Interior Design–Green Design Emphasis
Class of 2010
Hometown: Jakarta, Indonesia

Why did you choose to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design?

My previous advisor recommended this school. I looked at the program and scheduled a visit to the school. I liked that RMCAD had Green Design as an emphasis—I didn't know much about Green Design yet, but I'd been interested in the concept of sustainability. The Green Design emphasis was what made me certain about my choice.

What has been your favorite class so far and why?

So far I like my Restaurant + Retail Design class. I like that we have the opportunity to work with the Graphic Design students. This is my first commercial design class. Although there will be a lot of work, I'm excited about the endless possibilities of being creative in creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing space.

Which Liberal Studies or Foundation Studies classes did you find the most surprising or useful?

There were many surprises I experienced in my Foundation classes. I came from a background with no art skills or knowledge. However, I've created many gratifying pieces in my Foundation classes. I always thought that I could never create an art piece, but my Foundation classes helped me to think otherwise. I learned about processes and how those processes lead to an end result. I've developed skills that I would've never thought I could have if I didn't take those Foundation classes. I think my most influential class was Visual Design 2. I learned the processes of creating a 3D piece, and I think that it's important to understand that 2D and 3D pieces are different. What we sketched could end up differently from the final product. This taught me to be flexible, since I kept having to improvise to get to where I wanted to be. I think that this is a wonderful lesson to learn.

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

By being flexible but not too lenient. In my Basic Space Planning class, we created small office spaces that would go in a larger space. (The professor) let us do whatever we wanted to the space (in terms of space planning), we just couldn't tear down any structural wall. This process could get very frustrating (because more often than not your smaller spaces don't want to fit into the structural element). However, our instructor gave us our "mantra" which is to "improvise, adapt and overcome." I think that is a very good mantra to use in general. Now, whenever I feel that I face a dead end (not just in class), I always remind myself of that mantra and so far, it always works. I've overcome many problems!

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

My dream would be to have my own firm and be actively involved in creating sustainable spaces/buildings. RMCAD has prepared me by giving me knowledge and practice in sustainability, materials and projects that are a true representation of what I might face in the field.

How would you describe the students who attend RMCAD?

Students at RMCAD are not afraid to express their feelings in any kind of form. Sometimes I feel that there is no such thing as being politically incorrect, but people continue to respect each other and be able to work together. I like that, in many ways, RMCAD is very diverse.

How has your life changed since enrolling at RMCAD?

I'd attended two different universities before attending RMCAD. I've never pushed myself as much as I do at RMCAD. RMCAD definitely brings out the best that I can do—things that I never thought I could do before. I think I can say that I'm a lot more confident with myself since I enrolled at RMCAD.

What kinds of things do you do when you're not attending classes?

When I'm not in class, I usually work on my homework. When I have the time, I like to try new restaurants (food from different regions of the world), hang out with my friends, watch movies, and try new activities (recently I went sledging—never done that before—and it was awesome!). Basically just slowing down my pace and enjoying life.

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

There will be a lot of work ahead of you. You will get frustrated and annoyed often. Never give up! When you're doing what you love, all that hard work will always pay off in the end.