Every year the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) hosts its national Video Competition, asking graduate and undergraduate interior design students for their perspectives on topics that explore global challenges in the industry.
Keyvie Troy, a senior interior design student at OU’s Gibbs College of Architecture, found particular significance in the 2020 IDEC competition to design a 1-3 minute video exploring how interior designers can support diversity and inclusion efforts. Students were encouraged to explore unique methods to convey their viewpoints as emerging designers. The videos also had to appeal to both designers and a general audience of non-designers.
“My video targets designers to be proactive in broadening their horizons with new experiences,” Troy said. “I think it is really important to travel and seek out people that have differing characteristics and backgrounds from yourself, especially as emerging designers, because it allows for a better understanding of designing for people’s needs. I hope others understand that diversity is not just having one person different from the group, but a widespread culture of diverse people and ideas.”
Interior design professor Mia Kile served as the faculty advisor for Troy’s project. Kile offers the annual IDEC Video Competition in her Professional Practice class.
“Each team is required to have a faculty sponsor who is a member of IDEC and I am happy to serve in the sponsorship capacity to facilitate when needed.” Kile said.
Kile’s responsibilities as faculty advisor are to filter student questions and direct them to reputable sources that the student can investigate. Because the project submission is subject to a blind peer review, Kile also reviews the students’ work prior to submission to assure the competition guidelines were followed.
Troy said that making the video sounded fun, and it was a great opportunity to start a new project while under quarantine.
“I did not decide to make this video until the semester ended, when I was quarantining,” Troy said. “So it was a challenge thinking of a creative way to make the video visually interesting without going out to film people and spaces. I enjoyed reflecting on my personal experiences in getting involved with organizations and events to share the positive impacts of meeting and working with people different from me.
The video placed 3rd in the IDEC Video Competition, an accolade that Kile says is well deserved.
“While many submissions are team submissions, Keyvie took this project on independently,” Kile said. “She consulted with a diverse group of students and professionals as part of the interview process as seen in the video.”
Congratulations, Keyvie and Mia!
View Keyvie Troy's video below!
The Gibbs Design in Action Awards (GDAA) program, led by Dr. Wanda Liebermann, has announced its 2026–2027 funded student projects. The initiative supports design and research work that addresses social, cultural, and economic issues in the built environment through collaboration with faculty and community partners.
The OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) 2024 collaboration with the Historic Threatt Filling Station has been recognized in the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's newly released Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity – a story-driven publication exploring how road trip culture and place-based tourism can fuel economic growth in rural communities.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Camille Germany, Chief of Staff, has been named the 2026 recipient of the university-wide Jennifer L. Wise Good Stewardship Award.
