Sarah Donohue

Interior Design–Green Design Emphasis
Class of 2010
Hometown: Central Square, NY

What has been your favorite class so far and why?

Restaurant + Retail. This class is great because it's cross-discipline (with Graphic Design). We are redesigning an existing restaurant in Denver, with a real client. We chose a culture (ours is Javanese) and this culture drives us along our design. Working with the graphic designers is really interesting and very helpful in understanding how a real firm works.

What did your favorite professor do to earn your respect or admiration?

Mike Litrell has really earned my respect. He is a phenomenal designer…kind of a renaissance man! I love drawing photo-realistically, and he has helped me develop my skills so much. The Architectural Perspective + Rendering Class that he teaches pushed me very far in my skills, and has given me a set of "tools" I can use to solve any rendering problem. I feel this has made me much stronger and more confident in my work.

Tell us about a favorite project you've worked on.

So far my favorite project at RMCAD has been the project for Residential Design. This was the first time we had a semester-long project that was based on a client. We did the client interview, created our concept, designed an entire remodel, and created all the spec books and documents. This was the first time I felt like an actual designer. In the end, I rendered some of the spaces and this was exciting because I wasn't being told what to draw. It all came out of my designs that I had created from scratch.

How has RMCAD prepared you for what you want to do when you graduate?

I am planning on graduating into a job at a firm who does commercial green design. RMCAD is definitely preparing me for this through all the classes I'm taking. Each project has made my portfolio stronger.

How would you describe the students who attend RMCAD?

I received my BFA in New York before coming to RMCAD. I see a lot of similarities between both art schools, however there is one major difference. Some of the majors here at RMCAD are very commercial-focused, which is a completely different side of art than I'm used to. I think students in each major develop differently due to the specific skills they are taught. At my last college, we weren't "allowed" to choose a major, and you were expected to take a huge variety of classes in different disciplines. Although this helped me become a well-rounded artist, it did not prepare me for a career. RMCAD is unique because it feels like everything you learn is guiding you toward your career when you graduate.

What do you like about living in Denver/Colorado?

Sunshine, sunshine, and more sunshine! I'm from western NY, where the sun shines once a week. I also love to hike and do photography, so I love the fact that I'm only 15 minutes from the Rocky Mountains. Now when I leave Colorado, I really miss the mountains.

How has your life changed since enrolling at RMCAD?

I feel like I am entering a career were I can make a difference in a way that is important to me.

Was there a moment when RMCAD changed from "a school" to "my school"?

When I finished my first semester here, I had a moment where I realized I was working toward my dream career, and that I was one step closer to it.

What would you want a prospective student to know about RMCAD?

You make your own success. RMCAD will give you the tools.