Chantal Irish's Profile

I am a sparky but focused Senior Design Student, graduating Fall 2010. I had a previous degree in the field of Anthropology and Social Services. After searching for a job I would like, I realized I truly wanted to be a designer or architect. Because I love working with clients, interiors became my focus. It is a very upbeat career with each day being a suprise.

More About Me

What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?

USGBC 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition: Small, Affordable, Green Presented by Salvation Army’s EnviRenew Initiative
The goal was from scratch, create a prototype of a home in New Orlean within the Broadmoor neighborhood. Our budget was limited to $100,000 for materials and labor. Due to the flooding, the house needed to be raised 7 feet from the lots plane. The initial idea was to make these lower priced homes for small families and empty nesters needing a smaller home. Because there could be accessability needs, we needed a lift to raise whoever couldn’t take the steps. And, on top of this, we were expected to make it LEED Platnum, the highest level of eco-awareness you can achieve for a home.

As a group, we sucessfully completed the requirements for the competition and later went on to create a full gallery of the renderings, drawings and models. If you are in the Chicago Land Area and want to check it out, it is in the Sun-Times building, adjacent to the Merchandise Mart on the first floor. Through the glass, you can see our models. Feel free to go on in!

NeoCon 2010: As a member of the Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, I worked as an exhibitor presenting example of projects completed.

As the Public Relations Chair for the student chapter of ASID, I have been able to encourage our trips to non-ASID members which in fact brings in more active members.

How would you characterize your philosophy towards design?

Design should be as holistic as possible. Each detail should be considered to how it will affect the whole. I personally like concept statements. I think those that don’t like them didn’t write the right concept statement. An entire project is simplified when you know what will and what will not work. Changing the design over and over is a sign of not having a concept statement that the client agrees with. This small clarification saves time so you do have time to pull everything into a very tight, no stress, project. And the Client will praise you and use you again if this is how you work.

Also, I think of design as both Architecture and Art. Sometimes, something needs to happen because of the grace of the angle or relationship to other pieces. These are often the times when you see it and like a photographer, yell “STOP” so you can keep it there. There are always suprises and often they are the variety needed to keep the design from looking flat.

Would you say you have a certain style?

I appreciate true design in all forms. I tend towards the modern furnishings of Eames. His work was progressive yet usuable. I like when a piece has that balance between art and architecture within it and Eames and Mies did beautifully with this.

What design trends are most interesting to you?

LEED: Sustainability is becoming a major subject. How can we minimize waste and save energy? It is actually quite simple if you know what you are talking about but to the public, it is overwhelming. When building a home, using SIPs over traditional construction reduces the construction waste 40% because they are prefabricated. Change your appliances to energy star and you can save about 30% in a single year. Toilets and sinks can now run with less water than ever.

There has also been a trend towards industrialism in the home. People are making former paper factories and steel mills into housing. I’m moving into a concrete, loft-like, constructed hi-rise Thursday. They have so much interest and are perfect for somebody eclectic for mixing the old and new!

What is your approach to working with clients?

The client speaks first. If I do all the talking, then my design will be bad for the client. Let the client be apart of the design process but keep seperation and control over the design. Some clients will not have the vision to see that the navy blue glass tile in the shower is going to be amazing. You just need to assure the client that it meets the concept, looks lighter with the white grout, etc. At that moment, help them to see your vision. Maybe show a sample just a shade lighter in case they do change their mind (which is okay because it is the clients home) If you work like this, the client will be happily suprised because you did things he/she could never have imagined. They want you for a reason, you can’t break to every request. If there are a lot of requests, it may be important to go back to the concept statement and clean it up. The integrity of the design is very important. A client that wants cute pillows and a cozy rug don’t need a designer because often they get frusterated when suggest other changes, even structural. For this purpose, I always suggest they find a decorator.

Besides work, what are other things you are passionate about?

I am passionate about leaving a smaller eco-footprint and living my life without consumerism taking over me! I came from the country and moved to Chicago for school. Being that I was an anthropology major in college, I couldn’t help but analyze how consumer driven we are in the city. I also found that I could use public transportation for everything which is urban carpooling. Where I come from, your Chevy extended bed truck was for going to the store, 20 miles away, by yourself.

I try to keep the most important things as my number one each day. My two rescued dogs, my Medical School student Husband, and my family. Call your family everyweek. Don’t ever give yourself something to regret. And if you don’t think you are going to like somebody, walk up to them with an open mind and start chatting with them. They may open up and be really friendly or they may be like you thought they would be. Either way, try this a few times, you will know if they are a contact you will keep around for future networking.