LATEST NEWS
Dear DI Community,
I want to thank all of you for your flexibility and patience during this time of uncertainty. As we watch the news daily, we are faced with the reality that COVID cases in California and San Diego remain at high levels. State and local ordinances require a decrease in cases for over 14 days prior to re-opening campus and our staff are currently observing shelter-in-place orders, with the exception of essential campus functions. Furthermore, the health and safety of the DI community is paramount and remains my first priority.
For these reasons, I am sharing that as of today, we will have to postpone first class meetings or in-person experiences scheduled for the first several weeks of classes and possibly beyond. As we have shared previously we will be offering all classes virtually. We will continue to assess the situation and because we have the ability to be nimble and adapt as needed, we will have campus ready and waiting and we hope to offer in-person classroom experiences, and open up student services and campus facilities, on a limited basis as soon as it is safe and we are permitted to do so.
If you have moved home, or live outside of Southern California and wish to stay throughout the semester, we will be accommodating virtual instruction throughout the Fall semester.
We have created a list of FAQ’s that have been shared by many of you through email or surveys. We hope these help answer some of the questions that you might have.
Thank you for your understanding as we continue to modify our plans and adjust based on current conditions, ordinances and safety concerns. I will continue to provide updates as I have them.
Stay well,
Margot Doucette
CEO
Design Institute of San Diego (DI) is proud to announce a consulting agreement with diversity expert, Charlita Shelton, PhD, to join the DI Team in furthering diversity, equity and inclusion holistically and campus-wide.
“While diversity is welcomed and embraced in all aspects of our operations, we believe that Dr. Shelton has the experience and expertise to help us reflect, evaluate and re-commit to initiatives that will elevate diversity, equity and inclusion at Design Institute,” said Margot Doucette, CEO at Design Institute of San Diego.
"It pleases me greatly to consult with Design Institute of San Diego on matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Dr. Shelton. “The arrangement of this work exemplifies the commitment that the leadership of this Institute has undertaken, and the importance of an intercultural diverse experience for its staff, faculty, and students during this process."
While at Design Institute, Dr. Shelton will provide a full evaluation of the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and initiatives, and will develop a strategic plan for improvement.
In addition to her accolades in the areas of diversity, inclusion and equity, Dr. Shelton has an extensive background in higher education and has served as Campus President for Argosy University in Atlanta, Executive Director of the Dallas Nursing Institute, and President of University of the Rockies in Colorado. She has served in other roles including Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Organizational Diversity Officer. Currently, Dr. Shelton is engaged as a Special Consultant to the President at Gonzaga University.
Dr. Shelton gives presentations across the U.S. on topics related to structural inequality, social justice, first-generation African American college completion, women in leadership, and institutional climate. In 2014, she was appointed a visiting scholar at both the University of Bradford in England and Ankara University in Turkey. Dr. Shelton has been featured numerous times in Profiles in Diversity Journal as an award winner, including the Women Worth Watching and Diversity Business awards in 2011, and as a Champion of Diversity in 2010.
Dr. Shelton holds a Master’s degree in educational administration from National University, as well as Master’s and doctorate degrees in human development from Fielding Graduate University. Dr. Shelton also is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
Design Institute of San Diego (DI) has been educating award-winning interior designers for more than 40 years. The WSCUC- and CIDA-accredited Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design degree program focuses on developing outstanding creative and technical skills. DI’s 35-member faculty of top working professionals teach students to think and design critically, globally and sustainably. DI alumni include many of the region’s most prominent interior designers. The Institute’s Classroom Without Walls initiative gives students hands-on professional experience while serving the needs of nonprofit community service groups throughout San Diego. For more information, visit www.disd.edu and follow us on social media Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
DI welcomes all. The college does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geographic region, religion, abilities/disabilities, age, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin, or other categories in the administration of educational services, policies, admissions policies, employment or employment policies, financial aid programs, or other college-administered programs and activities.
Dear DISD Community,
Juneteenth Independence Day commemorates African American freedom and the emancipation from slavery that occurred 155 years ago. Yet, with the recent and horrific deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, we find ourselves asking what “freedom” means and really understanding that the definition is different for everyone.
I am privileged as the CEO of a locally owned and operated institution of Higher Education to be in a position to lead by example, enact change immediately, educate all stakeholders (staff, faculty, students and alumni), and to sincerely communicate to all that we are an ally.
At Design Institute of San Diego, we begin by acknowledging that we have not done enough and that we will do more. This is a commitment that is not taken lightly. It is a commitment that must be ongoing and become a part of who we are. This is not about how and what we post on social media, who we support financially, or even what we say we will be doing.
So here is what we are doing, as I know many of you have been waiting patiently, have reached out asking for updates or have shared suggestions.
- We are interviewing diverse candidates who specialize in consulting with institutions in higher education to promote equity, diversity and inclusion to retain to conduct a full evaluation of Design Institutes diversity and inclusion efforts and provide a strategic plan for improvement. This will be a comprehensive evaluation including, but not limited to a review of the curriculum, recruitment practices, marketing efforts, including the website, workforce development, student support, and community service efforts.
- Design Institute will be offering the DI Diversity Scholarship. This scholarship will assist students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the field of Interior Design to obtain an education at Design Institute of San Diego. More details regarding the scholarship will be announced next week and will be offered for the BFA and MID programs for eligible awards this fall and for all future semesters.
- Instead of a task force we are establishing a Diversity Council - With excellent input and advice from Charlita Shelton, this permanent initiative is seeking members comprised of alumni, students, staff and faculty who consider themselves allies and influencers with a passion to facilitate development and inclusion at DI.
- In the next few weeks we will be announcing the opportunity to engage in a listening session. We want to hear, listen and understand.
We will also continue to provide updates and opportunities as we all create change together. Find more information about Juneteenth here. Education is a gift and an agent for change.
Be Well,
Margot Doucette
June 1, 2020
Dear Members of the DI Community,
We are sad and we will not forget the Black lives and the names of all those taken from us too soon due to racism. My heart goes out to all of you who are suffering and may not feel safe. Like many of you, I reflected this weekend on the acts of violence and racism across the United States and studied the response, or in some cases the lack of response, by protestors, people in positions of power, influencers, business owners and more. I searched within myself about how to craft an appropriate message and what action we could take in the DI and local community.
I want to start by saying that DI condemns racism and anti-Blackness. We acknowledge that racism is not new and that it is a part of the very foundation of this country. With that said, DI remains committed to our Diversity Statement shared below as well as to find ways to work together to connect and address racism and injustice on our campus and in our society.
Design Institute of San Diego is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive design community that supports and enhances the educational experience of its students and the workplace environment of its employees. Diversity is welcomed and embraced in all aspects of the school’s operations including employment, recruitment and admission efforts, and exposure to diverse instructors. The curriculum at DI has been built to include opportunities for students to increase awareness of diversity, to provide learning opportunities and experiences that will encourage students to consider inclusivity and design in the widest possible context, as well as to foster a realistic understanding of their responsibility, role and potential, as professional interior designers, in making thoughtful contributions to improve their community, the nation and, finally, the current and future condition of the world.
DI welcomes all. The college does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geographic region, religion, abilities/disabilities, age, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin, or other categories in the administration of educational services, policies, admissions policies, employment or employment policies, financial aid programs, or other college-administered programs and activities.
We are here to talk to you, learn from you, support you, and collaborate with you, on how we can take action as a collective. If you would like to join a DI task force to promote diversity and plan community activities please email jhouchins@disd.edu.
If you would like to research this issue, learn how to be an ally, or prefer to engage privately please visit a few resources that we felt worthy of sharing:
Learn More and/or Take Action
https://www.naacpldf.org/https:/
www.obama.org/anguish-and-action/
How to be an Ally
https://www.maxwellboise.com/read
https://sojo.net/articles/our-white-friends-desiring-be-allies
https://www.theroot.com/12-ways-to-be-a-white-ally-to-black-people-1790876784
Healing
With Sadness and Hope,
Margot Doucette, CEO
STUDENT UPDATES
March 24, 2020
Dear Students,
The last few weeks have certainly been challenging for many of us and throughout the world. We empathize and we are here to support you the best we can while we all navigate the next several weeks together as we all stay home and do what we can to flatten the curve of COVID-19. What we do know is that no-one is immune to this and that even those that feel healthy could be transmitting this to others. Please only leave your house if necessary! Only see friends and family members outside your home if required. The sooner we can all do our part, the sooner we can be back to campus and resume our lives. For those of you who have family, friends or others who are battling this virus, we send positive thoughts for healing and recovery.
We continue to remain informed by your faculty and with many of you. Many of you are settling into a routine and finding your way virtually. We know it has not been a flawless transition and we thank you for your patience and understanding. We have also enjoyed hearing, and seeing, some of the positive aspects of remote learning, so keep sharing. We are working on some ideas to help us all stay more connected via social platforms and Zoom, so stay tuned for more information
Updates will come out by Friday of each week going forward. As always, please feel free to reach out to me or another member of the administration directly if you have a pressing need, or simply would like someone to help problem solve. We remain dedicated to helping all of you achieve your goals this semester. The following information will hopefully answer some of the most pressing questions and concerns:
Status of Spring Semester
The Spring semester will continue virtually until further notice. Your faculty are, or have, reviewed their syllabi and are making plans to conduct classes virtually through the end of the semester. While we hope we can return to campus sooner, we feel it is best to be prepared and to set realistic expectations. We want to reiterate that if we find it necessary to offer follow-up workshops, presentations, or other ways to support student learning outcomes, we will address those as they arise and share information as we have it. Please trust that all students will be provided with the tools to be successful and we are fortunate to be able to work one-on-one with all of you to ensure that.
Spring Break
Since we are all safer at home, we decided it was best to leave the decision about Spring Break up to all of you and your Faculty. Assuming all students and your faculty member are in agreement, it will be up to each class individually to determine if make-up or regular classes are held. Members of the Administration will remain available to continue providing student services and technology assistance during Spring Break. We will share a modified schedule with instructions of who to contact for what by the end of this week.
Status of Summer Semester & Registration
We hope to be back on campus by May and to conduct summer courses in person. We are developing a plan for summer classes if that is not possible. We will update this more in the next week or so. We are also looking at conducting registration by telephone and possibly on-line.
Financial Aid
Jackie Gloria, Director of Financial Aid, has been in touch with many of you. We are currently waiting for final emergency regulations due to COVID-19 and these will be shared shortly.
Commencement
Due to the stay at home order and the concern that large gatherings will not resume as quickly as we would have hoped we determined that it would be best to postpone Commencement until Sunday August 23, 2020. At 6:00 PM. Graduates will arrive at 5:00 PM. Commencement will still be held at the Natural History Museum. We will share more details with those students who were scheduled to participate in Commencement shortly. The new date is the Sunday following the last day of the Summer semester and appears to align well with our year-round schedule.
Technology Tips
VPN – Connection issues - We understand that the VPN client for Mac is not working for all Mac users. If you need access to the files or software that you don't yet have, please let us know so that we can provide access through OneDrive.
Resources
Library Social Hour - Do you miss stopping by the Library before or after class? Please join Rebecca for Virtual Library Social Hour on Zoom every Monday-Friday from 12-1 and Monday-Thursday from 5-6. Say hi, see who else is around, chat, or work on homework in a social environment. See you there! Meeting ID: 229 738 3647 – See graphic attached
Electronic Resources - Look for an email from the Library about new online resources by the end of the week
Student Support through the IBH Assistance Program – This is a free resource offering assistance for you and your family members. If you are experiencing increased anxiety or stress, please take advantage of the free confidential counseling offered to all students through the EAP by calling 800-395-1616 or logging in to ibhsolutions.com with the username DesignISD and the password Institute
Virtual Classroom Support for Students
The health and well being of all of you is are primary concern. If you become ill or need support of any kind, please feel free to reach out.
Be well,
Margot Doucette, CEO
Keep Calm as we Begin Week One of DISD in the Cloud - We are Here to Support Each of You!
March 15, 2020
Dear Students,
We understand this is an unknown and stressful time. Please try to keep calm and trust that DISD faculty and staff are here to support you. No student will be left behind during this transition or for as long as we maintain a virtual classroom. We will work with any student individually who needs extra support, an extension in completing work, or any other circumstances during this time period. Your faculty will also be supportive and understanding.
Computers and methods for connecting to the internet are being put together for those who have requested them through the survey or directly by contacting support@disd.edu We will reach out to you individually to schedule a time to pick those up over the next few days.
Drafting tables are also being prepared and we will contact those students who have asked to check out drafting tables to set up an appointment to pick them up over the next few days.
Your incredibly dedicated and caring faculty are preparing classes as we speak. All of your faculty will reach out to each of you and you will find out the details about how your classes will be held and what modifications have been made to the modes of instruction, project requirements, presentations, exams, etc. to ensure that all learning outcomes are met.
A few questions have come up and we are preparing a list of FAQ’s and answers that we will send shortly. We can tell you that for the immediate future you will not need a printer or a plotter as we are virtual. Additionally, materials for all classes will also be either virtual or we will ensure that mail order samples or materials will be accessible. More to come shortly.
Campus is closed to all students at this time unless they have a specific appointment, so please do not show up to campus without an appointment.
Administrative staff are continuing to work from campus for the time being and we are also preparing to work remotely and we will share more as we have it. There will be no interruption in support from us. Each student will receive a personal phone call from a member of the administration this week and we will continue to share how we can be reached by phone and video appointment.
Additionally we have some online resources that we will continue to update over the days and weeks to come:
https://www.disd.edu/news/article-latest-news-on-the-coronavirus.php
https://www.disd.edu/library/virtual-classroom-support-for-faculty-and-students.php
DISD is known for putting students first and for our ability to provide individual support. This will not change and we will work through any challenge that any of you encounter. We ask that you trust us, communicate with us, and embark on this journey with us as we design a temporary virtual campus and complete the semester. We are all in this together and we will emerge stronger than ever.
Stay healthy, practice social distancing, and use the lack of commute time to seek inspiration.
Be well,
Margot Doucette, CEO
General Information, technology survey, and resources for transitioning to a virtual classroom.
March 13, 2020
Dear DISD Students,
The health and safety of the entire DISD community is our primary focus. As you know already, beginning on Monday, March 16, 2020, our campus will be transitioning to a virtual classroom/distance education model, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This is a temporary emergency measure intended to help us successfully navigate through the next few weeks and, if necessary, the remainder of the spring semester. Each faculty member is working on a plan that will allow you to continue your studies without coming to campus.
During emergencies such as this, open and consistent communication is critical and it is imperative that you read your email and respond to messages from DISD and your faculty. Please know that administrative staff and faculty are here to support you, and please keep us informed about any need, accommodation, or other issue that arises so that we can problem-solve with you. Stay connected and communicate with your faculty – ask them if you have any questions or confusion about what their expectations are.
Technology Needs
- You will need reliable internet service. If you don’t have it, let us know and we’ll help figure something out.
- DISD will provide needed resources to students based on this survey, and we will loan out necessary equipment if needed.
- Email support@disd.edu or call us at 858-566-1200 if you have questions or need any assistance.
Accommodations
- Students who currently have accommodations – we understand that you may need different or additional accommodations in a virtual environment. Tena Moiola, Director of Student Services, will reach out to you individually next week, but please feel free to reach out to us and to your faculty right away.
- Students who do not currently have an accommodation but may need accommodations for a virtual environment – please contact Tena at tmoiola@disd.edu now, and communicate your needs directly to your instructor as well.
- As always, and very important during a virtual environment, communicate with Tena and your instructor should you need any support at any time.
Library Reference & Research Assistance
- Lisa & Rebecca are currently on campus and in the library and can scan anything you need from the books and magazines.
- Lisa & Rebecca are also available by email (library@disd.edu) and by telephone to help answer questions and find good online information.
Tutoring
- We will work with our tutors to determine the best way to get assistance, and we will send further information about that next week.
Academic Support
- Natalia Worden, Program Director, is also available for academic support during this time.
COVID-19 DISD Webpage
Please also visit the DISD Coronavirus (COVID-19) web page where we will share updates, information and resources.
The DISD library page also has Virtual Classroom Support for DISD Students.
Spring break is scheduled from March 30 - April 3, 2020 and we hope that face-to-face classes can resume after the break. We will let you know when your courses will resume as soon as possible.
Stay healthy and stay safe.
Margot Doucette, CEO
Information for the DISD community related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
March 11, 2020
Due to the elevation of the Coronavirus to a Pandemic classification, as well as the intimate nature of our classrooms and campus, DISD has determined that in the best interest of everyone’s health and safety that we will transition to virtual instruction beginning Monday 3-16-20 until further notice. In order to best support faculty during this transition, classes beginning today Wednesday 3-11-20 at 5:00 pm (through Friday 3-13-20) will be cancelled.
A teaching continuity plan and resources will be shared shortly. Please check your emails, website and social media regularly as we will be sharing information through these platforms. A webpage dedicated to this topic is currently under development.
The Staff will remain on campus through this week and perhaps longer as necessary to ensure a smooth transition and support of students and faculty.
Technology resource surveys will be emailed to students and faculty to ensure access to the virtual learning environment. As always DISD is committed to student success and outcomes and we will work together during these extraordinary times to meet academic and other programmatic requirements.
We ask everyone to remain calm and understanding as we navigate through this transition together. We know you will all have a lot of questions and we will be sharing information soon.
Stay well,
Margot Doucette, CEO
Support Documents
Archived Communications
Other Helpful Links and Resources
- Centers for Disease Control
- Centers for Disease Control – Stigma and Resilience
- Centers for Disease Control – Information for Travel
- World Health Organization
- San Diego.gov – Coronavirus Disease
Congratulations to Design Institute of San Diego student Mary Kristofich for winning a $5,000 scholarship in the IIDA Southern California 2020 Best of Design – Student Competition. One of eleven finalists selected to present her project to the panel of judges, Mary won the Social Relevance in Interior Design category for best addressing social or cultural issues through creative design. Her design for a safe injection facility for drug users to prevent overdose and protect the surrounding community was inspired by growing up in an area where heroin use is prevalent. The award will be formally presented at the 32nd Annual IIDA Calibre Design Awards on Friday, May 15th, 2020.
Our Assistant Librarian Rebecca Wollner asked fourth-year student Mary a few questions about the competition.
Can you tell us a little about your project?
During Interior Design V, we focused on institutional design and were given a site at North Park's Community Park. Being that drug addiction is an epidemic in this country, I wanted to design a safe injection facility. A hot, and controversial topic, safe injection facilities prevent overdoses, create a positive environmental impact, and protect surrounding communities. Nurses supervise heroin users during injection, intervening at any point of an overdose, or giving tips how to properly inject to reduce harm to the body. Staff are there to listen to users, while providing resources for help. During the time of this project, this concept was being tested in various cities, such as San Francisco, Baltimore, and New York City. Just last week, Philadelphia has now opened the first official safe injection facility in the US.
I can’t resist a library question. I know you did your research; were there any library resources that were particularly helpful?
Yes! Unfortunately being such a new topic, there weren't any books on the subject (yet). This led me to read scholarly articles from researchers analyzing needle exchange program statistics, and outcomes of safe injection facilities in other countries.
I came across an article on a facility called Insite, located in Vancouver, and reached out to the architect Sean McEwan, who allowed me conduct an interview. Besides case studies, I learned in an article on the handy DISD Library database OmniFile that California had approved needle exchange programs 20 years ago. Inspired, I volunteered for San Diego's Safe Point Clean Needle Exchange Program (CSEP) located in Downtown/North Park.
Did volunteering for the CSEP contribute to you design decisions?
It did contribute to some design decisions. A woman came by to get amenities such as alcohol pads to wipe her feet. When she took her shoe off, the entire sole of her foot was peeling. We talked about how she was gifted this necklace she was wearing from Mexico. It inspired an adaptable space in the facility that can hold donation days, such as having a clothing drive. Other volunteers mentioned some of the users are on medications for illnesses such as Hep-C, and their medications are typically stolen. In turn, lockers were implemented at the entrance of the facility.
Did presenting to the judges feel different from presenting to guest judges in class?
Yes. When you are presenting to judges in class, you are not only presenting to them, but your instructor and fellow classmates. In the classroom, you tend to compare yourself to the other projects presented.
Due to the nature of this event, you were not allowed to bring guests, and only come in during your time frame to leave space for the other contestants. What I liked about this format is it's only yourself and judges. You can't get into your head during the presentation, because there is nothing else to distract you.
Has this experience motivated you to consider entering more competitions?
Yes!
What other take a ways do you have from this experience and is there anything you might share with current or prospective students?
Find a topic that brings you interest, research through multiple outlets, and form your concept based on your evidence.
Photos provided by IIDA Socal, taken by Chris Hatcher Photography
Alumni who attended the meeting gathered for a photo
A great group of Design Institute of San Diego graduates gathered at Cutwater Spirits on October 3rd for the 2019 Alumni Network Mixer. Graduates from the class of 1998 through 2019 came together for an evening of networking and mingling. They enjoyed tasty bites and equally tasty beverages and also took advantage of a tour of the distillery.
The Design Institute of San Diego and Humble Design teams before the day begins. Photo credit: Humble Design San Diego
Every year, Design Institute of San Diego students have several opportunities to give back to the community through volunteering. On July 26th, the school partnered with Humble Design of San Diego for a Day of Service, giving our students the wonderful chance to help a local family in need and show off some of their interior design skills at the same time.
Will you be a winner this year?
Just like summer, Design Institute of San Diego's annual Instagram summer contest #DISDStepsOut is back! Summertime is the perfect season for travel and sightseeing. As designers or just lovers of great design, we want to see the wonderful architectural landmarks, fabulous interiors and inspiring artwork you encounter during your summer adventures. Share your photos on Instagram with us and you might just be one of two lucky winners of a $50 Amazon gift card! Here's how to participate in our summer contest:
Our 2018-2019 Student Ambassadors, from L to R: Kelly McWhorter, Clara Zepeda, Ana Morales, Angie Maldonado, Renee Candelario. Not pictured: Kathleen Quiroz and Francesca DiVentra
Student Ambassadors are current Design Institute of San Diego interior design students who are self-motivated leaders, eager to represent DISD to the general public and represent the voice of the DISD student body. They are an elite group of individuals who are enthusiastic about DISD and are willing to engage in and promote our on and off campus activities. We’re excited to announce that we have a fresh, new group of Student Ambassadors on board who are ready to share their passion for DISD and interior design with the world. Meet the new talented squad below: