American Society of Interior Designers Recognizes Berkeley College Students as Semifinalists in Portfolio Competition
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Senior Director, Communications and External Relations
973-200-1099
KME@BerkeleyCollege.edu
Photo Caption: Jeffery McCullough, Professor, Interior Design, Berkeley College School of Professional Studies and faculty advisor to the Berkeley College student chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), works with students Kerri Neumann of Maywood, NJ, and Aya Beais of Jersey City, NJ. ASID recently recognized Neumann and Beais as semifinalists in its Student Portfolio Competition.
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The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) recently recognized two Berkeley College students as semifinalists in its Student Portfolio Competition. The national competition evaluates submissions on conceptual thought, content and record of achievement.
Students Kerri Neumann of Maywood, NJ, and Aya Beais of Jersey City, NJ, are pursuing Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees in Interior Design at Berkeley College and will receive diplomas at the Berkeley College Commencement ceremony on May 13, 2022, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
“The ASID national Student Portfolio Competition is the gold standard for portfolios of interior design majors,” said Jeffery McCullough, Professor, Interior Design, Berkeley College School of Professional Studies, who serves as faculty advisor to the Berkeley College student chapter of ASID. “One of the greatest aspects of the Berkeley College Interior Design program is the ‘real world’ aspects that we implement into the curriculum. Kerri Neumann and Aya Beais rose to the occasion and brought a creative and technical approach to their portfolios. To have that recognized by ASID is a real exclamation point on the academic journey of two of our top BFA students.”
The work of Interior Design and Graphic Design students is currently on display at The Gallery at Woodland Park, a 1,800-square-foot exhibit and presentation space on the campus in Woodland Park, NJ.
About Kerri Neumann
Kerri Neumann, 20, said she discovered her love of design at a young age.
“I approach my designs now as I did then, with excitement and creative energy,” she said. “Design has no limits, and it is an industry that is open to creative solutions.”
Her portfolio for the ASID competition included concepts for a public library (pictured above), a senior citizen day center, a residential penthouse and commercial office space. She said her designs are guided by a balance of sustainability and function.
“My long-term goal is to educate my clients on the importance of sustainability and guide their design decisions to be less impactful on the environment, but still meet their needs and provide a purposeful space,” said Neumann, who served an internship at Jennifer McGee Design, Inc. in Bergen County, NJ.
Neumann currently works as a Design Assistant for DRP Interiors in Franklin Lakes, NJ, and also serves as the only student representative for the ASID NJ Board.
About Aya Beais
Aya Beais, 22, uses happiness as the basis for all of her work.
“I always want to incorporate (the concept of happiness) and express that in my own way through design,” Beais said. “I love to see people happy and comfortable, especially in their own space.”
Beais also draws aspects of her designs from nature – waves, spiderwebs and the like – drawing on the dynamic of growth and change.
She said her work in the field and education at Berkeley College has taught her to embrace the client’s perspective and to examine the design space in reality, not only in renderings.
Her portfolio for the ASID competition included concepts for a senior facility that would bring together multiple generations for social activities such as dining, exercise and workshops or classes.
“The ever-evolving concept of connection makes the design universal,” Beais said. “It is an umbrella to get different groups to live and work together.”
At Berkeley College, Beais is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. She is employed as a Junior Interior Designer with The Designers Group in Brooklyn, NY.
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers continuing education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in Midtown Manhattan, NY, and in Newark, Woodbridge and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for nine consecutive years. U.S. News & World Report named Berkeley College (NJ) one of the Best Regional Colleges in the North in its 2022 edition of the Best Colleges Survey. In 2021 Berkeley College (NJ) was also recognized for the first time as a Top Performer on Social Mobility among colleges in the region. The website address is http://www.BerkeleyCollege.edu.
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