I am currently working as a freelance event designer in New York City, for a company that specializes in destination weddings, but would like to transition into designing more permanent hospitality interiors. I recently received my MFA in Interior Design from Parsons, with emphases on atmospheric design, sustainable materials, and indoor air quality.
The environments I design are fully immersive, incorporating elements that stimulate all five of the senses, and utilize time as a mechanism for creating participant experiences that feel individual and out of the ordinary. I have experience not only with spatial arrangement and material selection, but have cooked and served myriad cuisines, and have studied both mixology and perfumery. Additionally, having worked on the service end of the hospitality industry for many years, I have developed an uncommon understanding of the design requirements (in both the front and back of house) for delivering efficient and enjoyable service.
My ultimate goal is to combine the experience I have from my education and my current line of work with my experience working in the hospitality industry, to create environments that fully engage participants and leave a unique and lasting impression.
Michelle Rago Destinations, New York, NY, US, Freelance Designer
Assisting in the design and implementation of multiple events, especially weddings, across the United States and abroad.
PRIORITIES: Floorplan layout; site inspection; event design and decoration; design of temporary service areas; rendering production; materials and product research; table arrangement; crafting.
The New School, New York, NY, US, Solar Decathlon Interior Design Lead
Led conceptual and design development of interior elements in the competition house being proposed for the 2011 Solar Decathlon, an international sustainability competition sponsored by the US Department of Energy.
PRIORITIES: Scheduling; interior inventory catalog development; interior design; sustainable materials research; design lead meeting participant; proposal development and presentation.
The New School, New York, NY, US, Conference Organizer
Led conceptual and design development of interior elements in the competition house being proposed for the 2011 Solar Decathlon, an international sustainability competition sponsored by the US Department of Energy.
PRIORITIES: Scheduling; interior inventory catalog development; interior design; sustainable materials research; design lead meeting participant; proposal development and presentation.
The New School, New York, NY, US, Masters, Interior Design
Mario Buatta Scholarship, Academic Scholarship, 3.7 GPA
Areas of Focus: Sustainable Development, Event Design, Interior Design Theory, Model Making
University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, US, Bachelors, Studio Art & Urban Studies and Planning
Provost’s Honors (4 Terms), Visual Arts Departmental Honors, 3.5 GPA
Areas of Focus: Sculpture, Installation, Photography, Theatre Design, Architecture, Social Policy,
Sustainable Development, Art Theory
Thesis Merit Award, Award
Award for exceptional research, development, and presentation of an MFA Thesis project.
Mario Buatta Scholarship, Scholarship
The Mario Buatta Graduate Scholarship program provides merit-based scholarships to MFA ID graduate students.
