[341] MTSU STUDENT INTERIOR DESIGN CHAPTER HOSTS ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGNER DAVID OAKLEY IN FREE APRIL 1 LECTURE OPEN TO PUBLIC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2009
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919 or lrollins@mtsu.edu

MTSU STUDENT INTERIOR DESIGN CHAPTER HOSTS ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGNER DAVID OAKLEY IN FREE APRIL 1 LECTURE OPEN TO PUBLIC

(MURFREESBORO)—The MTSU Student Chapter of the American Interior Design Association/International Interior Design Association will serve as host for its 2009 Lecture Series on April 1 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building.
The event’s featured speaker will be David Oakley, who leads global efforts in sustainable, or “smart design,” by learning from nature
Regarding Oakley, whose philosophies have been featured in publications such as Business Week, Interior Design Magazine, New York Times Science, Green Futures Magazine and The Smithsonian Magazine, Deborah Belcher, an associate professor in MTSU’s interior design program, said, “He is passionate following his steps to sustainability through process, product and people. He challenges industrial designers, architects, teachers and students to take action and impact change today.”
Because sustainable design must be innovative and efficiently utilize materials, especially “smart” products that aid in eliminating waste in the process, it is important to recognize the ways in which design impacts the world during and after its life cycle, she added.
Prior to the free April 1 presentation, members of the student chapter will serve as hosts for a 4-6 p.m. reception that will be sponsored by Murfreesboro Main Street Inc. and The Heritage Center. The reception will be held at The Heritage Center, 225 W. College St., in downtown Murfreesboro.
For more information, please contact Belcher at dbelcher@mtsu.edu or by calling her in the Department of Human Sciences at 615-898-2884.

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• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview interior design faculty or members of the student chapter about this event, please contact Lisa L. Rollins in the Office of News and Public Affairs at MTSU at 615-898-2919 or lrollins@mtsu.edu. Media are welcomed to attend this event but asked to RSVP to Rollins.