INDESIGN f e a t u r e. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Interviewby George Getlik, Industry Partner, <strong>ASID</strong><strong>ASID</strong> National President, Rita Carson Guest, F<strong>ASID</strong>Rita, Spencerand WinstonGG: When did design first play a role in your life?RCG: As a child, I loved to play with paper dolls but the bestpart was designing their home. I used the folders as wallsand was ready to put the dolls away once the home wascomplete. I always loved looking at floor plans in the paperand imagining how my family would live in different layouts.I always loved drawing and painting and beautiful colors.GG: Were you ever faced with a situation that made youthink twice about your career choice?RCG: My first Interior Design class was drafting. SuddenlyI had to measure everything I drew. I was afraid this wouldruin my ability to draw freehand. I almost dropped out worriedabout losing my artist hand, but I learned I could still doboth. Artists see the world differently than most people. Ilearned to use that ability to see colors, shadows, and linesto inspire a design solution.GG: How did your career begin as an interior designer?RCG: I talked to the head of my department, Tim Bookout,and ask for the name of a good interior design firm thatmight need a part time student. He told me Alan L. FerryDesigners were looking for designers. I took my school projectsto the interview and they offered me a full time job. Itold them I was still in school so preferred towork part time, but they said full time ornothing. I negotiated with Tim to finish myclasses at night and started working Januaryof 1993. I started there as a designerdraftsman and worked hard and was fortunateto become an associate of the firm andeventually the first woman vice president inthe drawings department. I was there for11 years before I started Carson Guest, Inc.GG: Is this the classic story of the entrepreneurstarting out of their garage?RCG: I did not want to work at home. I rentedan office for a year from my good friend, CarolynHoward, <strong>ASID</strong>, who was a tremendoushelp to me. I quickly realized that I did not likedoing everything from answering the phone to the bookkeepingso within 6 months I had hired first employee. There wasn’tenough space for two people in my small office so I builtout a new space on Pharr road where I had room for 6 people,but within a year, we outgrew that space and had tomove again. I have found that if you are passionate aboutwhat you do and you do a good job, your opportunities snowball.One of our biggest struggles is limiting growth and decidingwhat work we can take and do well.GG: How do you first approach a project?RCG: The projects we do start from the ground up. We designthe entire environment, starting with programming,define client’s needs yet also determine what impressionshould form when somebody walks into their space. We designthe complete interior, prepare interior construction documents,perform construction administration, specify orpurchase the furniture, the artwork, and coordinate the installation.We tell our clients that spaces are three-dimensionalmarketing statements so they must align with thebusiness mission and goals, both aesthetically as well asfunctionally.GG: Where do you go for inspiration?RCG: For me an inspiration can be almost anything. Beginningas an artist, I’ve always been very observant. Observationbecomes even more profound as a designer, not onlylooking for beauty, but also how people function in differentspaces. Everything I see and do inspires or informs my work.GG: I can’t open a design publication without seeing somethingabout “Green Design”. Have you come across anybacklash to this obsession with everything “Green”?RCG: As national president, I was on a media tour in NewYork City recently and we met with reporters with the NewYork Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek. One ofthe <strong>ASID</strong> national platform issues is ‘Green Design’. Wehave a new initiative that we rolled out at Interiors ‘08 inNew Orleans called REGREEN, which is a collaboration withthe USGBC. These are best practice for sustainable residentialremodeling projects. Millions are spent on remodeling,but none of the reporters wanted to pursue that topic. Theysaid their editors are tired of green design, every single oneof them! At the same time, we are getting huge interest inthe new Guidelines. Our members can download them freefrom the <strong>ASID</strong> or USGBC websites.GG: You are also known for building strong art collectionsfor your clients. Tell us a little about that.RCG: I like serving as an art consultant to clients and helpingthem build their collections. It is great fun for me because Ilove art. I have a good eye for selecting good art by emergingartists and have made selections over the years that werenot expensive but have increased in value over time.GG: Where else has your passion for art and design ledyou?RCG: I am also on the board of the Museum of Design Atlanta.I am passionate about the museum because our missionis about the study and celebration of all things design.We show the public the importance of the practical applicationof design. A past show called “Design ≠ Art” about thedifference between art and design showed the art in practicalobjects. While there is overlap, Design has a practicalapplication, unlike pure art hanging in a gallery. At the museum,we deal with industrial design, architecture, interiordesign, fashion design, jewelry design, automotive design,graphic design, and all types of designGG: What advice would you give to our <strong>ASID</strong> student members?RCG: When I speak to students I tell them about the broadopportunities in interior design. They can go into the specialtiesof design, focus on working with computers or drawing;they can be project managers, work with products, and workas a facilities manager. I always strongly recommend thatstudents get an internship when they are in school.s p r i n g s u m m e r 2 0 0 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
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