Seniors in the University of Oklahoma Interior Design program recently travelled to Dallas to visit multiple design firms, projects, and showrooms. The two-day trip consisted of several stops allowing students to connect with several Dallas Interior Design professionals and program alumni, see multiple active design projects, and tour both showrooms and firms.
On the first day of the trip, the Interior Design seniors visited the SMU Cox School of Business Construction Site, where they received a presentation on the construction and design process for the project from the Rogers-O’Brien Construction and GFF design teams. Students then toured Lincoln Centre with Entos Design, a Dallas based design firm specializing in commercial spaces.
The interior design students.
The students also attended a reception at Concept Surfaces, a supplier of hard-surface materials, where they met with OU alumnus Khoi Hoang and other University of Oklahoma alumni currently working at Gensler, a global architecture, design, and planning firm. The first day of the trip was concluded by a lighting tour of Factory Six03 by Jacob Gerber, OU alum and full-time partner with Essential Light Design Studio.
The next day students toured the Haworth showroom with OU alumnus Sara Hooker, Account Director for FMG, where they learned about the latest design trends with workplace office furniture. Hosted by designers Khoi Hoang and Taylor Rodgers, they also toured the Thompson Coe Litigation Firm, a project of Gensler.
Interior Design students learn about Haworth Furniture.
The seniors were hosted by Corgan Design Firm, where OU alumna and Corgan Vice President Lauren Whitney gave them a tour of the firm and answered questions. The two-day trip was ended with a tour of Verozza and Accord’s lighting showrooms by Jacob Gerber.
Field trips like this one allow Gibbs students to learn about their career options after graduation as well as network with alumni and other professionals. The Interior Design program would like to thank the many hosts that made this trip possible, including Corgan, Entos Design, Essential Light Design Studio, Gensler, Concept Surfaces, Furniture Marketing Group, Haworth, and Texas Lighting Solutions. Also, they would like to extend a thank you to the OU Interior Design Professional Advisory Board for helping organize and support this trip.
View additional photos from the trip in the gallery 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.
