Mara Overbey
Evanston,IL
Summary
Innova8ve interior designer with 20 years of experience in the interior design field, specializing in hospitality, health care, higher educa8onal facili8es, and mix-use housing projects. Preparing design deliverables: Developing drawings, mood boards, images, and materials, including space planning, furniture selec8on, and fixtures Presen8ng design concepts: Explaining design ideas to the team and presen8ng them to the client Managing projects: Ensuring projects are completed on 8me and within budget, and making decisions that benefit the client and project Collabora8ng with others: Working with consultants, vendors, and fabricators, as well as liaising with external design teams Mentoring junior designers: Training, mentoring, and overseeing the workload of junior designers Staying current: Con8nuing professional development to stay up to date on design trends
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Interior Designer
Fulton Developers
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Working with clients to understand their needs and ideas
- Planning the space: Considering how the space will be used and how people will move through it
- Selecting materials: Choosing colors, and lighting to create an inviting ambiance
- Creating plans: Generating 2D and mood boards, including electrical and partition layouts
- Managing the project: Overseeing construction, coordinating with contractors, and ensuring the project is completed on time and budget
- Ensuring quality: Making sure the space meets relevant building codes, health regulations, and inspection requirements
- Providing advice: Offering professional advice on space layout, reconfigurations, and product specifications
- Oversee the installation of light fixtures, countertops and cabinetry, doors, plumbing, tile and paint
- Visiting the site: Checking in with the client after completing the project to ensure their satisfaction
Design Coordinator/Material Specialist
Cannon Design
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Assist Senior Designer with choices during initial meetings, design reviews, vendor meetings, and site and showroom visits
- Build strong relationships with vendors by conducting professional networking to ensure high-quality resources for projects
- Assisted Senior Designer with designing and installing materials, furniture pieces, light fixtures, and finishes
- Researched and sourced materials and items to adhere to strict budgetary guidelines
- Ensured efficient office operations and managed areas like scheduling, record-keeping, and organization
- Assisted in client presentation and material selection, contributing to the firm's reputation for excellence and attention to detail
Design Resource Coordinator
VOA Associates, Incorporated
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Point of contact with all vendors that reach out and visit Interior Concepts
- This includes: scheduling vendor presentations, events, and appointments and communicating the needs of design teams
- Arrange and schedule presentations of products by vendors in the library and communicate dates and times with the designers
- Maintain, catalog, and organize an up-to-date Resource Library with stocked material and samples
- Assist designers in locating materials and information
- File new material
- Ensure all materials that are borrowed from the library are returned and filed appropriately
- Arrange for vendors to pick up samples/resources if needed
Lead Interior Designer
MarUnez and CurUs
01.2001 - 01.2008
- Designed and managed a full renovation of a luxury mix-use housing, including the selection of furniture, fixtures, and accessories
- Developed a series of custom furniture pieces for higher educational facilities resulting in a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing workspace
- Collaborated with a team of architects and contractors to ensure the successful completion of a high-end residential project
- Created color boards of proposed designs for a commercial space, allowing the client to visualize the potential of the space before construction began
- Prepare specification books, including furniture, fabrics, and finishes for each project
- Oversaw the selection and procurement of FF&E, managing budgets up to $2M and negotiating with suppliers to secure optimal pricing
- Conducted comprehensive client consultations, identifying needs and expectations to deliver tailored design solutions
- Collaborated with architects and engineers to ensure design integrity and adherence to codes
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Pain8ng
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana01.1990
Associate of Science - Interior Design
Purdue University
West LafayeNe, Indiana01.2000
Herron Art School - Visual Communica8ons
Herron Art School
Indianapolis, IN01.1998
Skills
- Organizational skills
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Leadership skills
- Team building
- Self-starter
- Team player
- Highly motivated
- Creative
- Dedicated
- Ambitious
- Proficiency in AutoCAD
- Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop
- Proficiency in MS Office
Timeline
Lead Interior Designer
Fulton Developers
01.2022 - 01.2024
Design Coordinator/Material Specialist
Cannon Design
01.2017 - 01.2019
Design Resource Coordinator
VOA Associates, Incorporated
01.2013 - 01.2015
Lead Interior Designer
MarUnez and CurUs
01.2001 - 01.2008
Associate of Science - Interior Design
Purdue University
Herron Art School - Visual Communica8ons
Herron Art School
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Pain8ng
Ball State University
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