Illinois State graduate student Phoebe Nguyen wants to challenge the misconception that interior design is simply about picking paint swatches and fluffing pillows.
“Design serves a purpose beyond looking pretty,” said Nguyen, who is pursuing a master’s in interior design. “It’s about the influence of space on human behavior and emotions. Design can be used to show empathy, improve cultural awareness, and celebrate differences.”
Nguyen’s commitment to creating spaces that are beautiful and inclusive earned her the 2025 Student Visionary Award from PAVE Global. The nonprofit foundation supports students in fields like interior design, architecture, and visual merchandising through scholarships, financial aid, and mentorship.
During a course with Assistant Professor of Interior Design Reem Bagais, Nguyen and her classmates were instructed to develop a boutique hotel based in the desert oasis of AlUla, Saudi Arabia. The project led students to research the many cultures and traditions of the Middle East and consider how Islamic religious practices could be honored in a hotel atmosphere.
Nguyen described her hotel concept, which she named House of Talia, as “a home of cultural expression, equity, and a bridge that strengthens human connection through the celebration of all life forms, identities, and cultural differences.”
Visually, House of Talia blends stucco surfaces with colorful textiles, arched openings, handcrafted pottery, mosaic tilework, and lighting softened by woven palm fronds.
Beyond designing an elegant hotel, Nguyen chose to make women-centered hospitality a key focus of the project, while incorporating details informed by her fiance’s Islamic faith.
“I was thinking about how a Muslim woman could still enjoy a luxurious, resort experience while respecting her comfort level,” said Nguyen. “I wanted to create a universal space that could be enjoyed by everyone but also have customizable solutions to address the specific needs for women of faith.”
In addition to a public pool open to all genders, Nguyen’s hotel concept features a women-only pool as an optional amenity for guests who prefer enhanced privacy, including some Muslim women.
Nguyen also envisioned a hotel restaurant designed to provide an equally pleasant experience for all guests. She incorporated the traditional Saudi practice of floor-seating, including an elevated option with a grab bar to be accessible for wheelchair users. Considering that some Muslim women choose to observe face coverings or heightened privacy while eating, Nguyen designed umbrella-shaped partitions that can open over tables to drape the diners with a privacy curtain.
“This gives a woman of faith the privacy she desires without the need to dine in a separate room, so she can still be engaged in the overall atmosphere of the restaurant,” said Nguyen.
With encouragement from Dr. Bagais, Nguyen submitted her hotel concept to PAVE Global, which was judged by a panel of industry professionals. A few weeks later, Nguyen was informed she was one of three students in the country to receive the Student Visionary Award, along with a cash prize and invitation to the PAVE Gala on December 11 in New York City.
Set beneath the iconic arched tile ceilings of Guastavino’s, a historic New York City landmark, Nguyen initially felt anxious as the only student award recipient from the Midwest at the gala.
“I was nervous about connecting with others, but it was overwhelmingly heartwarming,” she said. “I had very heart-to-heart conversations about my experience as a student and received advice about my future career.”
Nguyen left the event feeling proud of her accomplishments and confident in her decision to continue her education through Illinois State University’s graduate program.
“Design can be used to show empathy, improve cultural awareness, and celebrate differences.”
Phoebe Nguyen
Nguyen earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial design from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2015, enrolling just two years after her family immigrated to the United States from Vietnam. She struggled to find design work after graduating and said she started to feel her creative desire slipping away.
“I sat down to rethink what I could do differently with my career. Being young and new in this country made me afraid to start over,” she said.
Nguyen considered her favorite projects from undergrad, hoping to pinpoint a theme that might reignite her passion. Reviewing her past work on the redesign of a train station to support wheelchair users and an urban project that aimed to change negative perceptions of the homeless population, Nguyen noticed a theme of empathy.
She began to research the qualifications for a career in interior design, including the need for a degree from a credited institution. Illinois State University rose to the top of her list because of the location and affordability through a graduate assistantship.
As a Redbird, she has served as a graduate teaching assistant in the classroom and is currently working with Associate Professor in Interior Design Gabriela Fonseca Pereira as a research assistant, contributing to a project that explores virtual reality environments for rehabilitation and aging-in-place.
Dr. Fonseca Pereira described Nguyen as “a true designer who consistently exceeds expectations.”
“Joining my class during one of the most demanding semesters, she distinguished herself through remarkable initiative, unwavering focus, and an ability to maximize every feedback and interaction we had,” said Fonseca Pereira. “Phoebe’s achievement reflects the power of dedication and innovation in interior design.”
After completing her graduate degree in 2026, Nguyen plans to work in health care design, an area of the industry where she can use empathetic creativity to design inclusive and accessible spaces. “Everyone in the program (at Illinois State) has changed my life in one way or another,” she said. “Every teacher has been very encouraging, providing me with opportunities that really just made everything fall into place for me to have this second chance.”
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