Kern High School District Launches Interior Design Program

The Kern High School District has expanded its Career Technical Education programs by launching its first-ever Interior Design program at East Bakersfield High School. Through innovative curriculum, hands-on experiences, and strategic partnerships, the program is preparing students to thrive in the dynamic field of interior design.

Activities Director and Interior Design Instructor Lori Ambrose strives for her students to delve into various design aspects including drafting, floor plan design, landscape design, and decorating. She emphasizes the importance of real-world application, providing students with opportunities to engage in projects beyond the classroom.

“It is really important because what they have been learning, they get to put into practice,” said Ambrose.

Recently, the Interior Design program was recognized for its involvement in the Bakersfield Home Show. Working in pairs, students transformed a 24-foot tiny home studio into a functional living space.

“It’s cool learning about the fundamentals of interior design and then putting them into work for the public and Bakersfield to see,” said Kayleen Melgoza, an East Bakersfield High School junior.

Additionally, students created a design board for a 32-foot tiny home as part of the Design Olympics competition that was sponsored by the Bakersfield Home Show, Forever Tiny Home, and the Tiny Home Lady. Students explored different themes and styles, ranging from Spanish to farmhouse and modern to win cash prizes for the best design boards. 

Students created a design board for a 32-foot tiny home as part of the Design Olympics competition that was sponsored by the Bakersfield Home Show, Forever Tiny Home, and the Tiny Home Lady.

The curriculum of the Interior Design program is comprehensive, covering everything from perspective drawings to floor plans to color theory. Students are actively engaged in the interior design process, learning to think critically, solve problems, and collaborate effectively.

“We do a lot of one-point and two-point perspective drawings, floor plans, color theory. There is a lot of work, it’s not just placing things down,” said Melgoza.

Earlier in the year, the program collaborated with Sun Outdoor Billboard where students gained valuable insights about advertising and merchandising. As part of the collaboration, students participated in a group design challenge where they created advertisements for their future interior design businesses. The winning design was displayed on a billboard at the intersection of Truxtun Avenue and Oak Street in Bakersfield.

As students continue to excel in the Interior Design program, they are reflecting the district’s vision of empowering students to succeed in both the workplace and at the post-secondary level.