Emerging Leader Questionnaire 2022

Name: Amanda Mersereau
Company: PCA
Concentration: Interdisciplinary Interior Design
College/University: Endicott College
Year(s) of Graduation: 2016

What is your strongest personal quality?: I'm very personable! I can and will talk to anyone I meet.
What is your strongest professional skillset?: I have a strong work ethic. I'm determined to meet goals and learn new skills everyday.

Why did you choose to become an Interior Designer?: I've always been curious and creative, but when a trial version of the Sims made its way onto my computer when I was 10 years old - I was hooked. It evolved into drawing floor plans and putting together mood boards on the weekends for the next house I'd build in the game. After years of designing in the game, when it came time to choose a career - interior design was the obvious choice.
How would you describe your personal design style?: I think my personal design style is constantly evolving with me, but my house is a mix of modern and Scandinavian with a lot of asymmetry, clean lines, neutral color palette, and wood tones

What three things do you most geek out on?: Murder mystery and Sci-fi shows, craft beer and dogs.
What are you looking forward to as an IIDA Emerging Leader?: Connecting with other talented designers in the industry! And of course, learning a thing or two along the way.

What has been your go-to for de-stressing this year?: I bought a very old house in 2021, so I've been working on fixing it up over the past year. While it sometimes is a source of stress, it's been a lot of fun and I've enjoyed learning new skills (drywalling is oddly a great de-stressor, trust me!).
What advice do you have for designer students graduating?: Don't be afraid to try new things! Failure is truly part of the learning process so speak up in that meeting, figure out how to detail that millwork, and ask every question you have because it'll only make you better.

What is your favorite annual IIDA event?: The fashion show of course! I love seeing familiar products being used in new ways and I always leave feeling so inspired.
How would you explain the difference between a professional Interior Designer vs Interior Decorator to a stranger?: I love this topic and could write an essay about all the ways in which they're different but I'll keep it short and sweet: Both are valuable but interior designers decorate and design while decorators only decorate.