Environmental Design Alumna Embraces Power of Interdisciplinary Thinking

What she gained was not just knowledge, but a versatile skill set that has made her more adaptable and solution-focused.

“Environmental Design allowed me to not only learn about architecture and design principles but also understand how these concepts function in the real world,” she said. “What really appealed to me was the opportunity to deconstruct different elements of design—whether architectural, environmental or social—and weave them together to create cohesive, integrated solutions.”

Learning from the Get-Go

One of Flores’ most memorable projects was her first studio assignment, which included designing coffee shop furniture, creating a graphic poster, producing an artistic presentation board and a rendering a model in Rhino.

“The brief was intentionally vague, which initially felt daunting, but it pushed me to explore new creative avenues,” she recalled. “What made this project memorable was how it evolved from five individual sculptures into a cohesive, multidimensional design. I experimented with media I never thought I’d be capable of using, and the process not only expanded my skills but also boosted my confidence in merging different design mediums into a unified, impactful outcome.”

Through collaboration with students from other disciplines, Flores learned to approach projects from multiple angles, seeing how different fields prioritize unique aspects of a problem.

“When working with industrial designers, I saw their emphasis on user interaction and functionality, ensuring designs were intuitive and accessible,” she assessed. “In contrast, collaborating with landscape architects deepened my appreciation for the natural environment, emphasizing the importance of context, sustainability and how spaces shape human experience. This cross-disciplinary exposure helped me develop more holistic and thoughtful design solutions.”

An Open Approach

Flores flourished in the program and believes a beneficial approach for students in ENVD is to bring an open mind.

“You’ll be exposed to various problem-solving methods and ways of thinking that will challenge your perspective,” she said. “Be open to feedback and embrace the opportunity to learn from others. Every critique and new perspective will help you grow, refine your ideas and develop a more versatile approach to design.”

Looking back, Flores credits ENVD with providing a systems-thinking approach to design, a valuable asset in an ever-evolving professional landscape.

“By emphasizing collaboration across fields, I was able to integrate others’ perspectives into my projects,” she said. “With hands-on experiences and a focus on sustainability, ENVD has prepared me to be a more adaptable problem-solver ready to collaborate and create impactful solutions.”

With her degree in hand, Flores has set her sights on teaching—a role that will allow her to share her problem-solving abilities and help students develop their own critical thinking skills.

“ENVD has shaped my ability to see challenges from multiple perspectives, which will be invaluable in guiding students through their own creative processes,” she said. “Additionally, working with people from many backgrounds has made me more open-minded and receptive to different viewpoints, a quality I aim to bring into the classroom to foster an open and collaborative learning environment.”