Interior Design students at St. Clair College are taking their design ideas out of the classroom and into the cafeteria at ENWIN Utilities.
For a class project this semester, second-year students were tasked with re-designing the cafeteria, kitchen, lounge space, a meeting area and exterior patio at ENWIN's headquarters on Rhodes Drive in Windsor.
Students, faculty and staff from St. Clair College's Interior Design program present their design ideas to executives at ENWIN Utilities at their headquarters on April 16, 2025. (Rich Garton/St. Clair College)
Over a 10-week period, students in the 'People in Motion' class, which studies ergonomics, human movement and how it affects our everyday lives, broke into groups of two to three and independently worked up unique designs for the spaces.
"Usually our faculty, which includes many industry professionals, bring the real world into the classroom. But today, the second-year Interior Design students took their classroom into the real world, sharing some of their design ideas in presentations to ENWIN Administrators," said John Byng, the Chair of the School of Engineering Technologies. "This kind of real-life experience is invaluable to students and is one of the things that helps us graduate students 'job-ready'."
Six groups of students presented their ideas to ENWIN executives, complete with design slides and a video, followed by a brief question-and-answer session.
"Designing spaces for an actual client allowed us as a class to get real-life experience of what we would expect in this industry," said Lilly Bondy, a second-year Interior Design student, who said one challenge of the process was balancing creativity with functionality. "My partner and I had to go through a lot of problem-solving to figure out how to make this space as interesting as possible, while keeping their requirements, safety concerns, and accessibility in mind."
"Overall, I feel I gained a lot of knowledge on what a real project for an actual client will be in the future," Bondy added.
The students started the project in January with a site visit to the space to understand spacing and physical requirements before delving into the design work. ENWIN provided a full list of 'wants and needs' and gave the students full creative freedom to reimagine the spaces.
"While working on an actual corporate design project for ENWIN, I gained valuable hands-on experience and navigated a number of challenges," said Eden Vessel, another student in the class. "Collaborating closely with their team allowed me to understand their vision and goals for the space."
The students took full advantage of the site visit, which provided deeper insight into ENWIN's workplace culture and the values it represents.
"Throughout this process, I improved my skills in professional communication, developed a better understanding of corporate environments, and approached problem-solving with strategic thinking," said Vessel. "This project has opened my eyes to a world of opportunities within my field, allowing me to gain valuable experience and build connections that will benefit me as I enter the industry."
"Textbook learning is essential to building a strong foundation and understanding the concept of interior design. However, hands-on experience and working with clients is what truly prepares you for the realities of this field," added Vessel.
Shannon Dinham, a professor in the Interior Design program, notes community involvement provides St. Clair students with rich opportunities to experience practical and engaging design solutions for their real-world clients.
"Working with individuals in a professional setting allows our students to connect theory with tangible materials and spatial awareness in real time," said Prof. Dinham. "Client feedback allows for immediate reflection and analysis of their proposed designs, therefore pushing them further into executing results that satisfy their client's requests."
ENWIN officials will now review the designs and plan to incorporate elements from each of them into their campus refresh.
"The students at St. Clair College have truly impressed us with their extraordinary talent and creativity," said Garry Rossi, the CEO of ENWIN Utilities. "They delivered designs that were not only functional and budget-friendly but also innovative, incorporating organic elements, sustainable materials, and locally sourced furniture."
"Their thoughtful consideration of our corporate culture and the need for versatile spaces for our employees both indoors and outdoors was remarkable."
