Meet Isaiah Walsh, the newest member of our Interior Design Team!
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
Isaiah: I am an Interior Designer originally from Maquoketa, IA. I received my BFA in interior design from Iowa State University in May 2024. I joined the Klingner team shortly thereafter. I’ve worked for the Iowa State University Facilities Planning & Management Department in Ames, IA, and for HGA Architects & Engineers in the Milwaukee, WI, office. These experiences have given me insight on the many different aspects of work in the A/E world. Outside of the office, I enjoy playing the piano, being outdoors (especially near waterfalls), meandering through art museums, and flipping through design and modern art coffee table books.
Q: Why did you want to become an Interior Designer?
Isaiah: I wanted to become an interior designer because I have always been fascinated with the various ways that different people interact with space. More specifically, I enjoy seeing how individuals furnish and accessorize their spaces to tell their story.
Q: What piece of advice would you give someone choosing the same career?
Isaiah: Never underestimate the value of reading and research! It is important to understand that, more than designing spaces to be attractive, we are designing spaces that must serve both the spoken and unspoken needs of our clients. We are able to accomplish this through a keen understanding of the people we are serving, accompanied by our knowledge of psychology, ergonomics, aesthetics, and so much more.
Q: Is there a project you’ve worked on thus far in your career that you’re proudest of?
Isaiah: In my work at Iowa State University Facilities Planning & Management, I was able to see my first fully realized project. Despite being a fairly small project – putting new systems furniture and office furniture inside an existing space – it was so rewarding to return to a space that I had designed and see people utilizing it. It was especially rewarding as the project was riddled with accessibility and life safety challenges that I was able to successfully overcome. Prior to this project, the work I completed in design studios often ended at renderings, and I was not able to see people actually occupying the spaces that I designed.
Q: Why did you decide to join the Klingner team?
Isaiah: Before making the decision to join the Klingner team, I felt a tremendous amount of warmth from the employees that I was able to interact with. I left every conversation with a smile on my face as well as a tremendous amount of excitement about the mentorship that I would receive and the work that I would be doing with such a friendly and talented team.
Q: What is your karaoke “go-to” song?
Isaiah: “Don’t Stop Believin” is an absolute classic. It lets me show off my (insufficient) range and when the going gets tough, it is familiar enough that the audience will chime in!