At the end of September, nearly thirty Interior Design students from The Ohio State University traveled to Cleveland, Ohio for the 2026 IIDA OH/KY Student Conference. Representing the second, third, and fourth-year cohorts, the students joined a gathering of over 120 aspiring designers from universities across Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, and North Carolina. 

Hosted biennially by the Ohio-Kentucky chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), the two-day conference offered students an invaluable bridge between academia and industry. Assistant Professor of Teaching Emily Valentine served on the event’s planning committee and attended to support the conference events. 

The event kicked off with high energy as Cheryl Durst, President and CEO of IIDA, delivered opening remarks that set an inspiring tone for the weekend. 

Students immediately put their skills to the test in an intensive 3-hour design charette. Working in 20 cross-university teams, students were challenged reimagine a healthcare office building lobby through the lens of hospitality design while completing the work entirely by hand. 

Before launching into ideation, teams received insights on hospitality trends and material applications from industry sponsors Dan Binford and Associates, Interface, and Koroseal. The fast-paced session offered students a rare chance to interact directly with industry professionals who provided real-time feedback and judged the final proposals alongside healthcare design professionals from CPL and Melissa Cook, IIDA Student Engagement Manager.

Following the charette, students toured local Cleveland design firms and attended evening networking events, building connections with practicing designers, product representatives, and regional peers. 

Day two focused entirely on long-term career readiness. After a keynote address Cheryl Durst, students explored a design expo to meet manufacturers, explore their products, and meet design-industry professionals. Over lunch, a recent graduate panel provided on navigating the transition from student to working professional. 

The conference concluded with interactive breakout sessions covering professional perspectives on different paths through the design industry, information on the professional interior design qualification organization (CIDQ), the importance of personal branding, and portfolio reviews.

Ohio State students made an impressive showing during charette awards, earning top honors across all competition categories: 

Best Design and Most Innovative Application of Hospitality in Healthcare: and Marley Labishak, Ohio State University (Class of 2027), Erin Fedor of Cuyahoga Community College, Jade Schamehorn of Eastern Michigan University, Stephanie Calderon and Ruth Musser of Kent State University, and Avery Madurin of Ohio University. Reflecting on the experience, Marley said: “I truly enjoyed getting to see the growth of the program from the 2024 conference in Cincinnati to the 2026 conference in Cleveland. Both have been keystone experiences during my time at Ohio State, and I appreciate the opportunity to connect with students and professionals across the chapter. The charette this year was so much fun! The theme of healthcare infused with hospitality was right up my ally, and it's always refreshing to get to play with conceptual ideas and materials.”

Runner-up and Best Use of Dan Binford and Associates product: Makenna Parker, Ohio State University (Class of 2027), Brooklyn Gruber and Kaileigh Smith of Kent State University, Ava Hochthanner of Michigan State University, Gordana Vein of Ohio University, and Jansen Lewis of Western Kentucky University. Makenna reflected on her experiences: “This was my second time attending the IIDA Student Conference, and it was even more incredible of an experience than the first. I had the opportunity to meet and learn from so many students and professionals in the design industry, which made me even more excited about my future in interior design. I also got to participate in a design charette which I really enjoyed. It allowed me to collaborate with new people, hear different perspectives, and challenge the way I approach design. I left the IIDA Student Conference feeling inspired, more connected to the design community, and excited for what is ahead.”

Best use of Interface product: Carolina Toribio, Ohio State University (Class of 2028), Ethan Dowling of Eastern Michigan University, Kelly Lewis of Kent State University, and Morgan Elliott of Ohio University. Reflecting on the experience, Carolina said: “Winning the award for the Best Use of Interface Products was such a fun surprise and made the experience even more memorable. The event gave me the opportunity to connect with professionals, learn about new materials, and gain a better understanding of how the products I use in my designs can make an impact.”

Best use of Koroseal product: Katie Pouso, Ohio State University (Class of 2029), Isabel Brunell, Ohio State University (Class of 2028), Veronia Hess and Tessa Trimboli of Kent State University, Nina Ramsey of University of Cincinnati , and Brynnen Martin of Western Kentucky University. Katie reflected on the conference experience, stating: “Coming to this event as a sophomore who is new to the interior design program I gained a lot of valuable knowledge and insight about the industry. Being able to talk to different vendors and build connections with them was the most rewarding part of the experience as it allowed me to ask questions and hear from people who are passionate about the same things and have experience in the industry. Another highlight was touring the DLR Group office. Walking through their space and seeing how actual design firms operate was such a cool experience!” Isabel added: “This was my first design conference, and it was such an amazing experience and opportunity to meet new people. Between the charette and the expos, I got a better sense of how much you can do with interior design while also getting more used to the collaborative process.”

Events like the IIDA Student Conference provide Ohio State students with valuable exposure to industry mentors, hands-on experience while under pressure, and a growing professional network that will support them long after graduation.