NOT A FAREWELL TO INTERIOR DESIGN

In West Valley College’s Interior Design Department, the tall windows that offer a glimpse of the bustling campus outside emanate a certain sense of openness and inspiration. These windows allow an abundance of natural light to flood the space but also provide a visual connection to the dynamic environment beyond, thereby inviting creativity and fostering a sense of community among the student designers.

Diane Hurd’s career trajectory wasn’t always clear from the start. Born and raised in San Jose, Diane was initially faced with the traditional options for women of that era—marriage, nursing, or secretarial work—but Diane sought something different. After becoming an assistant teacher at her local church, she discovered her interest in teaching but realized she didn’t want to limit herself to teaching at her local church.

Upon entering San Jose State University, Diane’s search for her passion continued. It wasn’t until she found interior design on the list of majors that her path became clear. After earning her degree in commercial design, Diane continued in that field for 15 years, working with two architecture firms and various commercial furniture dealers.

“I taught the first class on the first day, and I will never forget leaving the classroom, shutting the door, getting into my car, and thinking, ‘That was pretty fun. Maybe I can do this.’”

Diane found herself unexpectedly teaching a class at the College of San Mateo, even though she had no prior teaching experience beyond what she had gained in her church. Despite her initial hesitation, she quickly discovered a passion for sharing her professional knowledge with students. After two years of teaching at the College of San Mateo, Diane moved on to teach at San Jose State University. However, she ultimately landed at West Valley College a year later, where she spent 31 years teaching interior design and serving as the department chair. “I taught the first class on the first day, and I will never forget leaving the classroom, shutting the door, getting into my car, and thinking, ‘That was pretty fun. Maybe I can do this.’ I realized, although I didn’t have teaching experience, I had professional experience that I could share with students.”

Diane’s teaching philosophy centers on giving students first-hand knowledge of the profession and how it operates in real-life scenarios. She focuses on translating theoretical concepts into practical interior design practice, emphasizing that her primary goal is to help students bridge the gap between academic knowledge and professional application. “I don’t want the students to just know the theory,” she explains, “but to translate and transform it into how that theory is implemented in interior design practice.” She adds, “Everything I teach is about how they can take that into the profession, and I guess you can say that is my basic philosophy on interior design.”

Diane’s aspiration for her students is for them to grasp the significance of interior design. As they work with environments where individuals live, dine, labor, and engage in recreational activities, Diane’s objective for her students is to shape people’s lives through impactful designs.

Diane feels her most profound sense of fulfillment during the spring semester’s conclusion, when she beholds her students and their families brimming with smiles and adorned with a sense of accomplishment. Witnessing these students’ successes, whether in significant projects or small endeavors throughout the year, elicits a profound joy in Diane. It signifies to her that her students have absorbed the knowledge and confidence essential for stepping into their respective fields.

Beyond her immediate purview as a department chair for the Interior Design Department, Diane’s role extends to engaging with diverse colleagues and areas of expertise. This expanded responsibility includes administrative duties, and over the years, Diane has had the opportunity to witness and navigate various administrative landscapes, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities.

With her potential retirement, the subject of Diane’s legacy has been brought up. While the term “legacy” may seem grandiose to her, Diane has reached the conclusion that her legacy primarily comprises the environment she cultivated. “All I am doing is my job,” she says, “and crossing my fingers two times that it has worked out. But on a serious note, I believe my legacy lies in maintaining the Interior Design program’s professionalism and fostering a culture of collaboration.”

After her retirement, Diane’s involvement with interior design will remain steadfast. Her focus will shift towards engaging in pro bono projects with a charitable organization. The objective of these projects is to facilitate collaborations between students and designers, directing their collective expertise towards projects for nonprofit organizations, charities, or individuals typically unable to afford professional interior design services. These initiatives are not only advantageous for student’s portfolios, but they also provide a platform for them to engage with potential clientele and the field at large. Furthermore, it enables Diane to maintain her connections with students and continue sharing her knowledge with them.

The pandemic has not left the field of interior design untouched, and it has prompted an evolution in the way designers approach both indoor and outdoor spaces. Diane believes that the future of the field will involve a more meticulous consideration of space, particularly as society transitions from open layouts to more enclosed designs due to social distancing requirements.

West Valley College would like to establish The Diane and Peter Hurd Memorial Scholarship.  

West Valley College hopes to create a scholarship endowment to provide a permanent source of funds to award annually to students studying interior design.

Their goal is to raise $25,000 to establish the scholarship endowment in Diane and Peter’s memory. Donations are fully tax-deductible and can be made online with your credit card.

If you would like to donate by check, please make checks payable to West Valley-Mission Foundation and mail to: the Office of Advancement, 14000 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070.

Thank you for your contribution to honoring the memory and lives of Diane and Peter.