Marcia Prentice of Design School. Photos by Bethany Nauert.
If you've been watching the reality-based show Design School, following a group of esteemed students as they carry out various challenges at the L.A. campus of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, you may have noticed the willowy, pixie-haired student by the name of Marcia Prentice. Throughout the show, Marcia refused to be part of the wallpaper. Every time the camera jumped to her confessions you knew you'd get a candid piece of her mind. An interior design hopeful and contributing writer for the popular decor blog Apartment Therapy, Marcia ran into some challenges working with her fellow design students. But as the journey draws to a close, she shares with us a commendably wise reflection of her time on the show and all she's learned from the experience. The finale airs tonight at 8pm EST -- tell us what you think!
Elana Safronsky: Were you already a student at the Institute when you were cast for the show?
Marcia Prentice: Yes, I was a third quarter student when I was cast.
ES: How did you get chosen?
MP: Interesting story… I had just finished my first quarter at FIDM and I received an e-mail from the school’s publicist stating that she was going to sign me up for a casting call for a reality show. I was very surprised to see the e-mail because I had never met our publicist before and had no idea that FIDM would be featured in a reality show. It sounded like an exciting opportunity, so I decided to have fun with it and see how far I could take it. I was chosen for the show 6 months later.
ES: What’s your design background – how did you get into writing for Apartment Therapy and what made you fall in love with design?
MP: I first fell in love with design growing up watching my father build homes and work in the construction industry. From an early age, I was intrigued with the process of building a home and creating a stylized interior. I came to FIDM already having flipped my first house and having a bachelor’s degree in Finance.
As for Apartment Therapy, the Los Angeles Apartment Therapy team gave an informal lecture at FIDM regarding the culture of blogging. The editor told me that they were looking for a new contributor to write for the LA team. My eyes lit up and after submitting a few sample posts, I was welcomed into the fast paced world of blogging!
ES: What décor style do you tend towards?
MP: My style generally revolves around innovative modern designs. However, as I grow and experience different design, I incorporate elements from other aesthetics into my overall concepts. For example, I may combine minimalist Italian architecture with Scandinavian furniture, industrial loft lighting and found object accessories.
ES: Which designer most influences you?
MP: Philippe Starck. His designs have all the characteristics of studied modern aesthetics while telling a story and evoking strong emotions.
ES: How would you describe yourself as professional?
MP: As a design professional, I am meticulous about the details of any project. I'm a perfectionist -- I have a bad habit of staying up all night to create the perfect design.
ES: How was your experience working with the group?
MP: At times very challenging, but overall it was a rewarding process. Working in a creative field, designs become personal and it is harder to let go of certain aspects of your design to stay consistent with the direction of the group. Also, designers tend to have more eccentric personalities and strong opinions. With all that said, personality and design conflicts are sometimes unavoidable.
ES: What was your most memorable moment?
MP: My most memorable moment was working with Chris [fellow student and cast member] during the chair design challenge. We had been going back and forth about the design direction and I was getting really frustrated with him. At one point, I realized that throughout it all he was just trying to make me happy. This was a turning point in our relationship as teammates and our design actually resulted in a successful end product.
ES: What was your most regrettable moment?
MP: One of our assignments was to intern at local design firms. My placement resulted in the my most regrettable moment. The job responsibilities themselves were not challenging, however swallowing my pride and answering to "intern", was. I was at a place in my life where I felt that I had already paid my dues. I do regret not sucking it up and just accomplishing the tasks. In the end I felt very embarrassed by my behavior, so much so that I followed up with an “I am sorry” letter.
ES: What was the hardest challenge/project and why?
MP: The hardest project was the final challenge. Without giving away any details, I will say that the leaders of the project were not completely qualified to carry out something of this scope. The leaders were chosen on the basis of friendships, not expertise. This always leads to problems. Wait and see what happens… Do you agree?
FIDM students and cast members of Design School.
ES: What have you learned about yourself through the process?
MP: I had no idea what to expect when I first started working with the other students in the SuperLab course. My designs and interpersonal skills greatly improved and developed from week to week. I always knew that at times I can be too direct and a little harsh. Working under pressure and in a group setting, I learned how to better communicate my thoughts and ideas without putting someone on the defensive.
ES: What wisdom would you pass on to a newbie student of design (perhaps in the Institute) about getting into the industry?
MP: Believe in your designs and obtain the industry vocabulary to back your ideas. In the interior design industry strong voices and designs are rewarded and prosper. Throw away your shyness and bring on the fierce tiger in you!
ES: What now?
MP: My first priority is finishing my interior design degree at FIDM. I am currently in my thesis classes and will be graduating in December of this year. Another goal for this year is to establish my own blog, but you can still find me curating great designs at ApartmentTherapy.com
The Season Finale of Design School airs tonight at 8pm EST, don't miss it!
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