Interior design student throws silent pottery auction to raise funds for women in India
In the fall, senior interior design students at O'More College of Design were challenged to join forces with Fernando Lima's architecture studio and reimagine settlements in Ahmedabad, India. Using their thesis research from the spring semester, they applied their findings to help solve problems of accessibility, housing and public health.
Rachel Moore (‘24), who was studying in the interior design adult degree program at the time, saw an opportunity to take her capstone project far beyond a typical academic exercise and make a tangible impact.
"My research was on the health benefits of pottery – the centering nature of working with the earth, working with your hands, returning to trades," Moore said. "I was inspired by my own personal journey with pottery, and it ended up translating really well into this particular project."
Her studio design included carefully considered elements: a gallery, pottery learning center, storage options, kilns, glazing areas and café spaces. Designing with accessibility in mind, she also included ramps and kick wheels that require no electricity.
"You have to let the culture permeate everything that you design," Moore said. She researched Indian textiles and incorporated traditional architectural elements like Jali screens, which provide natural ventilation.
Each interior designer on the team designed a different space, based on the building plan provided by the architecture students.
“The experience helped de-myth interior design for me,” said Moore. “We immediately jumped into hand drafting and learning about the importance of materiality. We got to understand the power of architecture and interior design together.”
Students were also challenged by professor Finis Eliot to design and conceptualize furniture for their spaces – a first in their academic experience. Moore proposed flat-pack furniture as an eco-friendly, customizable solution that could be assembled without tools.
Blending her artistic passion with social impact, Moore brought her project to the next level – a silent pottery auction to take place at the O’More senior show.
"The idea sparked because I knew someone who runs a nonprofit called Harvest Frontiers, and I knew he would be able to ensure that the proceeds went directly to women in India," Moore said. Rachel raised $810 for this group, with the money designated for tailoring programs.
Working with O’More professor Kathy Worthington, Moore gathered her classmates for a collaborative pottery class. Each student created a unique piece that would be part of a silent auction during their senior show.
"It was such a special, calming experience for each of us," Moore recalled. "It's just better together – creating together, decompressing together, trying a new experience together. There was so much collaboration and a beautiful journey."
Belmont’s interior design adult degree program stood out during her research, and she decided to take the leap. “I had some friends who were established here in Nashville, and they love it. It felt like a new adventure,” said Moore.
In her time at Belmont, she immersed herself in diverse experiences, studying abroad in Italy, interning at a high-end residential firm, and contributing to a project with Freedom House, a Nashville nonprofit supporting survivors of human trafficking.
"I am so grateful for how I relearned how to learn," Moore said. "I relearned how to focus, and the power of digging deeper into a subject."
Her professors and peers became a source of continuous inspiration. "The students are ready to learn and ready for excellence. The professors are ready to share their knowledge, their time and their experience so willingly, and they’ve become some of my favorite people I’ve encountered. They’ve been a huge blessing in my life and I’m so grateful.”
As she prepares for life after Belmont, Moore is eager to stay in Nashville and continue growing in her field. Whether she pursues commercial design or launches her own business, one thing remains clear:
“No matter the call, I think emphasizing creativity and bringing beauty to a space always be the goal.”
Learn more about interior design at Belmont