Each year, DIFFA invites three of New York’s most prestigious schools to create design installations for DINING BY DESIGN New York. The Student Design Initiative is supported in part by the Angelo Donghia Foundation. Under the tutelage of cutting-edge industry mentors, these student teams were guided through the creative process from conception to execution while working within a strict budget. In addition, students were given the chance to join DIFFA in the fight against HIV/AIDS by weaving the cause into their designs to help raise awareness to the DINING BY DESIGN audience.

2018 student designer, Anna Harea talks about her experience designing an installation for DINING BY DESIGN. Anna is a graduating Interior Design student at School of Visual Arts.

What was the design concept for your table installation? 

The Red Room aimed to awe with a bold color and a warm and inviting space. My team created a visual representation of the HIV/AIDS awareness movement by incorporating cylindrical elements to create a sense of unity and a celestial aurora that emphasizes the feeling of hope and prosperity.

Tell us about the process. What steps did you take to get your installation DBD-ready?

The process was challenging and rewarding. Having the opportunity to complete a design, from ideation through installation is impeccable. We had to think of every small detail.  Every step of the way presented a new challenge for us to overcome and it was in our hands.

We had a $2,500 budget, which forced us to think outside the box when sourcing materials. We did extensive research to find the most cost-effective options. Pre-show we painted all the tubes, wooden frame, and did a full mock-up of the frame with tubes at school. By doing so, we were confident that we could get the frame standing and have a smooth installation at the pier. For the installation day, we began by assembling each wall individually, suspending all of our lights. From there on, everything else was a piece of cake! When everything was finished, it was hard to believe that we got it all up and running with our own hands!

What did you learn from participating in DBD as a student? What was the most challenging and rewarding part? 

Participating in DBD as a student was eye-opening. As a student, all class projects are conceptual and on “paper.” DBD allowed us to map out our design, figure out how to get it done, source and order materials and then physically install it with our own hands. Having a mentor—Tyler Wisler– who is an expert in the design industry was extremely helpful. I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to participate and experience such a process! Now, I feel like I can take on any design challenge and make it a reality.

How did you balance senior projects with the work needed to create “The Red Room” Installation?

Time management was the key to balancing my senior year projects and DINING BY DESIGN. Realizing that there was no time for procrastination, I created a schedule to ensure both school and extracurricular tasks were done efficiently. I carved out time each day to get school work done ahead of time so that I could focus on DBD during the installation days. After many weeks of hard work, standing before our finished table on opening night and seeing people’s reactions was a true feeling of rewarding bliss.