Study Tours
INT274 Interior Design Study Tours
Periodically, there is a study tour offered by the Interior Design Program. These experiences have ranged from overnight to eight days, but a longer stay to some destinations in Europe is a hopeful possibility in the future. Here is an example of some trips we have taken over the past few years:
West Week - Los Angeles 2 days (1 credit)
Every spring in mid-March, the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles hosts an event called WestWeek where new products are shown, speakers present dynamic lectures, and showrooms welcome students from all over the west. On the second day, we generally visit a museum such as the J. Paul Getty, and we always see a Broadway show the one night we're there.
San Francisco 3 days (1 credit)
San Francisco has a marvelous design center housed in several renovated brick warehouses. Tours were set up with specific showrooms. We also toured the Geary Theatre, Mayfair Hotel, and Victorian homes. A visit to the new Museum of Modern Art is a must. What an exciting city!
Santa Fe, New Mexico 2 days (1 credit)
Our visit took us to many interesting resources, including one which specializes in Spanish antiques, another in old doors from around the world. We also visited some local artisans, such as a textile weaver and a rug maker. The International Folk Art museum is truly one of the most interesting in the country. And of course, just experiencing the pueblo-styled architecture is terrific.
New York City 8 days (2 credits)
This adventurous tour included a multitude of fabulous presentations and visits, such as the Kips Bay Showhouse, Jhane Barnes textile designer, Edward Field custom area rugs, and many more. There were also stops at many familiar sites, such as several museums, Radio City Music Hall, etc. New York has SO much to offer anyone interested in design.
Guadalajara, Mexico 5 days (2 credit)
Accompanied by well-known interior designer Luis Corona of Casa del Encanto, we experienced the rich culture of one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico. We also visited Talaquepaque, a stone quarry to watch carvers and a glass factory to watch glass blowers. The presentation of the Ballet Folkloriko was wonderful.
London, England 12 days (3 credits)
Our first overseas study tour, we spent a week in and around London exploring such well-know sites as Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, St. Paul's cathedral, the Victoria and Albert museum, Hampton Court, and Windsor Castle. Our 4-day excursion through the countryside brought us to Brighton on the cost, Salisbury with its famous cathedral, and historic Bath, where Roman ruins still exist. Along the way, we took in may historically significant castles, residences, churches, and museums, as well the world-famous Stonehenge. It was truly a memorable experience.
Paris & The Loire Valley France 12 days (3 credits)
Similar in structure to our trip to London, we spend a week in and around Paris, to experience a foreign culture and visit such places as Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre museum, Versailles, Montmartre, the Musee D'Orsay, and of course a trip down the Seine and up to the Eiffel Tower. Our 4-day excursion through the Loire Valley allowed us to visit four Chateaux and a wine cave, with a stay in Tours. Then, it was off to the coast to visit the famous Mont St. Michel monastery and a wonderful night in the walled city St. Malo. Our last night was a grand celebration with dinner and a show at the Lido. Our time was filled with one great experience after another.