My road to becoming a designer has been more scenic than direct. Before pursuing my Master of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design from SCAD, I worked in the entertainment industry, both in front of and behind the camera. After graduating from Dartmouth, I attended the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City to study theater, and from there, I moved to Los Angeles, where in addition to pursuing a career in acting, I worked at a production company as the assistant to the director/writer/producer. After years of making the rounds around Hollywood, an acquaintance in a similar situation suggested I try taking classes at the University of California, Los Angeles, to fill my time between auditions. I chose interior design based on a lifelong interest in architecture and textiles, and bam! A life change was upon me.

What I love about design is surprisingly not that different from what I loved about film. Like a great book or movie, design is all about telling a story-- and I am the very enthusiastic storyteller. Whether I am designing a corporate office or a community center, a private residence or a temporary exhibition, a key part of my process is putting down my drafting tools and taking the time to imagine myself and others experiencing the space that is being created and allowing that narrative to inform my design decisions. I imagine who will be using the space and what they will be doing there. Will they be writing a best-selling novel at this desk? Plotting a coup from the kitchen table? Will secret agents carry on covert affairs in this bar? What far off lands will this child visit from their bedroom? My job as a designer is to interpret, facilitate, and ultimately, bring to life those ideas.​ 

Rachel Kelly, spatial storyteller. Nice to meet you.​