Southern Miss Interior Design Students Earned 17 Awards at Regional ASID Competition

Wed, 05/28/2025 - 09:00am | By: Ivonne Kawas

Students from the Interior Design program in the School of Construction and Design at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) earned 17 awards at the regional ASID Awards, hosted by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) South Central Chapter.

The annual competition recognizes outstanding work by interior design students from member universities in Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

“We are incredibly proud of our Southern Miss Interior Design students for their exceptional performance in this year’s competition,” said Claire Hamilton, associate professor of interior design. “Earning top honors in a blind review conducted by professional designers is a powerful testament to the caliber of their work. These results highlight not only our students’ remarkable talent and dedication, but also the strength and competitiveness of our program.”

“With a focus on residential, commercial, healthcare and hospitality design, Southern Miss prepares graduates to be ready for life through hands-on experiences such as community projects, industry partnerships and a student-designed showhouse,” Hamilton added.

Camryn Ross, from West Point, Miss., won a Gold Award in Small Residential for furnishing the foyer and guest bedroom in the annual Designer Showhouse, along with teammate Diana Duran. Their design blended traditional style with French modern elements to seamlessly integrate with the existing home. For this project, the senior cohort partnered with multiple local vendors to source furniture and décor, carefully selecting pieces that honored the home’s Southern charm while adding refined, updated touches.

Ross also received two Gold Awards in Hospitality for her projects: The Atmos Hotel,

which blended a vintage modern design with local artistry and nature-inspired elements, and Sloan’s Restaurant & Cocktail Bar, which featured moody lighting, wood accents and elegant furnishings. In Digital Rendering, Ross received a Silver Award for her rendering of Sage & Honey Eatery, a café within her capstone project, The Nexus Women’s Clinic, designed with biophilic elements—most notably the hanging ceiling plants—and a soothing color palette to create a calming, welcoming space.

“Receiving this honor is incredibly meaningful to me—it represents not only the hard work and dedication I’ve poured into my education, but also the support and encouragement I’ve received from my professors and classmates,” said Ross. “Southern Miss has shaped me into a thoughtful, intentional designer who values function, beauty and the emotional impact of a space. I’ve learned how to collaborate effectively, solve problems creatively and always design with the end user in mind.”

Tatum Hansen, from Madison, Miss., won a Gold Award in Hand Rendering for a series depicting the same room using three distinct techniques. Her final piece, created on translucent mylar, used colored pencil on both sides to enhance depth, texture and lighting. She also received a Silver Award in Workplace/Commercial for a conceptual architecture firm called HALO Design Group. Rooted in biophilic design and color psychology, the project blended functionality with emotional wellness. Drawing inspiration from Houston’s arts scene and HALO’s modern brand identity, the space featured a warm, earthy palette with energizing accents, natural materials, and layered textures to create a dynamic, cohesive environment.

“These projects were more than just assignments—they were opportunities to experiment, grow and express my creative voice,” said Hansen. “Being recognized for them is not only validating, but also deeply motivating as I begin the next chapter of my career.”

Hansen shared that her experience at Southern Miss challenged and inspired her in meaningful ways, preparing her to step confidently into the professional world.

“Through faculty guidance, studio critiques, and hands-on projects, I’ve developed a strong design process, sharpened my technical skills, and gained a deeper understanding of how design impacts real people,” said Hansen. “I feel prepared and confident to enter the workforce, knowing I’ve been trained to bring creative solutions to life.”

The winners included:

Small Residential

Camryn Ross – Gold (Showhouse)

Hospitality

Camryn Ross – Two Gold

Mattie Carruth – Silver

Desiree Youngblood – Bronze

Hand Rendering

Yasmin Colon – Gold

Allison Gammon – Gold

Tatum Hansen – Gold

Aamani Jones – Gold

Digital Rendering

Camryn Ross – Silver

Workplace/Commercial

Tatum Hansen – Silver

New Student Spotlight  

Hayden Dangerfield – Gold

Jayda Jones – Gold

Hannah McDaniels – Gold

Grayce Sutterfield – Silver

Aamani Jones – Bronze

Jada Pendleton – Bronze