Alumni
Alumna is Studio Operations Stylist for Living Spaces
New Smyrna Beach, Florida native Shelby Greene had her sights set on FIDM from a young age. After attending 3 Days of Fashion, where she networked with fellow future students and alumni, she was accepted into the Visual Communications program as a high school junior. Since graduating in 2018, Shelby has worked as a Visual Merchandiser at Guess, a Design Studio Specialist at Pottery Barn Kids, and she’s currently a Studio Operations Stylist at Living Spaces. We caught up with the former FIDM Student Ambassador to learn more about her inspiring journey.
When did you first show signs of creativity? As young as I can remember, maybe five or six years old. I was always super crafty with an entrepreneur mindset, always wanting to create items I could sell. I once organized a summer camp with planned activities for my friends and me, turned a spare bedroom into a gift shop, wrote and designed newsletters for my entire family, played restaurant with handmade uniforms and menus, and even wrote and illustrated children's books.
What was your path to FIDM like? I was accepted my junior year of high school because I knew exactly what I wanted to do for my career and the goals I had. I networked with other future students and alums at 3 Days of Fashion the summer prior to starting and became super close with my Admissions Advisor who helped put me in the right path of success. Touring the campus and meeting my advisor before attending was fantastic and opened my eyes on everything FIDM.
Any favorite FIDM memories? My favorite times at FIDM were the six-hour lab classes and becoming super close with my group members for projects. Design Installation and Materials & Props were my absolute favorite classes. I made my greatest friends and learned so many valuable techniques that I still use today. I also loved being involved in the clubs at Student Activities. When I first started FIDM, I was in all six clubs available at the time. I made so many friends and it helped me become more confident and comfortable on campus.
How did FIDM help prepare you for your career? All the classes, I believe, puzzle pieced together to make me successful in my career. I learned the most by working my entire time at FIDM and doing internships. I think it is super important to continue learning even outside the classroom. By the time I graduated, I already was working full-time in the industry and had a lot of experience under my belt. Being super connected to the Career Center and their counselors is key to finding the right job or internship. I found out about a Living Spaces internship through FIDM, which three years later turned into my dream job.
Tell us about your role as a Studio Stylist at Living Spaces: In my role, I design, plan, and execute room layouts to be photographed and used for the product pages online, the homepage, social media, catalogs, and once in a while commercial campaigns or product videos. My goal is to romanticize the product in a room setting to make it appear more desirable, inspirational, and help the consumer visualize it being used in their home.
What do you love most about working in visuals and interiors? I love the endless creativity and inspiration gained on a daily basis. I am constantly researching trends and new ideas to challenge myself and just have fun with what I create.
How have things changed for you since the Covid pandemic? My specific role hasn't changed, however the online business has grown dramatically since the pandemic began. Since I know the audience will be larger online now, I have since pushed myself further to create very inspirational and beautiful room settings. I am always looking for new ideas and watching the trends to keep the content appealing to all audiences.
What advice would you share with current students and new grads? Work, work, work! Never stop learning and pushing yourself. No matter how hard it is, the outcome is so worth it. I worked three jobs while at FIDM, but the end result was so worth it. Stay connected with instructors you feel you relate best with, stay in contact with the Career Center, and network between other students and even people in your UberPool rides. Trust me, you never know who you'll meet.
See more of Shelby’s work on Instagram @ShelbyGreeneInteriors.
Living Spaces photos by Armando Lopez
Categories: Visual Communication Alumni
