Appalachian student awarded honorable mention in international lighting design competition

For the fifth consecutive year, an Appalachian State University student has brought home honors in the annual SOURCE awards competition, hosted by power management company Eaton. Rising senior and interior design major Ally Mangini was recognized for her restaurant design “Twist” at LIGHTFAIR®International, the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference, held May 6-10 in Chicago. 

 “Twist” is a Turkish restaurant inspired by the calligraphic writing of the region.

“The design of my restaurant is a reflection of ‘pathways’ deriving from various cultural aspects of Turkey,” she shared. “When viewing calligraphic arts and texts, one’s eyes follow the continuous curved lines and patterns, like a pathway. Arched forms used within traditional Turkish architecture are incorporated into the [restaurant] layout as well, to fluently guide one through the space.”

Mangini, of Charlotte, knew she wanted to study interior design in Appalachian’s Department of Applied Design after touring the department as an incoming freshman. 

“Student projects were placed throughout the studios and I was really impressed with all of the work,” she recalled. “I liked the size of the program - it’s a smaller group, but that gives us the opportunity to build closer relationships with one another and our professors.”

Jeanne Mercer-Ballard, associate professor in Appalachian’s Department of Applied Design, mentored Mangini as she developed “Twist” as part of Mercer-Ballard’s design studio in fall 2017. According to Mangini, she learned everything she now knows about restaurant and lighting design from Mercer-Ballard.

“Jeanne always went out of her way to be there for me whenever I was in need of any guidance or assistance,” said Mangini. “I’m extremely thankful I have a professor who was so invested in teaching me and helping me learn and grow as a designer this school year.”

Each year, Mercer-Ballard encourages her students to enter the SOURCE competition. She believes it provides an opportunity for learning at a professional level.

"The students who choose to enter their projects in the competition work several additional hours to polish their drawings, details and documentation in a professional manner and we have been complimented by top lighting designers at the event for our winning presentations,” she said. “Ally was very driven to take her project to the level to win an award and I am thrilled that the judges recognized her effort.” 

Mangini said that winning the award has inspired her as a design student and motivated her to reach for higher goals. After completing an internship at Lawler Design Studio in Charlotte this summer, she will return to Appalachian in August.

“I’m extremely excited to see what my senior year has in store and to start a career in the field that I’m so passionate about after graduation.”

About the Department of Applied Design 

One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department Applied Designat Appalachian State University fosters excellence in design education, design research and professional placement. The department balances theoretical and pragmatic approaches while exploring an awareness of impact through design decisions on the global community. Faculty focus on a holistic approach to creative problem-solving by integrating sustainability and ethical responsibility in teaching and practice. The department offers bachelor’s degrees in apparel design and merchandising, industrial design and interior design. 

About Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

Senior interior design student Ally Mangini won an honorable mention in Eaton's 2018 SOURCE Lighting Design Competition. Photo by Hailey Estes
Published: May 30, 2018 10:38am

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