For Ashley Darnell, art and design have always been a part of her life. Growing up in Naples, Florida, she was often surrounded by the energy and creativity of construction projects. Her mother was an executive at a large construction company, and frequent family projects were common around the household. On many nights, HGTV (Home & Garden Television) was a favorite show to have on, providing a constant backdrop of home renovation and makeovers. These subtle influences were instilled from a young age, building an appreciation for the beauty of design and the hard work that goes with it.
Discovering the Spark
Ashley spent her early years defined mostly by athletics rather than artistic pursuits. When it came to having a creative side, it was something she did not realize until it slowly emerged in later phases of her life. From athletics, she transitioned to being a hairstylist and began to notice how her artistic instincts paid off. At the time, though, she had yet to fully uncover her true creative abilities. It was not until later, when she had the opportunity to work on a home design project, that a family member noticed her natural talent for interior design and encouraged her abilities. From then on, Ashley opened her mind to a career in the arts.
When her aesthetic eye for interior design was praised, it inspired her to explore her thoughts and feelings about it, and Ashley finally discovered she indeed possessed a creative side she wanted to nurture. She decided to take on her newfound passion for interior design, and knew adding a formal education would complement this creative endeavor.
Finding Her Way to RMCAD
Knowing she needed to fulfill the educational aspects of her creative pursuits, Ashley spent some time researching colleges, and it led her to RMCAD. She notes, “I searched for ‘top interior design schools that offer online courses’ because I am located in Naples, FL, where there are no interior design/art schools in the nearby area. RMCAD was one of the top 3 schools, it was accredited, and it looked like a fun atmosphere.”
The combination of academic credibility, a flexible online interior design program, and the excitement made it a good fit for Ashley, allowing her a chance to receive a design education without having to relocate to a different state. Once enrolled, she was one step closer to achieving her goals of becoming an interior designer.
Finding Balance, Facing Obstacles, and Building Resilience
Pursuing a degree while managing day-to-day life comes with many challenges and is all too common for the modern-day student. In her journey, she confronted balancing school, family responsibilities, and work. Among these, the most demanding was navigating her studies while pregnant: “Getting pregnant 4 years into my career, having health issues and choosing to take some time off to spend with my baby, and taking a break from RMCAD to deal with personal challenges within those parameters.”
Taking a break from school allowed her to focus on her newly grown family, but it also meant she would eventually have to re-enroll in school, which was just as demanding. Ashley notes the dedication required: “Going back to school when my daughter was 6 weeks old and then going back to work full-time and juggling motherhood as well.”
As anyone can imagine, managing family, health, work, and school are major events in a student’s life and require a lot of energy and attention. However, Ashley gave it her all to overcome these hurdles and continued with her interior design degree, showing her resilience as a student, artist, and now a mother.
Creating and the Current Vision
As a current student at RMCAD, Ashley is focusing her drive on her academics, alongside her job and personal design projects. She majors in Interior Design and is proud of the work she produces in her courses, from design sketches and architecture blueprints to final visual strategy projects (see portfolio). She hopes this degree will give her a solid foundation to build her own design firm. “RMCAD has helped shape my professional and artistic goals by giving me a solid foundation to build my future on. My plan to own and operate my own design firm in my hometown seems more feasible knowing I’ll have the power of my degree and education to stand on.”
Beyond earning her education at RMCAD, she has received several accolades—three CBIA Sand Dollar Awards, the highest annual accolades presented by the Collier Building Industry Association (CBIA) Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) in Collier County, Florida. Her professional acclaim and her continued academic success are strong qualities for a rising interior designer.
Alongside school, she continues to gain experience as an interior designer at Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design in Naples, Florida, building creative relationships with both new and returning clients. She is also taking on a major project, and that is remodeling her first home from top to bottom. “I am currently remodeling my first home with my husband – fully remodeled, including removing walls/doorways and changing the entire layout of the main area,” she says. Although it may be a massive undertaking, it is one filled with a lot of meaning for Ashley and her family.
What the Future Holds
Ashley is continuing her education at RMCAD with ambitious goals of one day building her own design firm. She also wants to use her interior design knowledge and skills to support her community in any way she can. She aspires to give back by providing pro bono services and supporting women and children. She notes, “I would love to give back to my community in any way possible; my idea is to assist in designing a women’s and children’s shelter.” From her early years of athletics and hairstyling to later drawing blueprints and designs, she is reminded that the urge to create was instilled from the beginning, even if it was unclear at the time. And with hard work, determination, and resilience, Ashley knows she is well on her way to making her artistic visions a reality.
About RMCAD’s Interior Design Degree Program
At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, our Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design Program is offered both online and on-campus to suit your learning and lifestyle needs. In both programs, students have the opportunity to explore career-ready coursework in such areas of interior design as architecture, environmental design, space planning, and more.
Graduates will rise to the challenge of creating beautiful designs with a mindful eye. Get in touch to learn more about RMCAD’s interior design program today, or get started on your application for admission.
