Industry partner joins id students for design competition
Print
EmailThe Interior Design Program and Interior Design Student Organization partnered with NBS Commercial Interiors to host their annual Design Charrette and Competition.
Throughout the Spring Semester of 2026, NBS Commercial Interiors worked with faculty and students from the Interior Design (ID) Program at MSU’s School of Planning, Design, and Construction (SPDC) to organize and host the program’s annual Design Charrette and Competition. The collaboration culminated in direct engagement with and feedback from industry professionals for ID students on Friday, March 27, 2026.
NBS is a full-service commercial interior provider who plans, designs, and executes every aspect of the interior space for corporate, healthcare, and education environments. Their involvement in the March 27 event immeasurably enriches the education of participating students through the insight and expertise NBS team members shared during the charrette and competition processes.
“I always look forward to the MSU IDSO design charrette—it’s such a rewarding experience working with the students and seeing their ideas come to life,” said NBS representative, Jayme Grubaugh. “Recently, we’ve started hosting the charrettes in spaces we’ve designed, which adds a more curated, immersive layer to the experience. It’s been exciting to see how that environment influences their creativity, adaptability, and overall approach.”
The charrette portion of the event comprised most of the day, as twenty students split into four teams to research, plan, and design an open office space. For the competition, each team presented their concepts to a panel of three judges from NBS.
As the only unit at MSU dealing with natural, built, and virtual environments, opportunities for SPDC students to engage in the practical application of the skills and concepts taught in the classroom are critical to the school’s mission of preparing innovative leaders.
“I truly appreciate the partnership with NBS—this is an event we look forward to every year. It was inspiring to see students collaborate under a tight deadline and present their work with such creativity and professionalism. I’m incredibly proud of them.” Said, Dr. Linda Nubani, Interior Design Director.
SPDC's mission and vision are further advanced by this event through the active involvement of the Interior Design Student Organization (IDSO). Lauren Reiss, IDSO President, has seen both sides of the program’s annual event – as a participant and as an organizer.
Sharing highlights of this year’s event on LinkedIn, Reiss wrote, “As I have transitioned from participating in this event in years prior to the planning and execution this year, I have found it super rewarding to give back to my design community,” exemplifying the school’s commitment to foster a spirit of collaboration and leadership in its students.
Professional engagement in real-world scenarios is essential to the continued success of SPDC and its students. Experiential learning activities like ID’s annual Design Charrette and Competition enrich the educational excellence and enhance the professional capacity of SPDC students and are made possible through the generous support of industry partners like NBS Commercial Interiors.
