BABE #328: JESSICA WHITE - Sr. Interior Designer, Group 4 Design
Jessica is a senior interior designer at Group 4 Design, a Jacksonville-based, woman-owned architecture and interior design firm. After taking a couple of architectural classes in high school, she fell in love with interior design’s ability to shape the experience people have in the spaces they inhabit. At G4, Jessica works on a variety of project types including new construction, renovation, senior living, multi-family, and corporate. She’s passionate, inspiring, and tackles each project with a people-first mentality to cultivate intentional, quality spaces for the Jacksonville community and beyond.
The Basics:
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas (Go Spurs!)
Current city: Jacksonville, Florida
Alma mater: Texas Christian University
Degree: B.S., Interior Design
Very first job: Hostess, Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurant
Hustle: Senior Interior Designer, Group 4 Design
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
Amanda Shires. She’s a fellow Texan who is creative and independent. She writes and performs great music being genuinely herself, and has managed to be successful while doing so. I love that about her.
How do you spend your ‘free’ time?
Reading (preferably at a local coffee shop), going to local arts events, or checking out a new state park or beach. I also enjoy spending time at home, hanging out with my husband and my cat, Toby.
Go-to coffee order and/or adult beverage?
Bee’s Knees
Current power anthem?
I don’t know if this qualifies as a power anthem, but I’ve always loved “I Wanna Be A Girl” by King Khan & The Shrines.
What would you eat for your very last meal?
Some sort of San Antonio Tex-Mex with handmade flour tortillas.
What’s something you want to learn or master?
Meditation
What’s your favorite decoration or furniture piece in your home or office?
My antique Underwood typewriter. I have dreams of one day getting it in working condition. Also, books! My husband and I both love reading, and I like finding unique, old books with pretty covers. So, we have books staged all over our house. When we have a guest coming, I like to curate the books in our guest room specifically for that person
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle, providing an overview of your job and roles.
I work at Group 4 Design, a woman-owned architecture and interior design firm in Jacksonville, FL where I’m a Senior Interior Designer. At Group 4, we handle almost every part of a building’s interior, from initial space planning all the way through installation of furniture, art and accessories. We work on a wide variety of project types, including new construction, renovation, senior living, multi-family and corporate.
What does your typical workday look like? Which various ‘hats’ do you wear throughout the day?
It varies a lot based on which phase of design each of my projects are in. I usually start the day checking my emails to see if there are any urgent needs from a client or anyone on the project team. Then, I prioritize my deadlines and begin working in order of urgency. Sometimes this includes space planning, sketching design concepts for a client presentation, coordinating plumbing and lighting design, putting together a set of construction documents, or problem solving with the contractor. Each day is different, so it’s never boring!
When and how did you become interested in interior design? When did you decide to pursue it as a career?
I became interested in interior design while in high school. I took a couple architecture classes and fell in love with the field. I decided to pursue interior design as a career when I first entered college. As I progressed through my design classes, I realized more fully how powerful it is to be able to shape the experience that people have in the spaces they inhabit. We spend most of our time indoors, and the design of a space can have a huge impact on your attitude and well-being.
What aspect of Group 4 Design’s company culture do you value most?
Group 4’s company culture is really refreshing. I love that everyone works very hard, but we also have fun and enjoy hanging out with each other. One of the first things I noticed when I started was how genuinely nice (and funny!) everyone is. The principals (Leigh Gunn, Karie Kovacocy and Jamie Jaxon) started this firm in the middle of the recession and have spent the past ten years building this successful company that places importance on the vibe and culture. Collaboration is incredibly important here. We actually just moved desks to better support interaction between interiors and architecture. In my experience, interior designers are by nature very collaborative. We like to bounce ideas off of each other. My teammates are so incredibly talented; we push each other every day to be better at our craft.
How have your past professional and academic experiences prepared you for the work you do today?
My college training gave me a great foundation, but there is so much more you learn from actually being on the job. I found my internship essential. It was the experience that advanced me the farthest in my learning and career preparation. When you actually start working in a firm, you start to realize how many different individual decisions you have to make every day; we need to have detailed knowledge of code and building systems; and we have to know the subtle details of why one thing works and another doesn’t. It takes time to learn. My professional experience has exposed me to a wide variety of studios and work. I’ve worked at a “Top 5” architecture firm doing large-scale healthcare design, as well as a small 4-person interior design company designing high-end residences. I’ve learned something different from each experience, but they have all taught me to be flexible, adaptable and to think creatively.
What certifications/accreditations do you hold?
I am a licensed interior designer in the State of Florida. Each state has different certification/licensing requirements for interior design, but you’re typically required to qualify for and pass the NCIDQ exam plus any additional state requirements. This licensure comes with additional responsibilities for the health, safety and welfare of people using/inhabiting the spaces I design. Continuing education is required to maintain my license. In Florida, I’m required to get 16 hours of continuing education every 24 months. In addition to being licensed, I’m also a LEED Accredited Professional, which is a green building credential, and a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).
Similarly, how do you keep up with trends and changes in your industry?
Honestly, Instagram is my primary source of inspiration these days. I follow a lot of industry publications, organizations, and various firms/designers. Things change so quickly now that sometimes waiting for the monthly magazine is impractical. I also follow a lot of artists and graphic designers. I find a lot of value in having an interest in a variety of creative fields. It makes me feel more well-rounded. Another resource is our sales reps. They are invaluable. They show us new products and keep us up to date on trends and changes to industry standards. A note to young designers: your sales reps are your best friends. Be nice to and make time for them! They’ll help you when you’re in a bind at work and are your best resource when searching for new materials or opportunities. Added bonus: a lot of them are super fun, and you’ll want to be friends with them.
What have some of your most memorable (or favorite) projects and collaborations looked like so far?
I really loved working on children’s hospitals. Knowing my design contributions helped improve the healing and overall experience of children going through some of the scariest things anyone could imagine is incredibly rewarding. At Group 4, I really enjoy designing senior living communities. My grandmother was in a dementia care facility, and seeing her there made me realize how important the design of these spaces are. I love being able to provide a comforting and safe atmosphere for people like my grandmother who need a little extra help. Many people still think of depressing, institutional spaces, but they are often more like hotels or high-end homes. There are special requirements and considerations to take into account when designing for aging adults. We want our designs to encourage a sense of community and belonging. It’s important that the space supports social interaction and keeps the residents active both mentally and physically.
What would you say is your biggest career milestone to date?
Surviving the recession. The recession was BRUTAL. It hit the interior design industry extremely hard. There were too many to count, but I survived at least nine rounds of layoffs in one company; morale was extremely low. Staying focused and persevering through that time was a major lesson. It also taught me to be as strategic and creative with my career choices as I could. It reminds you to not get too cocky and be willing to do the work (even if it’s not “in your job description” or not exactly what your college-self imagined you’d be doing).
How would you say being a woman has affected your professional experience? What can we do to create more equal, uplifting (and well-paying!) spaces for women in your industry?
Interior design is typically a woman-dominated industry. We are, however, part of a larger male-dominated architecture, engineering and construction industry. As a woman and/or interior designer, you do have to continually prove yourself, but the more that we educate people about what our job actually entails and the importance of it, the better it will be for everyone in our industry. Americans spend about 90% of our time indoors. This has a huge impact on our lives—the design of spaces affects our mood, health, safety, and productivity. Interior design is an integral part of our overall well-being, and I think once people realize it’s more than just women picking pretty colors and expensive furniture, we’ll stop being devalued as much as we have been in the past.
What’s the gender ratio like in your industry? Do you see it evolving?
The interior design industry is about 75-85% female, which as far as I can tell, has stayed pretty consistent throughout my career. I don’t know that there will be a significant change in the ratio, but there are major efforts being made to deregulate us as a profession. If the deregulation efforts succeed, it would mean that many woman-owned design businesses in the state would have to reorganize and place licensed architects, most frequently men, in leadership positions. This would be detrimental to our entire industry and a huge step backward.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
Figure out what works for you and makes you happy. A lot of people will try to tell you what you “should” and “shouldn’t” be doing. It’s good to thoughtfully consider other people’s advice, but take that and decide what you actually want for yourself.
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