Suzanne Scott

Background & Interests:

Teaches 3-dimensional design and interior design studio courses.  She is NCIDQ certified for professional practice, is a Professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC).  She is also Faculty Advisor to the UW-Madison Student Chapter ASID.

Suzanne’s doctoral research examining preferred attributes of interior environments was awarded the 1990 Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award.  Her teaching integrates an environment and behavior perspective with emphasis on satisfaction of human needs - functional, aesthetic, and behavioral - through design.  Noted publications include: Visual Attributes Related to Preferences in Interior Environments, Vol.2, Journal of Interior Design Education and Research (1992), Complexity and Mystery as Predictors of Interior Preferences, Vol.1, Journal of Interior Design (1993), How the Visual Environment is Perceived, Perspective (Spring 1995), Interior Design Visionaries' Explorations of Emerging Trends, Vol.2, Journal of Interior Design (1996). 

As Chair of the Standards Council of the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (formerly FIDER, Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research), the leading and most recognized accrediting body for interior design programs in North America, Suzanne works to assure the quality of design education.  She also served multiple terms on that organization’s Research Committee, and was a primary researcher and co-author of its widely recognized study, “The Future of Interior Design.”  She participated in the last major revision of educational standards in 1998 and is currently spearheading a major revisions project anticipated for publication in 2009.   Additionally, Suzanne served 6 yrs. on the Publication Board of the Journal of Interior Design (JID), holding offices of Chair and Treasurer.  She continues her commitment to advancing development and application of design research as a member of JID’s Editorial Review Board.