2O19 - 2O26
table of contents
condensed resume + published work
commercial design work
design + design research in progress_informal education in national parks
fall 2022.spring 2023_Smith Island spring 2023_reLanding in Knoxville 01 02
experienced designer + researcher aspiring design educator
Curiosity and passion for the world drives my deep need to design for people, for experience, and for a sustainable future. My background as a commercial interior designer and environmental educator inspires my commitment to sustainable and equitable design. I have a goal of teaching sustainable design in the higher education setting while continuing to gain experience as a thoughtful designer. In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors (especially by the ocean), traveling, or reading a good book. I put 110% of my energy into everything I do aiming to push myself and my surroundings to be the best possible.
presentations + publications:
O’Brien, D., P., Aman, J., Kim, J. B., Cole, L. B., & Zangori, L. (2026). Experiential learning with energy simulations in the design classroom. [Paper presentation] Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Conference, Chicago, IL.
Lam, K., O’Brien, D., Laz Banti, A., Sepehri, P., Aman, J., Cole, L. B., Kim, J. B., & Zangori, L. (2026). Usability Testing of Simulation Game for Higher Education. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation & Energy Conservation in Buildings (IAQVEC), Los Angeles, CA.
Akturk, A., Cole, L. B., Zangori, L., & O’Brien, D. (2025). From Classroom to Community: How Rural Teachers Employ Place to Teach Energy Literacy. [Paper Presentation] Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA), Halifax, Canada.
Aman, J., O’Brien, D., Lam, K., Cole, L. B., Kim, J. B., Zangori, L., Sepehri, P., & Laz Banti, A. (2026). Towards Simulation Game Development for Higher Education: Lessons from a Computational Thinking Perspective. Proceedings of the 31st CAADRIA Conference, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Cole, L. B., O’Brien, D., Lam, K., Aman, J., Kim, J. B., & Sepehri, P. (2025). Teaching Design with Energy Simulations: Workshop with a Web-Based Tool. Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Virtual Symposium.
Cole, L. B., & O’Brien, D. (2025). Standards-Based Grading. Colorado State University Teaching Excellence Symposium.
Cole, L. B., Justice, J., O’Brien, D., Aman, J., Kim, J. B., Akturk, A., & Zangori, L. (2025). Can green building science support systems thinking for energy education? Sustainability, 17(15), 7008. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157008
education: Master of Science in Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University; Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture at University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Center for International Educational Exchange in Monteverde, Costa Rica
honors + awards: WILMA Women to Watch Rising Star Finalist, WILMA Magazine (2024); Dean’s Advisory Board, University of Tennessee (2021–2023); Tau Sigma Delta Bronze Medal (2023); Faculty Award for Leadership and Engagement (2023); First Place – EUReCA Undergraduate Research Symposium (2023); Graduating Student Gallery for soIA (2023); Silver Medal -- ASID Joy of Design, Student Project Design with Student Team (2023); Dottie Sanders Interior Design Scholarship (2022); Aubrey Dean Knott Memorial Scholarship (2022); Torchbearer Scholarship (2022); NEWH International Leadership Scholarship (2021); IIDA SHIFT Design Charrette Invitee + Runner Up (2021); Parent’s Association Leadership & Service Scholarship (2021); Student IIDA Chapter of the Year (2021)
professional experience: graduate teaching assistant + research assistant at Colorado State University (2025-current); research specialists at University of Missouri (2025); lead interior designer at Mark Loudermilk Architecture (2023-2025); owner + founder of Sun Club Wilmington (2025-current); program leader at CIEE Monteverde (2023); teaching assistant + tour guide at Unviersity of Tennessee (2021-2023); interior design intern at Mcarty Holsaple Mcarty (2022); interior design mentee at Perkins + Will (2021)
programs + technical skills: Revit, Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Bluebeam Revu, Microsoft Office, Dedoose, MaxQDA, Intermediate Spanish
certifications: CITI training, NCIDQ license (in progress, 1/3 exams passed)
more information can be found on my full resume + cirriculum vitae.
blending hospitality + practicality to design and execute places people can efficiently enjoy
The owner gave one request: to have a space that could be used for happy hour and for meetings. This informal space did exactly that while showcasing local wave and ocean motifs. From concept to installation, this project referenced Wrighstville Beach.
project role: lead interior designer (finish selection, furniture, fixtures, equipment, custom art work, signage, and millwork)
1,900 square foot renovation
The EKOS office space is a fully custom office space for the EKOS headquarters in Wilmington, North Carolina. From concept to installation, this is a fully custom space designed for each member of the office team. The space is filled with local photography, carefully selected to reflect the company’s values and employee’s close connection with coastal North Carolina. This project worked closely with local businesses to provide a space that felt connected to Wilmington.
SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"
SCALE: 1" = 1'-0"
The EKOS logo wall was an exciting opportunity to work with two local businesses (Port City Signs and Coastal Building Supply) to provide the client with a custom designed and locally sourced feature wall in the space. From sketches to installation, this design was fully custom to the space and the client.
Riko’s Pizza was an exciting opportunity to work directly with a brand. The owners allowed insights and guidance from the design team to make it feel connected to the local Carolina Beach community.
project role: lead interior designer (finish selection, furniture, fixtures, equipment, custom art work, signage, and millwork), architectural designer (construction documents, coordination)
3,500 square foot interior build out
Riko’s Pizza Carolina Beach location is the first of it’s kind. Bringing the brand from the northeast to coastal North Carolina, the brand’s interior designer allowed creative input into making this location feel like it belonged in Carolina Beach. To do this, we incorporated custom millwork provided by a local company, vintage photography of Carolina Beach, and subtle beach motifs throughout. This project included a custom bar, TV mounts, and spatial planning that would work best for the beach crowd.
From circulation guiding users through the space to ceiling features diving the space, this design brought the previous space into a more modern feeling while still appealing to the older local population.
project role: lead interior designer (finish selection, space planning)
5, 200 square foot alterations
Corning Credit Union, a local North Carolina bank, was designed to modernize the banking experience while remaining accessible to the local demographic. This space utilizes a coastal color palette, custom flooring, and ceiling features to provide a balance spatial experience. The employees were also in mind during the design, with a private bathroom, updated kitchen, and updated baking kiosks to provide the safest work space possible.
concept to finish selection to built space
This company has a younger workforce, so it was important to balance “work” with “play.” From a built in keg to a separate “drinks-only” kitchen, the design allows employees to enjoy their time in the office while providing a place for effective work.
project role: lead interior designer (space planning, finish selection, furniture, fixtures, equipment, custom art work, signage, and millwork); architectural designer (site documentation, project management, construction documents)
32, 000 square foot renovation
MegaCorp Logistics aimed to update their existing office space to encourage employees to spend more time in the building. To do this, we were inspired by hospitality design and branded environments. This resulted in a modern, comfortable office space that provides employees with amenities and efficient workspaces. On this project, I worked closely with the company’s property manager and the construction manager to coordinate, schedule, and problem solve.
Newtek One is inspired by coastal motifs from local Wrightsville Beach. The conference room features darker ocean-inspired carpet tiles that contrast the lighter carpet tiles in the open office spaces inspired by the deeper, darker waters we see on the coast.
project role: lead interior designer (space planning, finish selection, fixtures, equipment)
2, 900 square foot renovation
Newtek One’s office space is a bright and airy, coastal inspired space. This space uses visual connection to reduce hierarchical norms. The space uses its linear nature to break into two: an open work area and private offices with a kitchenette, copy area, and conference room bridging the two spaces.
New Leaf Builders, a local design-build company, wanted a space that could feature their finish selections while also highlighting their office culture. A full residential kitchen was installed with a customs designed water fall edge island. Integrated LEDs shine into the fishbone concrete tiles and provide seating for employees.
project role: lead interior designer (space planning, finish selection, fixtures, equipment, rendering); architectural designer (site documentation, project management, construction documents)
1,900 square foot renovation
New Leaf Builders welcome in customers of their own into their office space to design and build their dream homes. With this in mind, the office space needed to be a blend of office with residential, contrasting from the typical office typology. This space was designed with a full residential kitchen to inspire clients and welcome color into the space. This space is inspired by the local landscape, including wave and fish scale motifs and ocean inspired colors.
Educational signage mock up for ‘Island Home Recreation + Research,’ senior thesis project
using research as a guide to design to inspire a more sustainable future
National parks are positioned as educational landscapes and “living laboratories” (Washburn, 2020), yet research indicates that traditional visitor centers and ranger talks are no longer sufficient to meet contemporary sustainability and stewardship goals (Schwartz et al., 2019). While green building research demonstrates that buildings can serve as teaching tools (Akturk & Cole, 2025; Cole, 2019), limited research evaluates national park visitor centers as intentional environmental education environments.
Simultaneously, centers for environmental education (CEEs) are emerging as architectural typologies that integrate sustainable design and ecological education (Bradecki et al., 2024). However, there is little research applying CEE evaluation frameworks to visitor centers adjacent to natural areas.
This research aims to investiage a national park visitor center as a case study to understand what design is communicating about park values, environmental education, and sustainability. This study intends to compare two park buildings: a visitors center in Rocky Mountain National Park and a visitor education center in Yellowstone National Park. Results could provide insights to how our national park buildings support or lack opportunity for informal education, in turn providing design research for future education and interpretation focused visitor centers.
Advisor: Dr. Laura Cole
Committee: Dr. Aysegul Akturk, Brian Dunbar, Lisa Switzer
Encouraging Growth in a Coastal Community through Ecotourism: Smith Island, Maryland is a research-based thesis project completed in the fourth year. This project involves extensive research, interviews, and analysis to propose a solution to Smith Island, Maryland’s declining population and economic challenges. Through this thesis, residents were interviewed to identify the core issues affecting the community. Following these insights, research was conducted to explore how design can foster positive change. Global case studies and a study abroad trip to Costa Rica informed the proposal of ecotourism as a viable solution. The proposed ecotourism efforts are centered around IslandHome Research and Recreation, a subterranean facility that includes a café, art gallery, screening room, and education center. The site also features demonstration areas that highlight the significance of shoreline restoration, providing visitors with a close-up view of how these ecological processes function. This thesis includes a ten-page research paper, a design project, and a sixty-fivepage magazine.
First Place: EUReCA Undergraduate Research Symposium 2023
Graduating Student Gallery: Selected Work for the School of Interior Architecture
Forth Year Fall 2022 + Spring 2023 Advisor: Ashley Coon
The sixty-five-page magazine, highlighted above, goes through the history of Smith Island, the residents that were interviewed, research on shoreline restoration, case studies, and the proposed design solution. Throughout the magazine, there are example graphics and maps that would be seen throughout Island Home Recreation and Research.
Relanding in Knoxville is an exhibition grounded in concepts derived from contemporary Latin American architecture, as discussed in Del Territorio al Detalle by Germán Valenzuela in Talca, Chile. This exhibition’s central theme, “Relanding,” aims to anchor people in the present moment through architecture. Material selection is essential, as it reconnects people with their physical environment, history, and immediate surroundings. Each study within the exhibit explores a unique approach to material use in contemporary architecture, ultimately giving materials new life and meaning. All exhibit materials were salvaged from Salvage Lumber Co. in Knoxville, Tennessee. Culturally, the U.S. has relied heavily on global architectural practices, often favoring temporary materials. This exhibition challenges those conventions, pushing perceptions of materials and purpose in contemporary architecture. The models represent an initial step toward “relanding” people in the present moment through materiality, inspired by the architectural projects of Latin American precedents.
Forth Year Spring 2023 with Simone Horner and Autumn Jones
Research led by German Valenzuela
The chosen site, a demolition company and salvage yard, in Knoxville, Tennessee, creates a unique historical narrative of Knoxville and surrounding areas. The site began accumulating objects in the 1950s, and has continued to increase its population of found objects since. The research understands where these objects originated and their intended purpose to connect them to construction methods.This analysis influences thematerial studies done on each material type. Five materials, five methods,and five models are created based on analysis.
The material analysis explores the possible use and reuse of five different materials. The materials studied are as follows: wood (framing from windows), ceramic (roof and floor tiles), metal (fencing and aluminum window frames), mesh (window screen), and stone (brick). These materials and their future uses are studied by creating forms in molds, filled with resin or plaster. The outcome proposes new construction methods for each material, moving away from its past life. The resulting exhibit will include ten to twelve material studies for the five materials, a historical analysis of the site, and connections from the materials to construction methods in Latin America.
Adaptive Land Reuse Community Park in Dandridge, West Virginia
Habitat at Hobet is a proposal to transform an abandoned, toxic coal mine site in Dandridge, West Virginia, into a park that benefits both the environment and the local community. Years of mining have left this site heavily damaged, with toxic materials leaching into nearby water sources and polluting the air. This contamination poses health risks for nearby residents, while the mine’s closure has resulted in significant job losses for the community.
The Habitat at Hobet design includes three towers at a trailhead, each symbolizing a different aspect of the mining industry and incorporating varied levels of technology. The park is landscaped with native plants to help restore soil and air quality, and the towers are constructed with limestone to aid in water purification. The site is designed to be accessible to local schools and community organizations, offering opportunities for field trips, events, and employment for the area’s residents.
Third Year Spring 2022 Professor: Ashley Coon
Habitat at Hobet Site Layers including land restoration, community programing, and job opportunities
03: Monument Site Plan
