Interior Design at the University of Northern Iowa

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Interior Design at the University of Northern Iowa

World Class undergraduate studies in Interior Design!

05/14/2026

Reminder! Join us in celebrating our seniors & all the hard work they’ve put in throughout their UNI journeys!

This Friday from 10 - 11:30 AM!

We look forward to seeing you there!

05/13/2026

Favian Zaragoza is from Sioux City, Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design and a Minor in Marketing. During his time at UNI, he was involved in SIDNI as President, Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and Panther Ambassadors. One of his favorite memories was the 2023 Minneapolis Interior Design Trip. Throughout the program, Favian learned how impactful material selection truly is, not just for aesthetics, but for human well‑being and environmental responsibility. He didn’t always plan on becoming an interior designer; he once dreamed of being a meteorologist, then an accountant, before finding his way into design. His biggest inspirations are his parents, whose sacrifices helped him get to where he is today. His favorite classes were Commercial III and Advanced Design II, and his favorite project was the Hotel Project, where he loved the concept and the collaborative process with his group. After graduation, Favian plans to pursue a commercial design internship in either Minneapolis, MN or Sioux City, IA. Congratulations, Favi!

05/12/2026

Nikola Szlachta is from Villa Park, Illinois, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. During her time at UNI, she was involved in SIDNI and Uprising Magazine. She didn’t originally plan on becoming an interior designer, she came to college wanting to be a marine biologist, but once she discovered house‑flipping shows, she never looked back. Her favorite class was Commercial III, and her favorite project was the Hotel project, especially because she’s visited Nashville and loved designing a space inspired by a city she enjoys. Nikola has learned a lot about design and about herself, and she feels lucky to have met lifelong friends along the way. After graduation, she plans to head back home for a bit before starting her career in commercial design in Chicago. She’s excited for what comes next and grateful for the journey that brought her here. Congratulations, Nikola!

05/11/2026

Davan Smith, from Kenosha, Wisconsin, is graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design and a certificate in Sustainability. Her favorite class was Commercial III, and her favorite project was the Palm Olive Apartment, which confirmed her passion for residential design. After graduation, she will work for Ilene Chase Design, a residential design firm in Highland Park, Illinois. Davan loved the trips she took with the program and is grateful for the memories and people she shared her college experience with. Congratulations, Davan!

05/10/2026

Hailey Simon is from Waterloo, Iowa and is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design, a Bachelor of Arts in Technology Management, and a certificate in Sustainability. At UNI, she was involved in ASID, IIDA, NKBA, NEWH, and SIDNI. Her favorite classes were Residential Design I and Materials and Resources, and she especially enjoyed the NKBA kitchen and bath remodel where she was able to design for accessibility and aging in place. She always had an interest in interior design, but didn’t originally pursue it because she wasn’t sure she could make it through the program. After graduation, Hailey will continue working as a designer at Big Woods Construction in Waterloo, where she is excited to keep growing, building confidence in her skills, and creating spaces that make a meaningful impact. Congratulations, Hailey!

05/09/2026

Olivia Shannon is from Jefferson, Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design and a Certificate in Sustainability. Throughout her time at UNI, she was involved in SIDNI, Salt Company, and served as an officer for the IIDA Student Chapter. Her favorite memories come from the long hours spent working alongside classmates, the kind of late‑night studio moments that turned into real friendships. Her favorite classes were Residential II and Commercial III, and her favorite project was the Adaptive Reuse project from Computer Apps II, where she loved transforming an existing Cedar Falls structure into something new. Olivia is grateful for the support of Gowri and Khamsai, whose guidance shaped her experience in the program. After graduation, she will be working as a designer for CKF in Des Moines. Congratulations, Olivia!

05/08/2026

Beth Rozendaal is from Cedar Falls, graduating with a Bachelor’s in Interior Design. Her favorite classes were the studio‑based courses, especially Commercial Design and Residential Design, where she loved taking a concept all the way to a fully developed space. Her favorite project was the Adaptive Reuse of the Brick Building, a chance to create a business concept and bring it to life through plans and renderings, blending wellness, dining, and social spaces into one cohesive environment. Throughout the program, Beth learned how to turn ideas into functional, intentional designs by thinking through every detail. Returning to UNI later in life wasn’t always easy, but the support and warmth of faculty and classmates made her feel like she truly belonged. After graduation, she plans to begin her career in interior design, continue learning, and see where the journey leads. Congratulations, Beth!

05/07/2026

Dynasty Roundtree is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor’s in Interior Design. In her time at UNI, she served on the exec team and the production team of Prolific Magazine. Some of her favorite UNI memories include the 23rd Street Market by Lawther, $5 sushi Fridays, and Sean Kingston performing on campus. Her favorite classes were Residential I and Commercial I, and her favorite project was the doghouse project, where her enthusiasm for design was at its peak. Dynasty’s biggest inspirations are Jesus and her parents, and the program taught her the value of discipline: no pain, no gain, and no procrastination. After graduation, she plans to intern in the Cedar Rapids area and prepare for grad school. Her final words: Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know; be afraid of becoming content with not knowing. And never take no for an answer when you know what you’re capable of. Congratulations, Dynasty!

05/06/2026

Makenzie Petersen is from Goose Lake, Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design. She served as a co‑leader of the IIDA Student Chapter and was also involved in SIDNI. Her favorite memories at UNI include design trips to different cities and all the moments shared with friends along the way. Her favorite classes were Commercial Design I and II, and her favorite project was the Wellness Center, where she loved reimagining an existing Cedar Falls building and diving deeper into healthcare design. Makenzie’s biggest inspiration is her classmates, a group she describes as creative, passionate, and constantly pushing one another to grow. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in commercial design. Congratulations, Makenzie!

05/05/2026

Gwenn Moran is from Cary, Illinois, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design and a minor in Marketing. She enjoyed Drafting and Commercial III, and her favorite project was the hotel project, where she was proud of the vision she brought to life. After graduation, she plans to move to Washington, D.C. to work as an Interior Designer for The M Group. Gwenn served as Vice President of SIDNI and loved competing in the ASC Design‑Build competition with her best friend. She believes success begins when you try something new. Congratulations, Gwenn!

Address

Minneapolis, MN

Website

http://www.uni.edu/csbs/sahs/interior-design

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