Emily Smith

Emily Smith is an assistant professor with VCU Interior Design and a certified interior designer. A self-described generalist, Emily’s research is focused on several areas. She currently co-leads an interdisciplinary, community-engaged design studio for VCUarts called the middle Of broad studio. The studio creates opportunities for VCU students to work on interdisciplinary teams with Richmond community members who need design concepts to address real issues. Her collaboration with a design historian, titled Patterns of Place, studies patterns of the built environment and nature to understand culture, time, and place. This work has led to the development of new student programs on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and in Sicily where pattern study provides a unique opportunity to understand the impacts of climate change and resiliency. Through a recent project, Material Being, she and an interdisciplinary team of VCU researchers endeavor to create an interactive materials database through which people can share and learn new methodologies for understanding materials. Emily’s professional practice includes working with firms on the west and east coasts of the United States and with the US Green Building Council on LEED-certified project teams. She has an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BS from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.