Interior designers map out patients' living spaces
By: Shannon Lawrence
Issue date: 5/9/07 Section: News
People suffering from mental disorders are going to have a bright, sunny place to live thanks to an interior design organization at Chico State.
The American Society of Interior Designers is collaborating with Caminar, a nonprofit agency that works with people with disabilities to design the living spaces for patients from Butte County Behavioral Health.
"The reason why our adviser signed us up for this was to make a more inviting, comfortable space to live rather than making it feel like an institution," said project manager Courtney Wiggett.
The living space that the students are designing is located behind Java Detour on the corner of East Avenue and the Esplanade. The building is an old motel from the 1950s, which will be converted into a permanent living facility, Wiggett said.
Kijeong Jeon, the adviser to the project, has done similar work before. He found out about the project through a friend and proposed the idea to students in the design society.
"I always like to teach my students social awareness," Jeon said. "Interior design is not for rich homes only. It's for every aspect of our daily life."
Jeon wanted his students to learn about social responsibility as interior designers, he said. The work that they are doing is real-world experience, something they won't get from the hypothetical projects they receive in design courses.
The students have designed bedrooms, window coverings, a bike shop and a recreation center. When the students presented their color ideas to Caminar, they were well received, Jeon said.
The students are asking for donations from local businesses because they're working with a tight budget, said society President Jaclyn Hall. They don't know the budget right now, but the group has researched suggested furniture brands and is writing letters to local businesses.
They need everything from artwork to bedding to nightstands, Hall said.
Everyone in the club is designing the living space, but only five will make the final decisions. The students began the project in February and will work throughout the summer, Hall said.
The students have shown their color material board to Caminar, and it was approved, she said.
The color material board includes all of the paint colors for the inside of the rooms, Hall said. The students presented two color options, an earthy green and a warm orange.
The color choices will make the rooms seem light instead of drab. The students also researched mental disorders, Hall said. Her stepbrother has schizophrenia, so she also talked to him and his mom about what colors he likes.
She discovered that he likes natural, warmer colors.
Nicole Bateman, executive director of Caminar, said that she has appreciated the creativity of the interior design students.
"The students asked good questions," Bateman said. "It's been nice to have a bigger team looking at the ambiance in all the rooms."
Shannon Lawrence can be reached at slawrence@theorion.com
The American Society of Interior Designers is collaborating with Caminar, a nonprofit agency that works with people with disabilities to design the living spaces for patients from Butte County Behavioral Health.
"The reason why our adviser signed us up for this was to make a more inviting, comfortable space to live rather than making it feel like an institution," said project manager Courtney Wiggett.
The living space that the students are designing is located behind Java Detour on the corner of East Avenue and the Esplanade. The building is an old motel from the 1950s, which will be converted into a permanent living facility, Wiggett said.
Kijeong Jeon, the adviser to the project, has done similar work before. He found out about the project through a friend and proposed the idea to students in the design society.
"I always like to teach my students social awareness," Jeon said. "Interior design is not for rich homes only. It's for every aspect of our daily life."
Jeon wanted his students to learn about social responsibility as interior designers, he said. The work that they are doing is real-world experience, something they won't get from the hypothetical projects they receive in design courses.
The students have designed bedrooms, window coverings, a bike shop and a recreation center. When the students presented their color ideas to Caminar, they were well received, Jeon said.
The students are asking for donations from local businesses because they're working with a tight budget, said society President Jaclyn Hall. They don't know the budget right now, but the group has researched suggested furniture brands and is writing letters to local businesses.
They need everything from artwork to bedding to nightstands, Hall said.
Everyone in the club is designing the living space, but only five will make the final decisions. The students began the project in February and will work throughout the summer, Hall said.
The students have shown their color material board to Caminar, and it was approved, she said.
The color material board includes all of the paint colors for the inside of the rooms, Hall said. The students presented two color options, an earthy green and a warm orange.
The color choices will make the rooms seem light instead of drab. The students also researched mental disorders, Hall said. Her stepbrother has schizophrenia, so she also talked to him and his mom about what colors he likes.
She discovered that he likes natural, warmer colors.
Nicole Bateman, executive director of Caminar, said that she has appreciated the creativity of the interior design students.
"The students asked good questions," Bateman said. "It's been nice to have a bigger team looking at the ambiance in all the rooms."
Shannon Lawrence can be reached at slawrence@theorion.com
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