Meet Gracyn Holcombe, a junior in La Roche’s Interior Design program. Ms. Holcombe is a design intern at Desmone Architects in Pittsburgh.
Tell us about your internship and how your classes at La Roche prepared you for it.
I am a residential intern at Desmone working on different housing projects. My classes have provided me with what I need to know to be successful at my job, including Revit, CAD and general designing knowledge.
What kind of projects do you work on as an intern? What has been the most rewarding?
I work on housing projects for a developer. The most rewarding experience has been working on two houses in which I personally helped select paint swatches and wallpapers.
Are you involved with any clubs/activities at La Roche?
I am the director of commuter affairs for the Student Government Association and recently reworked the commuter website so that students have access to information about their life on campus.
I also am the junior representative for La Roche’s chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. I also was an orientation leader for two years and will continue this summer. I like helping students enjoy their college years and giving them information.
Why did you choose La Roche?
I was always interested in the Interior Design program, and La Roche has the best program that was closest to me.
What inspired you to pursue an interior design major?
I always enjoyed making floor plans and visualizing how I can change spaces around me to make them more functional.
What do you enjoy most about studying interior design at La Roche?
I enjoy my peers and my professors. Your peers become some of your best friends as you’re always with them, and they’re also nice sources when you need help in class.
My professors have had the most influence on me—they helped shape me into the designer I am today and have helped me achieve many things.
What advice do you have for students?
Be involved on campus. You meet great people, and it is super rewarding. Making new connections and networking are great ways to stay up to date with what’s going on in the world.