Interior Design student places in national carpet design competition
Tidewater Community College Interior Design student Colleen Garrettson recently placed in the top five in a student competition sponsored by Delos Custom Carpets and Rugs. Students from colleges including UCLA, Canada College and the Art Institute of Atlanta submitted designs that ranged from whimsical to structured.
Garrettson’s design, “Poolside,” is a multi-hued blue, gray and white swishy pattern that is reminiscent of cool afternoons near the water.
DelosCarpets are used by designers nationwide and are American made, robotically tufted and hand-finished for speed and consistency.
Garrettson is a second-year student in TCC’s associate degree program, coming back to school after years as a stay-at-home mom and bookkeeper. Her daughter, Elizabeth, is studying Funeral Services at the Virginia Beach Campus.
“I was tickled to have such a contest to enter and to gain working experience while I’m still in school,” Garrettson said. “My time at TCC has been very productive, and I’ve learned from every single class and project.”
Contest judging was completed at the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) leadership conference in Atlanta. Garrettson is a member of the student chapter of ASID and appreciates the learning opportunities provided by the group.
Garrettson will receive a produced copy of her carpet for her portfolio. Her design is with Delos for future use.
“I decided to finally follow my passion even though I was a little intimated to come back to school after so many years,” she said. “My professors have pushed me every day to do my best work.”
Garrettson spends her free time visiting historical sites with her husband, John. She is interested in preservation and hopes to use her degree for future work in that area.
More than halfway through the program, Garrettson urges others to find competitive opportunities.
“I encourage everyone to enter contests like this one,” she said. “Put yourself out there and watch the doors open.”