Valerie Balderas Wins University-Wide Bookshelf Design Competition for Office of the Dean of Students
Undergraduate Interior Design student Valerie Balderas proposed a winning design for a new bookshelf in the Office of the Dean of Students.
In December of 2024, the Office of the Dean of Students announced a call for submissions from students of any major to redesign the Cactus Yearbook Bookshelf. Valerie Balderas is one of two students selected to work closely with the department to bring their designs to life. The bookshelf will predominantly feature the university’s collection of Cactus Yearbooks from nearly every year since 1920, leaving a lasting impact on campus for years to come. Balderas’ bookshelf will live in a new space within the Dean of Students Office currently under renovation.
Valerie’s design is 6’ wide and 9’ tall, offering 72’ of linear space for books. She opted for a modular approach, segmenting the bookshelf into three vertical stacks that display “UT” when assembled. It also features several cabinet spaces for additional storage. Creating iterations of the design in 2’ wood models, Valerie aimed to prove the ease of assembly and transportation of her design.
Reflecting on her design process, Valerie shared: "When creating my design, my main focus was the convenience and accessibility of all groups. I considered factors such as the space of the room, the height of the people who would interact with it, places for storage, and even the assembly process when you combine all 3 elements of the bookshelf together. Through each iteration, I made sure to play with different widths and lengths of the shelves in order to achieve my goal while also letting the UT symbol guide my overall design. Navigating this project has taught me what it means to be an Interior Designer, as it means to create beautiful, intentional designs that serve a purpose far greater than holding books."
Once renovations are complete, students can visit Valerie’s Cactus Yearbook Bookshelf in the Office of the Dean of Students at 100 Dean Keeton St. W., Austin, Texas 78712.
