Pratt recently held the 21st annual Interior Design Career Night at the Cor Showroom in New York City. More than 60 students from Pratt’s MFA and BFA Interior Design program were able to present their design portfolios to architects and designers from leading firms, once again gathering in-person to connect, network and celebrate their work.
“Pratt Career Night was conceived by two former graduate students who wanted an event that was more connective and informal versus the typical ‘job fairs’,” explains Pratt Professor Jon Otis. “They thought that if it was just our department and a variety of firms, it would provide a better and deeper experience or students and also for the firms.” They approached Otis with the idea, and he took it to Diana Barnes who was with HBF at the time.
Since Pratt Career was launched in 2003, it’s become an annual event. “We’ve never missed a year, and we even went remote for two years during the Covid pandemic,” Otis proudly says. “We’ve been consistent and so have many of the firms – Gensler, TPG, Studios, HOK, Perkins & Will and the Rockwell Group have been participating nearly every year, and in the case of Gensler, since year one!” James Cull, a Pratt alumnus, gave a short keynote, reflecting on his career as an interior designer at Rottet Studio.
This year’s crop of 11 architecture and interior firms who participated included: Gachot Studio, Gensler, HOK, IA Interior Architects, Nelson, Origin, Perkins&Will, Rockwell Group, STUDIOS Architecture, Switzer Group, and TPG Architecture met with students to review their portfolios.
The evening provides interior design students with an opportunity to hone their interviewing skills, get some good feedback and advice from professionals, and in some cases, they may get called back for an interview and employment. “We have had good success over the years, and in fact this year several of the firms sent Pratt graduates who had made their initial contact during Pratt Career Night,” says Otis. “With others, often it takes more time, but getting their foot in the door, and meeting professionals is an important part of what this event facilitates.”
Yichen He, a Pratt graduate student who will be graduating this May, and attended the event echoed that very sentiment. He attended a pratt career fair before, for example, and had to wait for 30 minutes to talk to just one company (Gensler). “But here, they are all there waiting for us to talk with them, and there are volunteers in the room to guide us to their table and avoid waiting too long.” Yichen He, who is hoping to pursue a career in designing restaurants, especially, liked that the evening provided intimate surroundings to be be able to share his portfolio with the different firms. That night he got to talk with people from Gensler, Rockwell, Jim Camp from IA Interior Architects, TPG Architecture, and James from Rottet Studio.
Associate Principal, Rottet Studio and Pratt Alum, Keynote Speaker, James Cull.
“I am hoping to work in the hospitality world–especially restaurants, because I simply love to eat and cook,” Yichen He said. “My father has played an important role in my pursuit of an interior design career since he teaches and works in interior design back in China. I studied industrial design for my bachelors, focusing on furniture and lighting design. I found that products and space are deeply connected, and my father encouraged me to go beyond designing small products to focus on the overall design of a space.”
And just what did he learn from the evening? “I would say the most important thing I have learned is how to present myself in the interview,” he said. “When I interviewed with Rockwell, Barry Richards told me when I present the work samples that it is better to show some narrative with it, rather than finished renderings. When I talked to James Cull, he told me that the most important thing is to tell the employer which skills I have and that my portfolio is the connection between my skills and how the work comes out.”
Jerry Li, another MFA interior design student, who is graduating this May was enthusiastic about the evening, and learned a lot about portfolio layout, in-person interview strategies, and networking skills. “The different designers gave me precious advice on how to make portfolio images stand out and how much information they would like to see in a student portfolio that is easy to read and fast to understand in a 5-minute meeting,” he said. “They also suggested practical advice such as reaching out on LinkedIn to form a one-to-one connection with the HR people especially when a student is competing with thousands of candidates.”
Li especially liked that he was able to meet some alumni who graduated 1 or 2 years ago from Pratt and that they were able to introduce him to some of their senior colleagues. “I saw such a robust variety in age and experience, but they were all here sharing their career path,” he said. “Everybody is so kind and welcoming that I felt relaxed to talk about myself.”
Max Speziani, MFA Candidate.
Li would also like a career in hospitality design, and eventually hopes to become a freelance designer. “The premise for accomplishing this goal is the accumulation of skills and aesthetics as a junior designer,” he said wisely. “So, for now I am ready to dive into corp life.”
Lesley Siegel, an MFA student in her final year, was an interesting participant, as she returned to graduate school after working as a graphic, digital, and packaging designer in New York for about 15 years. She saw the evening as something that seemed to be all about opportunity. “The messaging from design firm representatives, professors, and other professionals emphasized the importance of being bold by putting yourself in situations that afford you the chance to showcase your personality and skills,” Siegel explained. “Don’t be afraid to go up and speak to someone about their work, or your work—that interaction could turn into a job offer.”
Siegel also hopes for an interior design career in hospitality. “User experience and humanistic principles drive my design solutions,” she says. “Whether it be print, digital, or interior design, communicating with people and tangibly meeting their needs brings me fulfillment and satisfies my profound sense of empathy. Being a versatile designer means extracting history and context to develop strong, experience-centered solutions. With my background in branding and packaging, I aim to create holistic spaces that integrate brand ethos with comfort and pleasure.”
Siegel hopes that ultimately, she’d like to have her own practice, but that gaining knowledge and experience in an established firm is an important step to achieving that goal. “I thrive when working collaboratively in environments that support creative problem-solving,” she said. “With unbridled curiosity, I hope to learn from experienced designers how to tangibly communicate feeling and atmosphere through journey and narrative. I aspire to design spaces that change small interactions into lasting impressions, communicate purpose, put the inhabitant at ease, and convey a strong sense of place.”
Jon Otis found that many of the professional designers who attend are grateful for the opportunity to meet with students and see their work. “They’re able to view a wide range of talent and project types that are often incredibly creative,” he says. “This could help in terms of identifying how their skill sets might fit into specific teams or upcoming projects.”