Five Questions

Switches were teaching aids for tough teachers of the past, but Linda Petersen wields swatches for her students.

The Naples design professional is the enthusiastic manager of an interior design and decorating program at Southwest Florida College in Fort Myers. Introduced in 2004 and said to be one of a kind in this area, the program graduated six students in 2006—all of whom got jobs in their field upon graduation.

How would you describe the curriculum?
[Students] are exposed to a complete course of study that not only includes trade techniques but general studies, such as history, English, writing and computer science. The interior design curriculum includes a real-world format: Students are presented with a fictional assignment and learn how to negotiate every phase of it, from meeting the client to preparing the plans, creating the design and making a formal presentation.

What kind of degree or certification does the program offer?
The two-year, eight-term course of study can be pursued full- or part-time, and leads to an associate in science degree. (Getting a state license requires another exam.) Starting this fall, a four-year bachelor’s degree in interior design is also being offered. We are pursuing accreditation with the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA); however, in order to receive accreditation we must have two graduating bachelor classes. Our program was written with CIDA guidelines.

Is the academic program integrated with local interior design businesses?
Absolutely. Internships and co-ops are very important to our students. We are offering [opportunities to work with] major furniture stores, major design firms. Maxine Colbert is the president of ASID [American Society of Interior Designers] in Southwest Florida and her firm has hired one of our students. Lighting Solutions in Fort Myers is another firm [that hired a 2006 graduate].

Who are your students and teachers?
Many [students] already work in local design firms and furniture stores. There are also some people who are coming to us from vastly different fields, seeking to make career changes and following their dreams. The design program operates with me and another full-time instructor, but experts are brought in to teach the various segments of the curriculum that match their specialties.

What’s the most challenging aspect of running the program?
The interior design business is constantly evolving, so keeping our students on the cutting edge of new developments is a major goal for me. For example, green building concepts are continuing to gain ground with environmentally conscious consumers, so our students need to be thoroughly knowledgeable about what new products are out there and what options they can offer clients.