By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Grayson Brummer’s personality matches her design style.
She likes to use warm colors and cozy furniture to create environments that are both modern and inviting – spaces where people feel comfortable and at home.
“My mom is a social worker, so I really like the idea of being able to help people,” Brummer said. “But I also wanted to stay in touch with my creative side. Interior and product design is a really good mesh of those two things because it allows me to work with people and design spaces that meet their needs.”
An Omaha native and Millard South High School graduate, Brummer found the perfect program to fit her interests at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, which also happens to be her mother’s alma mater.
“She told me about the smaller campus and the opportunity to create one-on-one connections with professors, and that’s something I was looking for,” Brummer explained. “In the interior and product design program, you work closely with your classmates and professors, so there’s always somebody supporting and cheering for you. Also, the professors encourage us to think outside the box and pursue some really cool projects.”
Based in Discovery Hall, a state-of-the-art STEM building that opened in fall 2020, the interior and product design program prepares students to work in a variety of settings, from custom furniture and lighting design to full-service residential and commercial design firms.
The program provides a foundation in art, architecture, business and construction, then allows students to fine-tune their skills by working on both hypothetical and real-world projects.
As an intern for NU Facilities, Planning and Capital Programs, Brummer was part of a major transformation at one of the busiest buildings on campus. Working alongside the project manager and interior designer, she and another UNK student were responsible for the furniture and material planning for the $25 million renovation of Calvin T. Ryan Library.
Completed last fall, that project enhanced the nearly 100,000-square-foot building’s layout, appearance and accessibility, creating a modern library that better meets the needs of current and future students.
Brummer’s job was to select materials and furniture for the redesigned building, keeping comfort, affordability, durability and functionality in mind. From the couches and chairs in the study spaces and lounge areas to the tables and seating in classrooms and technology labs, she played a big part in the library’s new look.
“It was such a great experience because I got to work with different vendors, different contractors and some really great mentors,” Brummer said. “Every time I went to the library I saw students using almost all of the furniture pieces, so it’s really heartwarming to know that people are enjoying something we did.”
Brummer also had a smaller role in some recent upgrades at Warner Hall, and she helped plan the patio furniture at Armstrong Hall, which houses UNK sorority members.
Last summer, Brummer completed an additional internship with HGA, a commercial architecture, engineering and interior design firm with 12 locations and 1,200 employees across the country. She focused on sustainable design and 3D modeling while working at the Minneapolis office.
“That was another really great experience because it was a full architecture firm with interdisciplinary sectors like engineering, lighting and landscape,” she said. “It was really cool to sit in on meetings and see how these professionals talk to each other and collaborate to solve problems.”
Brummer demonstrated those same skills back at UNK.
Associate professor and interior and product design program coordinator Dana Vaux called her a team player and problem-solver with a talent for design work.
“One of Grayson’s strengths is her motivation to learn and improve,” Vaux said. “She is a hard worker with a teachable attitude, a highly motivated learner who performs to her best capacities, even if it means redoing something to improve it. Her commitment to excellence and positive attitude spread to those around her.”
For her senior project, Brummer designed a community center that would serve adoptive and foster care families. The project focused on “third place attachment,” creating a space outside home, work or school where people can go to interact socially, build relationships and find a sense of belonging.
“It’s a personal topic for me,” Brummer said. “My family is an adoptive family. Both my brother and I were adopted. Growing up, there weren’t a whole lot of opportunities for us locally to connect with other adoptees and people from similar backgrounds. I want to create a hub and a gathering place for this community.”
The building she designed features multipurpose rooms for events, workshops and support groups, as well as an in-house counseling center that improves access to these services.
“She not only created an excellent design, but in doing so showed how good design can contribute to human social and psychological well-being with environments that meet human needs,” Vaux noted.
Brummer graduated with honors earlier this month, earning a bachelor’s degree in interior and product design with a minor in construction management. She plans to work in commercial design, ideally focusing on projects that positively impact the community.
“During my time here as a student, especially with these professors and this program, I gained a lot of valuable skills and experience that I’m excited to be able to apply to my future career,” she said. “Knowing that I had that much support behind me over these last four years, it’s been a really great experience.”
