Fall 2025 — Interior Design students from UNT CVAD recently immersed themselves in a real-world design challenge during Kimball International's annual Prelude student competition in Dallas. Six UNT students teamed up with peers from the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, to transform classroom studio spaces using Kimball products. In just one day, the group tackled space planning, floor plan development, elevation and rendering design, and product selection — culminating in dynamic presentations to a panel of industry judges. The UNT participants included seniors Celia Johannes, Natalie McCune, and Trinity Conrad, as well as juniors Malaysia Jarrow, Sophia Trimble, and Lucas Sabillon.
In a separate act of community impact, 18 interior design students collaborated with professionals from Gensler, Structure Tone, and Cherry Coatings to support Hearts and Hammers, a nonprofit. Together, they restored the exterior of a deteriorating home, allowing an elderly couple to age in place safely. The team handled yard cleanup, house painting, and paver stone installation to enhance accessibility and ensure compliance with city codes.