VCU School of the Arts design students from Richmond and Qatar meet in London

A group of Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts design students from both the Richmond and Qatar campuses had an opportunity to explore their fields and get to know one another during a first-time design field trip in London.

Allan Hing, VCU professor in interior design and six students from the Department of Interior Design in Richmond joined Liam Coloquin, professor in interior design and 40 interior design and communication arts students from VCU Qatar for the design study trip this fall.

The students were participating in the 10th annual 100% Design Exhibition of interior design furniture, materials and lighting. The students enjoyed a variety of art and interior design activities as well as office visits to design firms such as Gensler and Associates, which placed first in Interior Design Magazine's Design Giants; Zaha Hadid, the 2004 Pritzker Architecture Prize recipient and architect for the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Museum; Imagination, an interactive design firm; and RTKL, a Washington, D.C.,-based design firm.

The group also attended a symposium exploring origins, journeys and achievements at the Royal Institute of British Architects. In addition, the students visited the Design Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and British Museums; and St. Martin's Lane and Sanderson — two boutique hotels. The students also had time to talk with each other about their studies, their work and campus life in Richmond and Qatar.