As an NDSU student, you have hands-on experiences that make classroom concepts come alive.

Thirteen NDSU interior design students recently benefited from this type of real-world participation during the Scheels Design Challenge at Fargo’s Scheels Home and Hardware store. The students were advised by Susan Ray-Degges, professor and coordinator for the NDSU interior design program, and Scheels interior designers, Leah Martin and Morgan Diehl May.

Students had four hours to design a small space in the store related to a specific theme. Each design team of two to three students was given one of six themes: bohemian, Scandinavian, industrial, coastal/lakeside, farmhouse or rustic.

Junior Michaela Moen and senior Amy Stauffenecker described the event as a great way to get tangible experience in the field.

“Up until now, I’ve been doing theoretical projects,” Moen said. “Being able to put something together is so much fun. It’s a whole different experience.”

Students randomly selected their teams and room style before the competition. They had a rough idea of what they wanted to design and were able to order items from Scheels. Students also could choose any additional items available in the store on competition day.

Once their design was complete, student groups were judged and critiqued by local interior designers.

“We like to have these opportunities for our students because it gets them out in the community,” Ray-Degges said. “Putting something together like this is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience during their time in the program.”

The NDSU student designs will remain for a period of time in the Scheels hardware store and also will be featured in a local magazine.

“It’s a good way to get my name out there,” Stauffenecker said. “All these people actually get to see my work first-hand. A lot of students don’t have that opportunity to get their work out to the public in this way.”