Week 1
A Taste for Design: Pinterest, Full Plates, and Mood Boards
September 29, 2025 - October 3, 2025
I have been given an introductory assignment. Research. How lucky is it that good design research starts with a scroll on Pinterest? No long articles or heavy textbooks. Just a thumb, a screen, and an endless stream of curated inspiration. Maybe “research” isn’t always so intimidating after all.
The task at hand, scroll through the saved pins on FADD Architects’ Pinterest page, then create a mood board representing the design language of FADD. Marco specifically said he wants to see my “taste.” I know I have an appetite for good design, but here’s hoping I can prove that I also have taste because there’s a big difference between loving a buffet and actually plating a meal.
While scrolling, I started noticing two distinct design voices that also show up in FADD’s portfolio. All of their spaces carry a sense of attainable luxury, but they split into two personalities: some are bold, drenched in saturated colors and unexpected patterns; others lean into softer tones, muted palettes, and natural textures. That tension between boldness and restraint is what makes their work so dynamic. It’s also why I’ve decided to make not one, but two mood boards—an attempt to capture both sides of the FADD design voice.
Let's not forget that I’m a sucker for storytelling; I couldn’t just paste pretty pictures on a page without giving them some kind of narrative. For me, a mood board isn’t just a collage, it’s a story in shorthand.
In the end, this assignment wasn’t just about pulling images. It was about learning to see. To see the duality in FADD’s design language, to reflect on my own taste, and to translate inspiration into something that feels like me. If design is equal parts appetite and taste, then this was my first attempt at cooking something worth serving.
- Michelle Ayyiya
Espresso
In Italy, coffee isn’t just a beverage; it’s a sacred, high-speed ceremony, often performed standing at a counter like an Olympic sport—organic shapes, delicious curves, polished surfaces, and spaces that encourage a meaningful pause. Minimal fuss and maximum intensity, just like a proper espresso shot.
Aperitivo Hour
Golden hour in Italy isn’t just about the light, it’s about the spritz in your glass and the chatter in the air. Aperitivo is less of a drink and more of a ritual, a social stage set in motion. This moment inspires this board. Warm, inviting palette, cozy clusters of seating, and a touch of sparkle to make every corner feel like the start of a perfect evening.
Week 2
Double Shot of Doubt and Determination
October 6, 2025 - October 10, 2025
This week was less about starting something new and more about reworking what already exists. I’ve caught myself overthinking, it’s like my brain can’t stop hitting “Command + Z.” But somewhere between the redos and the restless thoughts, I learned that hesitation can be its own kind of progress.
And yes, I finally said yes to espresso. Maybe it’s the caffeine talking, but there’s something comforting about that small victory, a reminder that not every decision has to be overanalyzed. Some things, like an extra shot or a second draft, are just something you have to say yes to.
Overall, this week felt like a quiet reset. Not flashy, not groundbreaking, but necessary. I’m starting to realize that growth doesn’t always look like a brand-new project; sometimes it’s choosing to approach the old stuff with a clearer mind, a steadier hand, and maybe a little caffeine.
I also learned what it feels like to do something “wrong” by doing too much. Even though the feedback I got wasn’t harsh at all, I felt embarrassed—like I’d missed something obvious—and that spiraled into its own wave of self-doubt. But I’m working through those feelings and trying to channel them into the actual adjustments I need to make. Refocusing, redesigning, and reminding myself that getting something wrong isn’t a verdict on my ability; it’s just part of figuring things out.
So I’m choosing to move forward with intention. I can’t stop the uncomfortable feelings from showing up, but I can decide what they get to influence. And this week, they don’t get to hold the pen.
- Michelle Ayyiya
Week 3
Chronicles of an Overly Dramatic Intern
October 20, 2025 - October 24, 2025
This week’s entry picks up right where the last one left off. After days of reworking, redesigning, and finally believing I understood exactly what Marco at FADD wanted, I sent in my revised assignment. I hit “send” with a slight return of confidence. I was hopeful, excited, and honestly a little proud of myself, or at least a little less embarrassed than last week, and fully ready to move on.
And then…fall break happened.
Which is exactly when the feedback arrived.
Marco (an absolute angel, as always) sent a message so gentle it could’ve been wrapped in bubble wrap. He simply said the work still wasn’t quite what he was looking for. That’s it. That was the whole message. Nothing alarming. Nothing catastrophic.
Naturally, I took it as a personal tragedy.
Since it was a break, I did what any reasonable, emotionally overstimulated intern would do... I ignored the message until I physically could not ignore it anymore. Avoidance is a skillset, and I am highly proficient. But, because no work is ever truly a loss, I’ve still included what I did for your viewing pleasure. Think of it like deleted scenes, unnecessary to the plot, but entertaining nonetheless.
The question remains:
Will I finish this internship… or will this internship finish me?
Stay tuned.
- Michelle Ayyiya
headboards...Again
Week 4
The Week I Stopped Spiraling (Mostly)
October 27, 2025 - October 29, 2025
This week felt a little softer than the last, probably because Marco continues to check in with the same gentle energy of someone asking, “Hey, are you surviving?” every time he gives me an assignment. After last week’s DISASTER, he suggested going back to basics with a moodboard. To better understand what I was doing and get a grip, I picked four images and analyzed why each concept might or might not work for the room I’m designing within. He also reminded me that I could broaden my focus to other elements of the bed area: nightstands, bedside lights, all the little things that shape the overall feel.
Surprisingly, this exercise helped me slow down enough to breathe. It refocused me and even re-inspired me. And in that quieter headspace, I started unpacking why I’d been struggling so much.
A big part of it was that I felt dropped into the middle of a project with almost zero context, no connection to the space, no sense of the client, and no mental “anchor” to design from. Does this person like to read in bed, or is the bed just a place for sleeping? To me, all of those seemingly small details of how the client lives matter to how something is designed and if the design "works" or not. That lack of grounding made me feel incompetent, like I was constantly missing something everyone else already understood.
So I spent time reframing. Instead of chasing every unknown and feeling lost in the gaps, I tried to focus on what I do know and build from there. Controlling the pieces I can control, rather than spiraling about the mystery pieces I can’t. And yes, I cried, but not in a dramatic meltdown way. More like a productive, cleansing cry…the kind that clears out the emotional fog and resets the brain.
By the time I finished, I felt lighter. Reset in the best way. I sent my four-image analysis to Marco and waited for the next steps. Still learning, still overthinking a little, but definitely moving forward.
- Michelle Ayyiya
Week 5
Head-'Board' Out of My Mind
November 3, 2025 - November 7, 2025
This week, I did something truly courageous: I admitted I was struggling. Not in a dramatic “the internship is defeating me” kind of way (although… sometimes), but in a very real “I keep overthinking every pixel and can’t see straight” kind of way.
Marco, being endlessly patient, suggested I backtrack and build a mood board instead. The assignment: 20 headboards, 10 side tables, 10 bedside lamps. hich I’ve now lovingly named the 20–10–10 like it’s a workout routine for my design brain. He also asked me to explore fabrics and finishes for the headboards, because apparently my spiraling needs structure and texture.
Admittedly, finding 20 headboards that fit the exact minimal, modern vibe of the space and client has been…a quest. A side quest. But despite the struggle, I actually feel good about what I’ve collected so far. The more I sift through options, the clearer the aesthetic becomes, not just for the project, but for how I think about design in general. Now we wait for feedback yet again. Wish me luck!
Baby steps, mood boards, and maybe fewer internal meltdowns. We’re getting somewhere.
- Michelle Ayyiya
Week 6
Clarity, At Long Last
November 10, 2025 - November 14, 2025
This week felt like stepping out of a fog I didn’t realize I’d been wandering through. After turning in my 20–10–10 mood-board workout last week, I finally got feedback, real feedback, on what the client actually wants for their bed and headboard situation. And suddenly… everything started clicking.
Marco, in his magical “let me draw something real quick” way, sketched out a direction to help me start brainstorming. Honestly, that sketch might’ve saved my life (or at least my sanity). With clearer insight into the client’s preferences and a visual roadmap, I went from floundering to focused.
So I rolled up my sleeves and started working—actually working, not overthinking every choice into oblivion. For the first time in this project, I have a path. A direction. A vibe that isn’t just floating around in my brain like a creative ghost.
FINALLY.
Baby steps, sure. But this week those steps felt intentional, grounded, and exciting. Here’s to clarity, progress, and the small victories that make the design process feel a little less chaotic.
-Michelle Ayyiya
Week 7
Down the Headboard Rabbit Hole
November 17, 2025 - November 21, 2025
This week, I discovered something important: I really like to know how things work… sometimes more than I actually need to.
What started as “let me refine the headboard concept” quickly turned into me researching the full-blown logistics of how this kind of headboard is built, assembled, and installed, like I was suddenly apprenticing to become a carpenter or running a fabrication shop. Do I now know more than necessary? Possibly. Will it come in handy? Debatable. Did I have fun? Weirdly, yes.
I moved into SketchUp and Layout this week, diving into the technical side and starting actual drawings for the headboard and bed frame. Seeing it take shape in a way that’s measurable and real (instead of just floating in “concept land”) was pretty satisfying. Even if, at some point, I might get told, “Michelle… that part isn’t actually your job,” I’m still counting it as a win.
Overall, it was a productive week of figuring things out, building skills, and maybe… slightly overachieving. But hey,better too much curiosity than not enough, right?
-Michelle Ayyiya
Week 8
Furniture? I Barely Know Her
November 24, 2025 - November 28, 2025
This week was all about connecting the technical with the tactile. I kept refining the headboard technical drawings, making sure every line and measurement supported the direction of the design.
At the same time, I pivoted into researching upholstery fabric combinations, an essential part of finalizing the look and making sure the design feels cohesive and intentional. From textures to tones, I explored options that would work with the headboard concept and the broader aesthetic of the room. Alongside that, I looked into specific side tables and lighting options to make sure the full design package would come together seamlessly.
To keep everything organized (and my brain functional), I compiled all of it into a sort of “junk journal.” Not junk in quality, just a catch-all document where every product, fabric option, and design choice is clearly labeled and easy to reference. If the moment comes to present these options to the powers above me, I am ready.
A productive week of design choices, technical refinement, and laying the groundwork for a fully realized headboard design.
-Michelle Ayyiya
Week 9
Back to the Drawing Board (Literally)
December 1, 2025 - December 5, 2025
This week was all about tightening up the technical side of the project. After working through the drawings digitally and studying the structure from every angle, I made a very practical decision: to complete my final technical drawings by hand. No nostalgia, no “I miss the old ways” just the realization that for this project, hand drafting will give me the cleanest, clearest final result.
I also started putting together a full presentation of materials and finishes. Fabrics, textures, woods, and all the elements the client requested are organized in a way that lets them see multiple combinations and choose what fits them best. Even though I won’t ever meet this client or present to them directly, I still wanted to make sure the options were thoughtful, organized, and easy to interpret.
A week of finalizing, refining, and preparing everything for the finish line.
-Michelle Ayyiya