I have been interested in interviewing Professor Carmichael since last fall. One thought that continues to be top of mind for me is what can I do now to help the next generation of Black interior designers? And so much of that work is already being done by Professor Carmichael. I had the pleasure of meeting her years ago when I was a visual merchandiser at Room & Board. I had invited Professor Carmichael and the interior design students at Howard to come for the book signing of Remix, a book that I worked on as an interior stylist and was featured in with AphroChic. The conversations that I had with Professor Carmichael then still resonate with me now; and its why I reached out to her this fall again to re-connect with the interior design department at Howard as an alumni.
There is a lot of work to be done to continue to support and encourage more people of color to join the interior design industry, and Howard University is 1 of 3 HBCUs that currently offers it as a degree program. So I wanted to learn from Professor Carmichael how does she prepare Black interior design students to go out into the interior design industry. Plus in a time like no other with Covid and the BLM movement, what is top of mind for the next generation of Black interior designers?
Jacqueline Carmichael, ASID, CKD, NCIDQ, is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Interior Design at Howard University. She inspires students to be social change agents designing equity, restoring marginalized communities impacted by systemic racism while exploring traditional canons of architecture and design.
Jacqueline's research, the "Chocolate City to Chocolate Chip African American Housing" series, addresses homelessness, affordability, and housing inequity due to chronic displacement in Washington, DC. Other research includes defining African American aesthetics in residential interiors, slave cabins; design psychology emphasizing African American identity; visual culture, memory and place, and experiential object-based learning. Projects include preserving the cultural aesthetics of the historic District Barry Farm Public Housing community. Moreover, she proposes lifespan familial housing typologies to set precedence in affordable housing policy for inclusion, equity, and wealth-building.
Professor Carmichael serves as Interior Design advisor and HU Student Chapter of ASID advisor. Professional membership in the American Society of Interior Designers, National Kitchen and Bath Association, and Smithsonian Institution docent - National Museum of African American History Culture.
This week’s Interior Design Game, I share with Professor Carmichael some commercial and residential design trends, and I want to know from her whether these ideas are OUTDATED or still IN STYLE, and why. Check out the shoppable mood board to see what she thinks is still on trend and what needs an update.
Show some school support for Howard University with this classic tee- LEAGUE INTRAMURAL BOYFRIEND V NECK
Professor Carmichael wants to make sure her interior designs are unapologetically Black when they go out into the real world- Chasm Art Print
Gender specific bathroom are outdated, in commercial designs gender neutral bathrooms are in-style and much more cost effective-
Perhaps in the future we do more of a hybrid design consultations (some online & some in-person). Here’s the perfect chair for those in-person meetings- Warren Platner Lounge Chair for Knoll International, 1966
Drafting floor plans and elevations by hand are still in-style and are taught to interior design students at Howard University- Keadic 12 Pieces Plastic Drawing Template Ruler Kit
An interior design book that talks about the Black aesthetic- Remix: Decorating with Culture, Objects, and Soul
If you’re going to be drafting by hand, a vintage drafting table will help a lot- Studio Designs Solid Hard Wood Vintage Drafting Table, 42"
Home office spaces need acoustics to dampen out the sound, look at these as a inexpensive option so everybody doesn’t have to hear your meetings at home- walmeck Acoustic Foam Panel Soundproof Foam Wedge Studio KTV Wall Echoes Absorption