Get the Look: Create a Bedroom Like Zooey Deschanel's on The New Girl

Head to the FIDM Blog to find out how to recreate this look, from T.V.'s The New Girl starring Zooey Deschanel.

Just Accepted Interior Design Student Inspired by FIDM Alumni Parents

Full Name: Elizabeth Janet Jabs

Age: 17

Hometown: Chino Hills, California

FIDM Major: Interior Design

FIDM Campus and Start Date: Orange County, Fall 2012

Admissions Advisor: Cathy Chambers

Tell us a bit about yourself. I love talking to people and being social, my friends would say I’m very lively and amusing. I love to make things my own (like my rooms); I am always moving things around and changing the color scheme. I love to sing. I was in choir for two years at my high school. I also enjoy camping with my family and riding our quads and dirt bikes in the desert. I am a very cheerful person all the time and I love to make people laugh.

What are your proudest accomplishments so far? Being accepted to FIDM's Interior Design College program was definitely my biggest accomplishment so far. I was given the award for "Best Makeup, Hair and Costuming" when I did the hair, makeup, and costuming for the play, West Side Story, at my high school. I also was accepted into advanced choir in high school and got to go on tour to Colorado! Another one of my accomplishments is when I was able to ride my dads 700 Kawasaki quad and finally got used to it and I could keep up with all the boys.

What made FIDM right for you? Both of my parents are Alumni from FIDM so I was automatically interested from all of their comments on how amazing the school is. But as I researched the school, I found out that it has so much to offer to me and has all that I need to be successful. When I took a tour of the Orange County campus I was astounded at the complexity and how different the campus was. I knew as soon as I set foot in the doorway that it was the school for me.  Looking at the classrooms, the libraries and everyone at FIDM who wants to help you succeed, I was so excited to learn more and start my career in interior design.

Describe your entrance project. My entrance project was to make a color board of a family room or den, when i think of a family room i think of neutral, warm colors, but I wanted to go out of the ordinary. I put white, black and bright turquoise in the room to make it pop. I was inspired by my favorite movie "Breakfast at Tiffanys." I wish it was a real room!

What are your career goals? After graduating from interior design college, I want to get my LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) certificate to learn more about the green initiatives and be able to furnish and complete interiors while still being environmentally conscious. I aspire to work at a design firm and make beautiful and functional interiors for all different kinds of spaces.

What do you expect to learn at FIDM? I expect to learn all about everything that goes into interior design, not just the pretty or fluffy fabrics. I want to learn how to professionally draw a floor plan if the AutoCAD is down. I want to be able to make spaces that are not only beautiful, but also functional.

Find Elizabeth on Twitter @lizzy_janet

Just Accepted Interior Design Student Wants to Design Movie Sets and Homes

Name: Madelaine Southerland

Age: 17

Hometown: Mansfield, Texas

Year in School: Senior

FIDM Major: Interior Design

Campus and Start Date: Los Angeles Summer 2012

Admissions Advisor: Kristen Chocek

Twitter: @Madddd_

Tell us a bit about yourself. I live with my parents and younger brother. I absolutely love listening to music. My favorite band is The Maine.

What are your proudest accomplishments so far? My proudest accomplishment so far is getting accepted into FIDM!

What made FIDM right for you? FIDM is right for me because it will give me an insight of how the industry actually works.

Describe your entrance project. I named it "Calm Elegance;" I mixed different patterns, but tied it together by using consistent colors throughout.

What are your career goals? I would love to open up my own business and design movie sets and homes.

What do you expect to learn at FIDM? I expect to learn everything I need to know to get a head start in the industry.

Just Accepted Interior Design Student Has a Lifelong Passion

Full name: Stacy Tran   

Age: 16

Hometown: Irvine, CA

Major: Interior Design

FIDM Campus and Start Date: LA Campus, Fall 2012

Admissions Advisor: The one and only Kellie Peterson

Tell us a bit about yourself and background. Born and raised in California, I grew up loving the different, the unique, and the strange. Long before my peers knew what their future held for them, I knew I wanted to be able to create a place someone could honestly call home.

The way interior design can persuade moods, atmosphere, and even allow a glimpse of a person’s lifestyle is truly amazing. Art has always been an important part of my life. Being able to express oneself without speaking is truly beautiful.

What are your proudest accomplishments so far? My proudest accomplishment is showing what I can do on my own. I’ve always known exactly what I want and being able to actually be accepted as a junior in high school put me a giant leap closer to my dream of becoming an interior designer.

What made FIDM right for you? Location, location, location. Apart from the much used cliché, FIDM offers connections that last a lifetime. From FIDM’s experienced staff to the seemingly never-ending resources, you just don’t get any better. The fact that FIDM’s four campuses are located in California’s hottest cities is just the cherry on top. This way, not only do you learn from FIDM, but you learn from the very city that surrounds it. 

Describe your entrance project. My entrance project consisted of my sample board which included samples of fabrics, furniture which were art pieces on their own, and tangible samples to bring the room I designed to life. I showed my take of one of my favorite art movements, futurism. I was able to create a space that the director of admissions said was “modern, mature, and displays talent beyond my years.”

What are your career goals? After graduating from FIDM with an A.A. in Interior Design and a BS in Business Management, I hope to work for an interior design firm and work my way up. There are no limits or boundaries to my goals, and I’m more than willing to work from the basement up.

What do you expect to learn at FIDM? I of course expect to learn the fundamentals of design. I want to learn the ins and outs of every style, every perspective and better my design style. I also hope to experience the connection that FIDM as a family presents.

FIDM Grad Loves Everything About His Job in Interior Design

Name: Jorge Ochoa
FIDM Grad Year: 2010
Campus: Los Angeles
Major: Interior Design
Company: Saxony Design Build
Job Title: Project Manager

Tell us a little about yourself: I am originally from Guatemala, but came to the U.S. very young and grew up in Palm Springs. I moved to L.A. at the age of 18 to pursue a B.A. of Arts at the School of Art and Architecture of UCLA. After finishing my degree, I wanted to further my education by pursuing a Master Degree’s in Architecture but decided that attending Interior Design College at FIDM was a better fit for me. I looked at the program and everything FIDM offers, and decided to go for it. Up to this day, it has been the best decision I’ve made in my career.

Tell us about what you do at Saxony Design Build: At Saxony Design, I am officially a Project Manager. Make sure that our trades are scheduled accordingly and follow up with them to make sure the job gets done and our clients are happy. Since our firm is on the smaller scale, I am also in charge of our office and making sure everything here functions to its 100% potential. There is a lot I need to know and I am in charge of, but all of the responsibilities that I currently have, have made me more confident in what I do and what I need to know to be successful in this career.

What do you love about your work? I can seriously and honestly say I love everything about my job. It can definitely get frustrating and sometimes I feel like I have too much on my plate. But I enjoy everything about it. I go from managing construction to choosing fabrics! It is simply rewarding and I cannot express enough how enjoyable it is!

How did you know FIDM was the right college for you? I did my research, and decided that because of how central FIDM is and given its reputation, it would be a perfect school for me. I looked at the courses  that the Interior Design School offered and thought there was enough for me to get something out of my education.

How do you feel FIDM prepared you for what you’re doing now? The way the program is planned out for students, is what really helps you out in the real world. Everything studied here is based on real work and you can make a project as realistic as possible to get more experience. Overall, working out in the field is and will be different from school, but if you really take advantage of the resources FIDM has to offer then you will be golden!

Any advice for students thinking about attending FIDM? Make sure that you seek help and ASK questions!!! Also, go out there and expose yourself through organizations such as ASID, go to the Pacific Design Center (PDC), or/and all of the events around town. Take advantage of internships and just get involved! The design community in L.A. (and the world for that matter) is very small in comparison. You are bound to run into someone or work with someone that you have previously met! Never do anything that will close the doors to opportunities! And make sure to voulunteer for events such as the Pasadena Showcase House, etc. because everyone will be there!

What is your biggest goal right now? Is to gain as much experience as possible, just learn EVERYTHING I can about design. I want to do it all and enjoy every second of it!

Anything else you’d like to share? If you are serious about getting a degree at FIDM, make sure you are 100% committed. It will be the best time of your life IF you really take advantage of it!

The above photos are from the Pasadena Showcase House 2011. Jorge Ochoa worked alongside the Principal Designer from Saxony. It is not entirely Jorge's design or work, but it was a project assigned to him.

Just Accepted Interior Design Student Pursues Her Childhood Dream

Name: Marissa Guccione

Age: 17

FIDM Major: Interior Design

Campus and Start Date: Orange County, Summer 2012

Hometown: Trabuco Canyon, CA

Admissions Advisor: Roxy DeGuzman was so helpful and encouraging every step of the way. She really saw the potential and determination within me and gave me the opportunity to prove to her that I belong at FIDM.

Tell us a little about yourself and your interests and background. I have been a cheerleader at El Toro High School for going on four years now. I am very involved with my school, but I am also very interested in art. I love to draw, paint, and of course design. I have wanted to be an Interior Designer since I was eight years old and spent a lot of time as a kid walking through model homes with my dad and designing homes using computer software. I have also been very blessed with an amazing family who has been there for me every step of the way.

How did you discover FIDM and why did you choose the college? I first discovered FIDM when I saw a presentation in my French class my freshman year and immediately knew that FIDM was the school for me. I chose this school because it will give me all the tools and skills I will need to be successful in my field of work.

How did you pick your major and why? I picked my major simply because it is my true passion in life. I was exposed to Interior Design at such a young age that it only feels natural for me to pursue a career in this field.

What are you most excited to learn at FIDM? I don't think that there is just one specific thing I would like to learn at FIDM. I just cant wait to learn it all!

What do you expect to gain at FIDM? I expect to gain not only the best education from FIDM, but also the life skills to be successful in my career. I know I couldn't do all of that at any other school. FIDM is simply the best.

What are your goals for the future? My goals in the future are to master all of my classes I will be taking at Interior Design College and to one day own my own design company. I truly believe that if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.

Just Accepted Interior Design Student Wants Her Own HGTV Show!

Name: Nicole Rogers

Age: 29

FIDM Major: Interior Design

Campus and Start Date: Los Angeles and Orange County, Summer 2011

Hometown: Brea, CA

Admissions Advisor: Seung Kim

Tell us a little about yourself. I went to the University of San Diego directly after high school and earned my BA in Fine Art with a minor in Spanish. I never experienced the art world until I was in college. I danced from the age of two and knew that having a creative outlet was very important for me. However, packing for college at the young age of 17, I had no idea just how important creativity and art were to me. I fell in love with traditional art classes and took everything from drawing, painting, and photography, to public installation art and sculpture classes.  

I spent a year in Europe where I studied in Spain for a semester and backpacked Europe in its entirety for six months. I soaked up the galleries, fashion, food, and cultures and it forever changed me. Upon returning from Europe I enrolled in a program that would take me to Japan for three months as a volunteer teacher on a U.S. Naval base. Upon graduating from the University of San Diego I enrolled in a graduate program at Cal State University of Long Beach to earn my multiple subject teaching credential. I taught 4th grade for three years and I loved every second of it.

In December I opened my own tutoring company called TLC (The Learning Center) in the OC.  I have a small office in Newport and I teach students in grades K-8. I love being self-employed and I am so grateful that I am now able to go back to school to pursue my degree in Interior Design. I recently got engaged and I will be getting married in Fiji between my first and second quarter at FIDM, and taking my honeymoon to Thailand after my third quarter! I am beyond excited for the next year of my life!  

How did you discover FIDM?  Growing up in Southern California I have known about FIDM since high school. I am so excited that I am finally going to a school that feels like it was made for me. I was deciding between FIDM and a few other design schools, but I just felt drawn toward FIDM. I was initially very impressed by their alumni and networking connections and I loved that the teachers spend much time working in the field. When I walked in for my first interview and school tour I felt like I had entered my dream environment and I knew FIDM was for me.  

How did you pick your major and why? I was a bit of a nomad during my twenties and I have moved about 20 times since I graduated from high school. From a very young age, I felt that my surrounding environment was very important to me. I also moved often in my childhood and I found that creating the space around me allowed me to feel settled and create roots. My environment has a great affect on me and I often choose my dinner locale based on the ambiance, not the food itself. I have to have the right space for the right event and I absolutely love entertaining and making people feel something from the space that they are in.  

I began buying furniture and designing my own houses when I was 21, and I have only grown since then. I have come to realize that my fine art background is simply the backdrop to my greater passion, Interior Design. I create all of my own artwork and use my painting and photography skills to enhance my designs, but I feel that my true gift is in designing spaces. I love the challenge of taking a blank slate and understanding it on multiple dimensions; mathematical, artistically, functionally, and atheistically. It is so exciting to find a creative solution to a problem that seems impossible to tackle.    

What are you most excited to learn at FIDM?  I have been out of school for a number of years and I am excited to be back in an inspiring environment. In terms of the interior design school program, I am excited to learn the intricacies like drafting and the software and technology being used in the industry. So many people think that Interior Design is simply decorating, but it is so much more than that. I am excited to learn how to build, construct, re-construct, plan, lead, design, and renovate.

What do you expect to gain at FIDM? I expect to gain every skill that I will need to be successful in the Interior Design industry and I am confident that FIDM will give me those skills. I also hope to gain like-minded friends who will be future colleagues, and professional relationships with my teachers.  

What is your dream for the future? My ultimate goal is to have my own show on HGTV and design a furniture/home decor line!

Just Accepted Interior Design Student Dreams of Designing Interiors

Name: Britt Lang
 
Age: 23
 
FIDM Major: Interior Design
 
Campus/Start Date: Fall 2011/Los Angeles
 
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
 
Admissions Advisor: Shirley McDonald
 
Tell us a little about yourself. I have spent the majority of my life in North Carolina. I grew up in Cary, went to high school in Raleigh, and set off to college in the mountains of Boone. I moved to Orange County after I graduated in 2010. I have had a paint brush or pen in my hand for as far back as I can remember. I love to paint, draw, mosaic, sculpt, or just craft in general. I believe there is more to art than just having a steady hand. It’s a state-of-mind, seeing potential in things that most people wouldn’t.
 
How did you discover FIDM? I always knew I would attend some sort of art or interior design school. I had an agreement with my parents, that if I obtained a four-year degree first I could go to any specialty/art school I choose. For my B.A., Psychology fit my interests, as I find the human brain and cognition in general to be fascinating. I also knew that Psychology would be a good choice to help to bolster my future in the arts. I suppose it can never hurt to be clued into what people are thinking and why. I graduated from Appalachian State with my B.A. in Psychology in June of 2010.

I find my peace, my strength and my happiness in art. However it is you define art, I know it’s for me. FIDM’s Interior Design Program is going to meld my creativity and abstract thought into something obtainable, a career. I am excited to work alongside my creative cohort; other imaginative thinkers with a passion for finding, making or seeing something different and new. I chose FIDM because it is located in a thriving capitol of fashion, design, art, and people thinking outside of the box. I believe that this school will provide me with not only the tools I need to be the best at what I want, but the confidence to take it.
 
How did you pick your major and why? I grew up watching my mother design the perfect space with her interior designers. Each one had their specific talents and skills that fit into this bigger picture. Their reach transformed so much more than just the color of the sofa. They created the mood, function, and life of each room. I want to create spaces for people that are not only beautiful but highly functional. Spaces for people to live, and socialize, work, play and dream in.

For me, art and beauty are the life force behind what is pleasurable and good in this world. I want to people to see how truly beautiful the world is, and that we can create structures and spaces that live in unison with that natural beauty. I don’t know how much I “chose” Interior Design, more so I ran into it head on. Interior Design combines all of my passions and skills into one perfect career. I cannot wait to start.
 
What are you most excited to learn at FIDM? Design. I’m excited about learning the theories and history behind design. I can’t wait to see other students visions of what is beautiful and their thought process behind it. Art is subjective, it’s living and breathing and constantly in motion. I want to create spaces that can be enjoyed universally and over large spans of time. There is no better place to learn how to do this than to study alongside people whose ideas will be what is fashionable and modern in the future.
 
What do you expect to gain at FIDM? More than anything I expect to gain a general knowledge of “the rules.” I want to know the ins-and-outs of general building codes, standards, etcetera to see how far I can push my imagination. Having a solid foundation in I.D. will ultimately give me a larger breadth of creativity. I look forward to learning common practices, historical practices, theories, design standards, and the general truths of designers in every aspect of design.

Also, I believe that to get the best out you must put the best in. Knowing the basic practices of my co-workers will ultimately strengthen what we create together. Interior Designers work closely with architects, contractors, builders, electricians, plumbers, painters, carpenters, etcetera. I look forward to knowing the basics of their specialties so I can create the best in mine.
 
What are your goals/dreams for the future? I am open to what comes in my future. My ultimate goal is to be happy and fulfilled in a career that utilizes my creativity. I think it would be exciting to do residential design, getting to work one-on-one with a client and really getting to know their psyche. I also think that commercial design would be incredibly rewarding, getting to design areas that many people will use. I.D. offers an overview in design that will prepare me for a career in many different fields. However the future does pan out for me I like knowing that I have done my best to insure that it flourishes, for me that begins here at FIDM.

Celebrate Fashion and Interiors at a Holiday Walk in L.A.

If you love Interior Design and Fashion Design then you'll want to check out "Home for the Holidays," the La Cienega Design Quarter's Holiday Walk on December 3, 2010 and December 4, 2010.

From book signings and trunk shows to outdoor exhibitions and open houses, the famed street will be decked out for the holidays.

Grace's London Fashion Report: Jack Wills

Hi, Grace here reporting from London.

Jack Wills is an English brand that has recently become quite popular in the UK. Their look is a very preppy English one and they call themselves "University Outfitters." They have many typical English looks; the tweed blazer, gilets, and have created their own British-Style look. Although they have nice clothing, I think that it is their stores that are special. To show what the bedding would look like, they have a bed made up with the Jack Wills duvet and sheets. They also have leather trunks full of storage and wooden sets of drawers.

 

They have also recently opened their first American stores in Massachusetts, and so far it is quite popular. I definitely think that they willl do well in America. Although they are quite similar to Abercrombie and Fitch, I think that pretty soon, their little English stores will be popping up all over the country.

To check out the website, go here www.jackwills.com.

--Grace

Grace is a thirteen year-old fashionista who writes sporadic posts for FashionClub.com Daily from her home in London.