EL Questionnaire 2015

Name: Stephanie Jones
Company: Bergmeyer
Concentration: Retail, Workplace, and Hospitality
College/University: New England School of Art & Design (Master’s Degree)
Year(s) of Graduation: 2007

As a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?: As a child, I think that changed on a weekly basis. I’d say that my top choices were veterinarian, actress, art teacher, and criminal profiler for the FBI. 
If you could keep only five possessions what would they be?: My dog, my sketchbook, a pen/marker, my phone so that I could listen to music and contact loved ones, and my favorite sweater.
What is a skill you'd like to learn and why?: I would really like to learn how to take better photography. It’s always been an interest and I’ve never pursued it seriously. I view photography as an activity that encourages travel, exploration, and stopping to appreciate your surroundings. It’s art, science, and sociology all wrapped up into one activity. Nothing could be more satisfying!
If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be?: My mom. Hopefully it would be a dinner we made together, too.  
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?: Can my answer be a trip around the world? There are so many places I would like to go: Australia, South Africa, France, Italy, a road trip across the US….the list goes on and on.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?:  In my professional life, I generally am most proud when I know that my clients are happy. I can think of a few experiences when a client went out of their way to show their appreciation for my work. Those moments meant a lot to me personally.
Lesson learned that has benefited you most in your career: Mistakes happen and people mess up. You have to make an effort to not get caught up in feeling ashamed and learn from the experience. The sense of pride that comes with fixing a mistake far outweighs the initial feelings of frustration. 
Why did you choose to become an Interior Designer?: It became clear that my future as a criminal psychologist wasn’t going to work out the way that I had hoped. I started taking design classes at NESAD because I missed having a creative outlet. Ultimately, I decided to go back to school full-time and pursue design as a career.
Most significant inspiration: My most significant inspirations are the people around me. I’m very lucky to have collaborated with some very talented individuals; people much more talented than I. They make me want to be better, do better, and never stop learning.