Alumni Spotlight: Lindsey Britten— A Veteran Interior Designer
Interior Design Alumni Success Story
Summer 2021 graduate of Design Institute of San Diego, Lindsey Britten, did not follow the typical route into the interior design world. Despite her non-traditional start, Lindsey has landed a successful career in luxury residential remodeling. After ten years dedicated to serving in the military, she made the bold decision to completely shift her occupation. What started as a deep personal interest quickly became a new professional purpose.
“When I started, I believed I was going to really struggle with such a switch in my life, not knowing anything about the field, other than it interested me greatly. I learned during my time at DI that having true love and passion for something you are trying to learn makes it so much more natural, rewarding, and meaningful.”
How She Started
Lindsey enrolled in DI’s CIDA-accredited Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design Program, where she found the support, structure, and inspiration she needed to fully immerse herself into pursuing her career change into interior design. She noted that her ability to work with and be taught by professionals who were actively working in the industry helped her see the full range of opportunities available in interior design—many of which she hadn’t known existed before. Despite being older than the typical college student, Lindsey embraced her position:
“Coming into a new industry later in life reminded me that my brain is still a sponge. I have been given opportunities to push myself to learn and take on projects way above my knowledge level, and figure it out.”
How It’s Going
After earning her degree at DI, Lindsey dove straight into the design world. Today, Lindsey works full-time as a Nation Leader at BOWA Design Build, a nationally recognized leader in luxury residential remodeling. She also takes on freelance work in her spare time, enjoying furnishing and decor projects that allow her to express herself outside of her client work.
One project in particular became a pivotal moment in her career—marking her first published work and earning two design awards, one being The PRO (Professional Remodeling Organization) Mid-Atlantic Award of Excellence. This was a milestone for Lindsey in her design journey—it was proof of her hard work and passion-driven success.
A Client-First Design Philosophy
While Lindsey is personally drawn to organic transitional design, her design process is always guided by her clients’ preferences. “I firmly do not believe in pushing my personal aesthetic on my clients. When someone hires us to transform their home, we are transforming their home, not mine. Part of my job is to tune in to figuring out what they like and making that a reality for them.”
She enjoys working across a variety of styles and says that designing for a range of vastly different tastes is what keeps the work fresh and fulfilling. “I personally love an aesthetic with lots of nature-inspired colors, finishes, and elements. But if I did that, and only that… I think I’d get bored! Send me the super traditional client who wants stacked crown moldings in their Georgetown row home to maintain the architectural integrity—and we will work magic.”
Building Confidence at DI
Lindsey credits much of her success to the foundation she built at Design Institute of San Diego. She mentions all of the technical tools and skills that gave her the capabilities to be a designer, along with the industry experience she received while learning under DI faculty and having access to their professional relationships. Apart from this solid foundation, Lindsey noted something that stood out to her from her experience:
“The ability to learn this trade directly from a team of true industry professionals at DI was so inspiring and eye opening to many different unique niches within this field.”
From a decade of military service to award-winning projects, dozens of clients and luxurious remodels, Lindsey’s journey is proof that it is never too late to start. With hard work, passion, and a strong education program, she has built a career on her own terms.
Curious to see Lindsey’s work in luxury residential design? Explore two of her favored projects below:
Thinking about a career change? Explore how the Design Institute of San Diego prepares students– no matter their background—for thriving careers in interior design. Contact admissions today to start pursuing your design dreams today.