From the Classroom to the Showroom: Salem College Interior Design Students Attend the Bienenstock Future Designers Summit

In September 2025, Salem College students Morgan Holmes, Faith Kiss, Yarlin Ramirez-Helguera, and Kaci Smith were among 40 of the top junior and senior design students selected to attend the Bienenstock Future Designers Summit in High Point, North Carolina, hosted by the Bienenstock Furniture Library. The Bienenstock Future Designers Summit is an opportunity for college students to spend three days learning from and networking with professionals in interior design, furniture design, industrial design, interior architecture, graphics, and related creative disciplines. “I really felt like the industry was supporting my dream by allowing me to take notes and learn from professionals in a hands-on environment,” Morgan said about the moment when she learned she’d been selected to attend the Summit.

Being selected to attend the Summit is an honor, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for Salem’s interior design students to gain real-world learning experiences outside the classroom. Over the three days of the Summit, students attended keynote presentations, design workshops, mentoring sessions, and facility tours. Dr. Rosa Otero, Professor of Design and Division Chair, Arts and Humanities, said of the Summit: “For Salem students aspiring to careers in design, this Summit is more than a conference; it’s a launchpad into the professional world of design and creative industries.” Kaci added, “These experiences are very important for young designers to gain experience, knowledge, and connections that can impact and help shape their career for many years to come.”

Each year at the Summit, scholarship awards are presented to select attendees. At the most recent Summit, Salem College interior design student Yarlin Ramirez-Helguera was awarded the Nancy Fire Design Scholarship. For Salem’s interior design students like Morgan, Faith, Yarlin, and Kaci, experiences like the Bienenstock Future Designers Summit—and honors such as the Nancy Fire Design Scholarship—affirm that their talent, dedication, and futures in design are being recognized on a national stage.