Interior Design Portfolio

m. pruett smith
design portfolio

email msmit282@vols.utk.edu
phone (865) 323-5384
website pruett-smith.squarespace.com

my full name is Mary Pruett Smith, but I’m known to most as
pruett
a lover of architecture and design,
I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. I
will be continuing my education at the University in fall 2017 as a student in the Master’s of Architecture Advanced
Placement program.
as a passionate, dedicated, and creative designer,
I hope to shape and improve people’s lives with my design work wherever I go.
by engaging in this field,
I recognize the closeness of this profession to the lives of those who work and live within our creations.
in order to understand how things work and represent my ideas,
I have been trained to use machinery including laser cutters, CNC routers, basic analog wood shop equipment, and
3D printers. I also have experience in visualization programs such as Rhinoceros 5, V-Ray, Adobe Creative Suite
(InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Auto-CAD 2015, and Revit 2017.
my work has given me the ability to design on a human scale
within a field which reveals the depth of humanity
and works through the study of the
intimate experiences of our daily lives

EDUCATION
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
College of Architecture and Design
Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
Graduation May 2017
GPA 3.88
Summa Cum Laude
University of Arkansas, Rome
Study Abroad
May 2016
Rome, Italy
SKILLS
rhinoceros 5
adobe illustrator
adobe photoshop
revit 2017
autoCAD 2015
WORK EXPERIENCE
College of Architecture and Design, University of Tennessee
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
January 2016-present
teaching architecture and interior design first year students about drawing and
representation as visual thinking and a method of communication
first year design thinking facilitator
teaching architecture and interior design third and fourth year students how to
harness the capabilities of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Revit and
other analytic computer programs
College of Architecture and Design, University of Tennessee
Undergraduate Research Assistant
May 2015-May 2016
interviewing and transcribing oral history interviews on downtown Knoxville
and the effects of memories on the built environment
Holston Hills Country Club
Food Service Employee
May 2014-August 2016
beverage cart sales, food sales, customer service, food service prep,
waitressing, money handling, bartending
Lifetouch Incorporated
Customer Service Representative
April 2012-August 2013
sales, on-site customer service, money handling, paperwork
worked seasonally for both prom and senior photography sessions
Affordable Fabrics and Interiors
Intern
January 2013-May 2013
sales, customer service, money handling, paperwork, design consultations,
stocking and merchandising, merchandise receiving, phone reception

HONORS & AWARDS
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
EXHIBIT
College of Architecture and Design
January 2016
Dean’s Permanent Image Exhibition
College of Architecture and Design, Administration Offices
January 2016
“Modular + Alterations” Exhibition
Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, TN
December 2016-January 2017
Interior Design Program Exhibition
Downtown Gallery, Knoxville, TN
ORGANIZATIONS
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
College of Architecture and Design
Dean’s Student Advisory Council
President
Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society
Beta Alpha Chapter, Vice President
College Ambassador “A-Team”
Representative
Interior Design Director’s Group
Representative
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
SCHOLARSHIP
College of Architecture and Design
Sandy Martin Scholarship, 2015-16
Steinfield Manfred and Fern Scholarship, 2015-17
Don Tinsley Scholarship, 2013-14
Richard P. Erikson Scholarship, 2013-14
TVA Simply Smart Scholarship, 2013-14
HOPE Scholarship with Merit Supplement, 2013-17
Tennessee Volunteer Scholarship, 2013-17
Design Robotics Summit Participant, 2016
Governor's Chair Studio Participant, 2017
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Phi Eta Sigma
National Honor Society
Professional Organization
American Society of Interior Designers
Student Member
Professional Organization
International Interior Design Association
Student Member

FABRICATION
fall 2015
transcending projections
2
4
SHADOW SHAPING
spring 2015
12
CAUSTIC CATALYST
fall 2015
20
νερό & αέρας
fall 2016
32
5
PHOTOGRAPHY and GRAPHICS
2013-2017
photography
graphics | pencil, mixed media, ink
44
46
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01

FABRICATION

caustic light study photographs
Transcending Projection
Fall 2015

original design rendering
This installation was created
as the precursor to the final
project Caustic Catalyst. It
harnesses the properties of
caustic light by directing the
projection of light rays
through a bent surface of a
clear or reflective object.
The objects, in this case, are
clear and reflective acrylic
pieces. Each piece was
originally strung on a piece
of wire vertically in order to
create rhythm and
consistency in the project.
When constructed, the
pieces were attached
horizontally in order to
maintain the rythm while still
maintaining the rigidity of
the formal attributes of the
system. This lighting system
incorporates the caustic
phenomenon as a layer of
material that is only apparent
when light activates it. The
shifting form of shadow and
caustics demarks a space of
rapid movement and
creativity.
4

This lighting system is made up
of 3 components--the acrylic
ribs, a wire suspension system,
and the attachment rods on top
and bottom. These components
help to create a field for
amplification and reflection of
the caustic light bouncing off
and around the system as
shown below.
system components
side elevation
reflection and amplification

peak rib height
8’
human height
6’
bench height
18”
suspension height
6”
6

8

installation downtown knoxville
10

SHADOW SHAPING

Spring 2015
Shadow Shaping
This residential project
was designed for Erin
Ogle, the development
director of the University
of Tennessee libraries.
After an interview, a
program was developed
based on her family
needs and personality.
By using screening
systems, skylights and
varying transparencies,
the project questions the
use of traditional wall
construction and space
making. Shadows create
space in this project,
allowing the glass
structure to seemingly
change throughout the
day, month, and year.
The project is dynamic
and functional, using the
systems in place to direct
traffic, program, and
spatial understanding.
design rendering 1
14

section d-d

The angular shape of each system opening references a shadow, creating an
interesting overlap between components of each system.
Using the same formal qualities of the main screen, the secondary design
emphasizes negative space instead of positive. This mimics an experience of light
passing through a shadow. The solid piece that separates the office and library
provides a semblance of continuity as it moves up to the ceiling, across the bars of
the skylight, and down the poles of the shelving system.
Both the systems provide functional structure for programmatic elements.
section b-b

shadow study main system

entry sequence hand sketch
library system hand sketch
18

03

CAUSTIC CATALYST

Caustic Catalyst
Fall 2015
“We are born of light. The
seasons are felt through light.
We only know the world as it’s
evoked by light.”
-Louis Kahn
Light is inseparable from
design. We use, manipulate,
and direct light to enhance
our architecture. Yet, rarely
do we intentionally use light
as the medium itself--a
speed, a material, a depth, a
frame. This project
intentionally uses the
shifting boundaries of light
and its properties to direct
circulation and speeds of
occupancy. The driver of
this project is caustic light,
the projection of light rays
that occurs on a surface
when light is reflected or
refracted through a curved
surface or object. Caustic
light is intense and easily
amplified. It speaks of a high
speed, a caustic catalyst.
22

THE OLD CITY
openIDEO
S.T.E.M. ACADEMY
WORLD’S FAIR PARK
MARKET SQUARE
The cyclical patterns of an
openIDEO office would fluctuate
between full activity and
absolute dormancy over the
course of a day, month, or
year. These changes would
also be applied to different
programmatic areas within the
building at a single point in
time. In order to question the
ways people normally move
through an office space and
engage with their surroundings,
this project involves two
symbiotic systems. The first is a
rib system that is activated by
light to produce caustics. It
provides structure for the
second system. The second is
a network of folded metal
planes which alter the light
reactions of the ribs. The two
systems interact in response to
the speed of occupation
within different programmatic
areas--high, intermediate, and
low speeds of occupancy. It
uses light as a catalyst to
inform spatial definition.
The high speed spaces are the
entry and circulation areas
which are located mainly
around the openings in the
floor slabs and at the East and
West ends of each floor. These
are defined by their direct
adjacency to the rib system.
Intermediate speed spaces
are the lecture hall, bridging
between the basement and
street level, the conference
room on the street level, and
the touch down station areas
on the top and basement
floors. Low speed occupancy
areas would be defined by
their little to no exposure to
the rib system and close
interaction with the metal
panels. These areas are found
mainly on the top floor where
the break room, main office
benching systems, and private
offices are, as well as on the
basement level near the staff
access entry, where the
mechanical, IT, and storage
rooms are located. These
occupancy ranges accommodate
varying densities within
the office environment.
24

0 4 8 16
B
B
B
TOP FLOOR
occupancy speed
B
1 main office work stations
2 break area
3 group work tables
4 touch down and lounge areas
5 restrooms and fire stairs
6 group meeting spaces
7 private office spaces
low
low
low
intermediate
high
intermediate
low
4
6
A
3
2
7
A
Top Floor Plan
0 4 8 16
GROUND FLOOR
occupancy speed
B
1 main entry from street
2 entry sequence to basement
3 active gallery hall
4 conference room A
5 information and waiting area
6 restrooms and fire stairs
7 archival gallery
high
high
high
intermediate
low
high
low
6
5
1
2
A
7
4
3
A
Ground Floor Plan
BASEMENT FLOOR
occupancy speed
B
1 entry sequence from ground
2 touch down and lounge areas
3 conference room B
4 lecture hall
5 restrooms and fire stairs
6 enclosed storage under seating
7 enclosed mechanical room
8 enclosed IT closet
9 enclosed custodial closet
10 enclosed electrical room
11 secondary entry from parking area
high
intermediate
low
intermediate
high
low
low
low
low
low
low
A
11
6
4
8
7 9 10
5
2
1
3
2
A
Basement Floor Plan
0 4 8 16

Section A-A shows the systems as they work together, the way
they
support each other and weave in and out of each other. It
also shows the entry sequence into the basement floor from the
street level using the lecture hall stairs and seating
Section section A-A b-b
Section B-B
section a-a
> Section B-B shows the lecture hall intermediate speed area, the main entry and circulation, openings
in the floor slabs which create connections both visually and aurally between floors, and the main
office working area on the top floor.

Image 1 represents the main
office
space
for
openIDEO
workers on the top level. This
space is meant to encourage
community centered working,
progressive
studio culture, and
team work.
> The surface of system two, the
black
panels,
provides
an
area
for writing and drawing on a
chalkboard finish, leaving traces
over
time which highlight use
and
slow occupancy speeds.
>
Image 2 shows the private
office areas of the top floor
which are dedicated spaces for
administrative employees.
These spaces are meant to be
used for individual work and
meetings. They are almost
completely
enclosed
by the
metal paneling system, identiying
them as the space with the
lowest
speed of occupancy.

GYPSUM BOARD (painted)
> allows interior walls to seemingly disappear
within hierarchy of the space
CONCRETE (gloss)
> allows the light reactions of system one to
be amplified with reflection
STRUCTURE (existing)
> rusted steel
> columns and truss system
EXTERIOR (existing)
> exposed brick masonry
METAL PANELS (welded)
> time response to usage in contrast with the
pristine acrylic through chalkboard finish
> welded around installed acrylic panels to
help support first system
ACRYLIC PANELS (translucent)
> custom sizing and attachment
> divised into three sections, bolted together
with a central metal post holding the base
weight of the cacrylic
30

04

νερό & αέρας

νερό & αέρας
Fall 2016
This flying, international
hotel is meant to be a
representation of the
geography and culture of
Santorini, Greece. Visitors
will fly in the airship to their
Santorini destination and
land on the water, creating a
new flow of entry and exit
that immerses guests into
the essence of Santorini: the
ocean. Stationed halfway
between the capitol city of
Fira and the renowned hot
springs at Nea Kameni, the
hotel amenities are
centered on well-being and
island adventure.
The first half of this project
focuses on the design of the
main airship cabin while the
second half of the project
tries to reinvent the hotel
room experience, moving
from a very large scale
understanding of spatial
adjacencies to the minute
details of lightweight
construction required for 20
individual rooms.
34

Nea Kameni
Fira, Santorini

meeting
rooms
lounge
lounge
concierge
immersive eatery
restaurant
admin
reception
meditation
areas
reception
introduction
entry
bar
massage
rooms
showers
retreat
spa
kitchen
changing
room
oasis
pool
visual connection
lockers
diving
center
dwellings
private bedrooms
indirect connection
direct connection
WC
lounge
bar
porches
36

up
up
up
up
laundry
Entry Floor
Lower Floor

s
1/4” = 1’ plan | day
Ondaria LED recessed fixture
remote control sensor | 25”
downlight, ambient light
AspectLED recessed fixture
remote control sensor | 9”
downlight, ambient light
Graff Aqua Sense LED Showerhead
remote control touch screen | 20”
chromotherapy, ambient light
AspectLED Ultra bright flexible strip
remote control sensor | 5/16”
glowing, atmospheric light
Ligne Roset Naja LED Table Lamp
touch for power | 18”
task light

1/2” plastic
4” rubber
1/2” plastic
gypsum ceiling
gypsum ceiling
stretch ceiling is made
stretch ceiling is
of fabric with acoustic
made of fabric with
properties acoustic which properties will
which will help
help dampen sound sound within
each within each bedroom
aluminum ceiling track
fabric
2
gypsum ceiling
gypsum ceiling
molded plastic frame
PVC plastic paneling
steel columns
silk rug will provide
silk rug will provide
sound dampening
sound within within bedroom area
insulation
PVC plastic paneling
aluminum door track
PVC plastic end cap
aluminum c-channel
3
smart glass
finish floor
aluminum door track
1
reinforced rubber
aluminum tray
insulation between
plastic panels provides
insulation sound dampening between
between rooms and
plastic between panels the bed provides
area
and the lavatory
sound dampening
between rooms and
between the bed area
and the lavatory
beams
aluminum door track
extension at base of doors
slides through the track
Barrisol Star Stretch Ceiling
invisible track is fixed to
the periphery of the walls
PVC paneling connection
1/2” honeycombed plastic
panels
the doors lock into place
with stoppers at the top
door is equipped with
smart glass to provide
privacy
1
a harpoon is inserted into
the track and fabric
stretched between
provides acoustic
absorption for private
rooms
2
each panel is screwed into
another panel and then
into the steel columns on
either side of the wall
42
insulation is between
plastic panels
3

43
05

PHOTOGRAPHY and GRAPHICS

photography
2013-2017
Photography is a way to capture the moments and history of people
and spaces. Each photograph uses scale to tell a story about the
subject--using its detail or lack there of to describe humanity and the
connection between he spirit of who we are and what we do.
46

48

52

graphics | pencil, mixed media, ink
2013-2015
54

56

smells
from
memory
Mnemonic:
mne·mon·ic nəˈmänik
(Noun)
1. A device such as a
pattern of letters,
ideas, or associations
that assists in
remembering
something.
(Adjective)
2. Aiding or designed
to aid the memory.
58

email msmit282@vols.utk.edu
phone (865) 323-5384
website pruett-smith.squarespace.com