he expo was arranged for interior design students to meet with vendors from all over the country - including many from Texas - to display their products.

Ann-Claire Breitling, a senior interior design major from Dalhart, said she expected a turnout of about 130 students and 41 vendors at the expo.



"This is the biggest it has been this year," Breitling, ASID president, said.

Also taking place Tuesday was The Learning Lunch, sponsored by Bentley Prince Street and Ultron, for students and ASID officers. Breitling said the luncheon attracted about 100 students. Those in attendance shared the color forecasts for 2008 and environmental designs using "green" products - recyclable products such as aluminum.

Interior designers are learning more about recyclable products because of global warming. Students also learned about the most popular color for 2007 - blue. Colors are chosen based on fashion trends, politics, vehicles and committee boards.

Emily Licata, a sophomore interior design major from Argyles, said students in the interior design field were required to attend Tuesday's event at the Merket Alumni Center. Students were able to use this time to network with the different companies in hopes of building contacts for future reference.



"To be honest, I was required to come (to the expo)," Licata said. "But, I came last year, and it's just kind of neat to see all the different products and samples that they have."

Dana Hansen, chair of the Design Expo and a junior marketing major and interior design minor from Plano, said the expo can help benefit those students wanting a career in interior design, because they can decide now what field they would like to pursue.

"It is a really good opportunity for students to see what area of the industry they want to go into," Hansen said, "whether it is commercial, residential, sales, carpet production, office furniture - and we even have mosaic art here."

Vendors brought various samples of their products, fabrics, tiles, laminates and colors to the expo for display. ROJO Distributors, Inc., a Lubbock laminate company that is a supplier for WilsonArt and Karran Sinks, specifically caters to designers and architects.

Hansen said a lot of planning went into this event. She was responsible for reserving the place of venue, making logos, coming up with a theme, e-mailing vendors, creating brochures and organizing the raffle drawing.

Her position is a job in itself and was hectic during the event, she said. But the end result is beneficial for students in attendance.

"People love coming (to this event)," she said. "It is a great opportunity for them to see Tech students and how we interact professionally."

Breitling said interior designers lean toward working with electrical components, lighting arrangements, floor plans, placement of air ducts and space planning. The industry does not focus on the decorative style - as many may assume - but, more on the architectural designs of a building or home.