Kean Interior Design Graduates Receive Top Awards

Two Kean interior design graduates from the Class of 2021 were recently honored by the New Jersey American Society of Interior Design for design excellence in their work.

The New Jersey ASID competition, which celebrated its 25th anniversary, highlighted how quality design can impact lives. The two recent alumni received top awards, while a current student was named a runner-up. 

Elizabeth Petitdemange ’21, an interior design graduate from Salem, won in the Public Space category for her design, The Umpteen Community Center. Her design serves the needs of students in the neighborhood of Harlan, in Wilmington, Delaware, by offering flexible spaces that provide activities for students and promote social situations and creative opportunities.

Fellow interior design graduate Alexandra Horn ’21 of Washington Township won in the Commercial Space category for her design Hyde & Seek Cat Cafe, which creates an alternative to animal shelters. Her project, which was inspired by visiting the Rahway Kitty Hall, took the idea of a cat cafe and expanded it to a larger scale, with the goal of increasing adoption rates.

Interior design major Nicole Sacco, a junior who recently transferred to Kean, was named a runner-up. 

Michael Graves College Professor MJ Divino said the awards reflect the elevated standards of the interior design program at Kean and are a testament to the winning students’ abilities.

“The interior design program equipped both Alex and Elly with the tools to succeed at this high level,” Divino said. “We take pride in the fact that we present a real-world approach to design education, in that what they do in class is equivalent to what they would be doing in the profession. These awards will allow Alex and Elly to stand head and shoulders above other graduates competing for the same jobs within the field of interior design.” 

Both Petitdemange and Horn said the interior design program has readied them for success while preparing them for their futures.

“Michael Graves College inspires a passion for and dedication to design that is instilled in us, and most importantly, this is never at the expense of students’ well-being,” Petitdemange said. “Kean University has provided me with a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment over the past four years that has supported me in my ambitions and challenges and allowed me to be successful in beginning my career in design.”

Petitdemange is beginning her career at DCC Design group in Wilmington, Delaware. Both she and Horn, who was recently hired by the  residential/commercial interior design firm SG23 Design in Riverton, said they aspire to become licensed interior designers in the future. 

Horn said she was in disbelief when she learned she had won the award. “Without Kean, I never would have had the confidence to enter this competition,” she said. “The interior design and art history faculty have extensive passion for their subjects and they are inspirations to their students.”

She said the award solidifies the need for design to advance lives and create established spaces.

“Interior design is an art and science getting to the root of how people are using the space and anticipating the needs of a community. Without design, we would be existing in blank boxes without regard for individuality,” Horn said.

Petitdemange and Horn’s design portfolios can be viewed at: 

Elizabeth Petitdemange: https://petitdee.myportfolio.com/ 

Alexandra Horn: alexhorn.myportfolio.com