Department of Applied Design

Education

• Master of Arts in Interior Design [history, theory, and criticism], minor in Architectural History, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.
• Horticulture Technology Certificate, Specialization in Landscape Design, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC.

Teaching and Research Interest(s)

• Ms. Mercer-Ballard has over 30 years of professional practice experience in commercial interior design and lighting design in Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City, Charlotte, and the Boone area. She has specialized in restaurants and retail design, environmentally-sensitive projects [green design], economically-sensitive projects [low budget and non-profit organizations] and cultural appropriation in design. She has completed design projects in over thirty states and three countries. Her designs have been published in several books and journals. Her research interests include: culture in design, mid-century architecture and design, and lighting.

Professional Affiliation(s)

• NC RID [North Carolina Registered Interior Designer]
• NCIDQ [National Council for Interior Design Qualification] #10544 . 1992
• LEED A.P. [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] 2004
• NCQLP [National Council for Qualified Lighting Professionals] 1997
• IES/IESNA [Illuminating Engineering Society of North America], Member
• IALD [International Association of Lighting Designers], Educator Member 
• IIDA [International Interior Design Association], Professional Member
• IDEC [Interior Design Educator's Council], Professional Member
• NEWH [Network of Executive Women in Hospitality], Member
• VAF [Vernacular Architecture Forum], Member
• SCA [Society for Commercial Archaeology], Member
• WILD [Women in Lighting + Design], Member

Publication(s) and/or Exhibition(s)

• Mercer-Ballard, Jeanne. “Rethinking Restrooms: The Johns for John Project” Published Abstracts and Proceedings for the Interior Design Educators Council’s International Conference Chicago, IL. IDEC: March 2025.
• Mercer-Ballard, Jeanne. “Creating the Lighting Interiors Finishes Experimentation Lab [LIFE Lab].” Published Abstracts and Proceedings for the Interior Design Educators Council’s International Conference Chicago, IL. IDEC: March 2025.
• Mercer-Ballard, Jeanne. “Beyond the Project: Augmenting Global Learning in the Studio” Published Abstracts and Proceedings for the Interior Design Educators Council’s International Conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada: IDEC. March 2023.
• Mercer-Ballard, Jeanne. “Lighting Design Documentation: Delightful, Decent, or Disaster.” IES Annual Conference. Virtual. August 2021.
• Winning at the Speed of Light: Strategically integrating lighting and competitions into the curriculum, IDEC [Interior Design Educator’s Council] International Conference, Tulsa, OK, March 2020.

Something Fun

• When not at work you can usually find her with her kids, at the ski slope, or with her feet wet - hiking, swimming or kayaking in a stream or river. She loves music, travel, photography, painting, campfires, dark chocolate and anything tiki.

Work Examples