Design was just something she was always interested in, she said. Eleven years later, Fisher-Heath is now pursuing an interior design degree at IU.
Fisher-Heath is a junior and in her second year of the interior design program. She was originally studying biology at St. Mary’s College, but after one biology lab she said she decided science was not what she should be doing.
Instead, Fisher-Heath transferred to IU for its interior design program to pursue her passion.
“Everyone thinks it’s just interior decorating, but it is really about the circulation of the space and in the relation to the outside of the building,” Fisher-Heath said.
She called it the architecture of the interior space because interior design requires the designer to think about the architecture and the outside before he or she can think about the inside.
Fisher-Heath said there are always constraints when it comes to designing a space and one must be able to take those into account while also coming up with a creative design.
She said another challenging aspect is being able to think about things in an abstract way. Her professors are all very successful in the world of interior design, and they focus on a lot of abstract forms, Fisher-Heath said.
“I am the type of person who likes a lot of direction, so whenever we have no constraints and can build whatever we want, I am like, ‘this is impossible,’” Fisher-Heath said.
While she said some class projects can be very challenging, her favorite part is getting to work in groups.
“I usually don’t like group projects at all, but I really like them in design because none of us know what each other’s design styles are,” Fisher-Heath said. “It’s really invaluable to have other opinions and feedback from people who are just as invested in the same stuff as you are.”
IU sophomore and interior design major Natalie Linton said it’s really helpful to hear new perspectives when it comes to design.
“Marguerite isn’t afraid to tell you what she thinks,” Linton said. “She is really good at giving good advice and input.”
Fisher-Heath said her design style is modern and green or sustainable.
Her minor is environmental and sustainable studies, and she said she thinks sustainability is something super valuable that should be incorporated into design now.
“I think that with all the emissions and everything we put out into the world, it is critical to be able to design sustainability in everything,” Fisher-Heath said.
Linton said Fisher-Heath’s interest in the environment is clearly reflected in her designs. She tries to create a design that is aesthetically pleasing and functional with the added bonus of being safe for the environment, Linton said.
In the future, Fisher-Heath said working for any architecture firm in a big city would be a dream. Ultimately, she said she would love to work with designer Zaha Hadid.
“She designs a lot of organic but weird forms, and I just think they’re so cool,” Fisher-Heath said.
She said she also wants to utilize her sustainability interests in whatever she does by working for green standards for buildings and having a Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design certificate.
Fisher-Heath said design is the most frustrating happiness she has ever been a part of.
“There are so many things you can do with design, and it’s all so wonderful, but it’s also terrifying,” Fisher-Heath said.
