Alumni Spotlight: Priya Chopra
Priya Chopra, a seasoned professional and business owner, dove head-first into the world of design and used DI to do it. Just four days after coming to the United States in 2012, Priya decided that DI would be her next adventure and the perfect way to start her future.
“DI offers excellent, accoladed faculty who are actively engaged in the design and construction industry to bring first-hand experience and knowledge to their students. Moreover, DI’s Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) authorization put me in a better position than other prospective hires.”
Upon her graduation from DI, Priya accepted a job offer from an interior design firm in Phoenix, Arizona, that introduced her to commercial design— specifically in the hospitality sector. She continued to broaden her experience in this space by working with multiple firms on design projects, ranging from several Hilton properties to designing elements of Arizona’s top-rated resorts, and even redesigning the Arizona Cardinals Football Stadium in 2017. Priya has extensive experience in working with firms; her current corporate position being with Felten Group.
Apart from her past and current roles in commercial design in the professional sphere, Priya has established her own business, Priya Chopra Interior Design, through which she is able to pursue more non-commercial and residential endeavors. She has shared with us two of her most recent and notable projects fronted under her personal business; the first being for the Optima Kierland luxury apartments in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“The design aim of this project was to upgrade the space into an intentional space with luxury aesthetics in mind. Design elements such as colors, textures and scale were thoughtfully introduced all along.”
Working in both commercial and non-commercial spaces is commendable; each require distinct goals, tasks, and outputs. Working with Felten Group currently, in addition to operating her personal business, Priya encounters many of the diverse avenues available in the world of interior design– all at once. Regardless of the task, Priya maintains the importance of a customized, shared vision aligned with the wants of any client— commercial or otherwise— to ensure the perfect result.
This is well represented throughout her work (pictured below).
“The design aim was to transform the master bathroom from an outdated style into a highly functional and modern interior space. The objective was to maximize the shower area, make vanity usage more efficient and ensure their bathtub time is a spa-like experience. The remodel emphasizes clean lines and mixtures of soothing and high contrast colors to evoke a sense of tranquility and relaxation”.
Priya continued; “The layout is reimagined to optimize space utilization. The overall design is the epitome of modern design and functionality. The design evolved from dull and largely underused space to this bright space that offers a sophisticated experience. It is a bold yet timeless aesthetic design.” And when asked to give one piece of advice to an aspiring designer, her response was: “Design is a creative expression, so never hesitate to think outside the box”.
She emphasizes that this mindset, along with the foundation built during her time at DI, is what drives her career today. Through support from her instructors and access to valuable resources, Priya has been able to establish a strong base which contributes to her continued success in her design career.