya, who after 16 years away from school returned to pursue her degree in interior design. It's positive for a community when buildings and rooms are well-designed; people want to be in that space longer, they're more productive, the environment becomes nurturing, she said.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Above, color samples and swatches at Chaminade University.
"You hear about 'sick buildings,' employees who are frequently ill or don't want to be at work, where productivity level is low," she added. "We work with the architects and clients to help solve or avoid those kinds of problems."
Another myth, said Lael Kaopuiki, owner of Lael Tokita Interiors, is that it costs too much to hire one. "Actually we can save a client from making costly mistakes that they might make" without guidance. Also, designers have numerous resources, she said, which means clients can select items not commonly found here. That doesn't necessarily translate to expensive as they'll work with a client's budget.
Interior design evolved from home economics courses 30 years ago that concentrated on decoration, said Deborah Lowry, assistant director of the Interior Design program at Chaminade. But there's a fine distinction between being an interior designer and a decorator, she said, and to address the former as the latter can make his or her neck hairs stand at attention. "Not to slight decorators who have an innate talent, but interior designers, especially those who can use ASID after their name, have (pertinent) education to back them."
Teruya added, "We learn about wall structures, building codes, laws pertaining to the Disabilities Act. We're aware of materials that promote sustainability -- green products," whereas a decorator might not be.
Trade schools in design on the mainland focus on creativity, but a four-year university program such as Chaminade's offers a well-rounded education, said Lowry, tools to help one become a better person. Many students in the program are non-traditional, older, with children, or in the military.
"I came from spreadsheets and business, very left-brained, and here were all these others more naturally visual," said Teruya, who graduated in April and landed a job with Architects Hawaii Ltd. in May after a two-month internship needed to complete her degree. It was tough to focus on 90-minute lectures and study again, she said, but a life change due to divorce fueled her concentration and school was a healing experience.
Her brother-in-law suggested she enter the field when he noticed she performed do-it-yourself home projects with ease. Teruya's research found Chaminade the only school in Hawaii offering interior design as a four-year degree.
The University of Hawaii once had a similar curriculum, but it and Chaminade had difficulty sustaining both, said Lowry. Rather than compete, they worked to support each other's efforts, with the UH eventually phasing out its program.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Chaminade lecturer Deborah Lowry, left, student Jenny Murray, center and graduate Liz Teruya examine floorplans.
Joyce Noe, associate dean at the UH School of Architecture, said there was lack of qualified faculty to teach interior architecture, the school's focus. Interior architects are licensed architects, she said, who concentrate on interior environment. If students are interested in interiors, she added, they could aim for it within the UH school of architecture by building themselves a suitable program.
As student co-liaisons, Kaopuiki and Teruya are the bridge between students and ASID professionals. "Many students are intimidated by them," so they help to build morale as well as provide scholastic support.
Kaopuiki, who also received ASID kudos for her work with students, said most go into the program thinking it's going to be an easy ride to a bachelor's degree and they're wrong.
"The dropout rate is high; any type of program that is art-related is competitive," she said. "Pulling all nighters is common for interior design and architecture students, sometimes staying up 48 hours straight; classmates become your social group and family.
"Realtors sign up thinking it will help them sell more homes," she said, but not one has come back for a second semester that she can recall. "It's hard work."
Only the toughest survive, she said, and there's weeding out until the very end.
As one of those left standing, Teruya said she hopes to be part of a movement that helps plan for the growing aging population.
"It helps their self-esteem if they can retain most of their independence in their old age. There are handrails and other aids that are attractive and can be designed into buildings, walkways, what have you, to promote that," she added, "and the environment should be designed to incorporate (elders) as a valued part of our society."
That would seem a no-brainer, but "most people aren't aware and need to be educated about things like that," she said. "We all as community planners and participants need to think ahead."
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