In 1979, a group of interior design professionals working at a handful of American universities held the first meeting of the Association of University Interior Designers to explore the changing landscape of interior design and facilities management in Higher Education. Though much has changed in the 25 years since, the need for a unifying body remains the same. Charran Peck, current AUID President and Project Manager at Southern Methodist University (SMU) lives the dream of working for her alma mater and relishes the opportunity to lead the AUID’s mission for a term.
“The AUID exists to be a community of interior design professionals who share similar challenges and triumphs while working for colleges and universities,” begins Peck. As a Project Manager overseeing a wide range of assignments, Peck appreciates the chance to benefit from lessons learned and the insights of other members. “I started at SMU about nine years ago as the lone person responsible for addressing anything related to interiors on campus. It was daunting. AUID became an instant resource. I’d email the group explaining a problem, and in hours I’d have a dozen diverse, thoughtful, and helpful answers.”
Sarah Rakestraw, current AUID Membership Chair and Interior Designer at Auburn University, echoes the sentiment. Like Peck, she is also an alumnus of the university she serves and takes special pride in working on a campus she thinks of as her own.
“As an Auburn graduate, this place is special to me. Having the chance to improve the student experience here is very rewarding,” says Rakestraw, who joined the Auburn staff in 2017 after seven years as an architectural product representative. “My work often involves the same internal clients and campus facilities repeatedly. Housing, dining, and athletic facilities are the big three in terms of building types. Connections within the AUID offer me a lot of lessons learned on navigating issues others have faced previously.”
The three pillars of the AUID—Inspire, Inform, and Invest—set the organizational mission to provide a collective network, shared resources, and opportunities for professional advancement. In the inspiration department, the AUID’s annual conference offers the organization’s 100+ members a chance to connect while exploring a new campus and gaining practical knowledge at the yearly meet-up. To inform, the AUID hosts a variety of virtual professional development opportunities, including sessions offering continuing education credits. As an investment, since 2015, AUID has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships given out to college students pursuing a degree in interior design.
“As the current membership chair, my role is focused on retaining and growing membership. This involves understanding member expectations, increasing engagement, facilitating communication, and making sure people get a solid return on their investment,” says Rakestraw. Beyond the comaraderie and communication among members, Peck and Rakestraw agree that the universities they work for are also in competition. “The AUID also helps make sure that we’re not becoming siloed, that we are doing things on par with other universities of a similar caliber, and that our facilities stay at the forefront of what we are known for.”
Among the common challenges Peck, Rakestraw, and the universities they serve are considering, the most pressing is how to attract students in general. Not only do universities contend with one another, but Higher Education as a path to career-readiness faces outside pressures as well. Increasingly, high school students are evaluating a wide range of post-secondary paths. Whereas the training acquired in the military, technical schools, or trade apprenticeships enjoy greater social respect since the recession, the cost and time commitments of those paths can also be substantially less than a four-year college education; meaning life-long earning starts sooner with less barrier to entry.
“We’re all asking: What should higher education be and how are we going to attract students,” continues Peck of the big picture. “College isn’t the only option. So, we must be very mindful of the student experience by asking: How can we make it better.”
Rakestraw agrees. “A college campus is ever-changing,” she says. “We pivot continually to adjust spaces to changing student expectations, changing pedagogies, and facilitating the learning that needs to happen today with yesterday’s buildings and equipment. That’s everything from spatial allocations to the furnishings.”
As an SEC school, Rakestraw reveals that Auburn’s pursuit of top student-athletes offers a glimpse into the ripple effect generational differences can have on a college campus.
“We’ve now entered the era of NIL, which impacts the student-athletes we attract. So that involves donor support and a different type of student engagement,” says Rakestraw. “As generations change, there is a shift. Much of the campus experience starts before a student arrives, when they consider: Is this where I see myself?”
One of the AUID’s outreach points is the organization’s strong relationship with Learning By Design. Through the magazine’s awards program, universities across the country have been recognized for outstanding educational architecture. Through this column, “Ask A Designer,” AUID members have shared their practical experience with topics of general relevance—outdoor classrooms, branding, shared learning spaces, and building certifications thus far.
Asked where they hope to take AUID under their leadership, Peck and Rakestraw are optimistic about member growth and the opportunity to share and learn from one another.
“The AUID is aspirational. This doesn’t stop with us,” says Peck. “I think it would be great if we had an AUID member in every state; eventually, every university or college in America would be the goal. As AUID members, we live the experience of higher education interiors. So, let’s elevate our voice in the industry.”