Interior Design Student Awarded the 2014 Gensler Brinkmann Scholarship

Third-year interior design student Rachael Laughter received the first place honor and has been awarded one of two Gensler Brinkmann Scholarships offered annually by the highly recognized design firm. As a recipient, Rachel Laughter will intern at Gensler's Houston office. 

The selection committee was impressed by Laughter’s willingness to embrace an idea-driven design process, said Philippe Paré, jury member and principal at Gensler. “Laughter’s curiosity about space, form, and pattern-making is evident, with compelling explorations produced through a variety of mediums,” said Paré. “We see a lot of potential in Rachael and hope this internship will give her an opportunity to grow further.” The student work submitted to the competition was from Assistant Professor Clay Odom's Design 4 Interior Design Studio which focused on the development of boutique retail concepts.

The Gensler Brinkmann Scholarship Fund was established in 1999 as a memorial to Donald G. Brinkmann, an interior designer, inspirational leader, and former partner at Gensler. The scholarship fund celebrates Brinkmann’s career-long commitment to nurturing new talent by presenting outstanding interior design students with an internship and scholarship for the students’ final year of school. Candidates for the scholarship must attend a CIDA-accredited school and are evaluated based on their analysis and problem-solving skills, design development, graphic presentation, communication skills, and passion.