Desirae Brelje credits watching home makeover shows with her grandparents and spending time with her father while he managed construction sites as the beginning of a life-long curiosity about creating and transforming spaces.
Through her father, who owns a construction company, she was able to experience first-hand the many layers of physical labor and technical expertise that went into building a new home. As a child, she sometimes even helped with small, supervised tasks around a job site.
She found the connection between design and construction fascinating and loved the idea of hands-on work bringing ideas to life.
After graduating from Farmington Senior High School in 2020, she wanted to explore a career in the design field. She began her studies at Dakota County Technical College, where she received an A.A.S. degree in Interior Design in 2022.
From there, Brelje took a gap year and researched her options to complete a bachelor’s degree. The Interior Design Program at Dunwoody College of Technology stood out, and she enrolled in Spring 2024.
“I felt that Dunwoody would be a better fit for me and my learning style,” she said.
The small class sizes appealed to her, and she quickly felt the direct support of her instructors.
“There is lots of feedback here, and the teachers really push you to succeed,” she said. “I also appreciated that all of my instructors brought real world experience into the classroom.”
As she got further into her studies, she realized she had a growing interest not only in the creative aspects of design, but also the many small details that are part of any large-scale building project.
Building codes, for example.
Sarah North, Assistant Professor in the Interior Design program, took notice.
“I first met her (Brelje) in a Universal Design class where we have a heavy focus on building codes,” North said. “On the first day of class she mentioned how she ‘loved building codes’ and I thought she was faking it!”
But North soon realized that Brelje was serious.
“She took an active interest in learning about Fire and Life Safety and better understanding the performance and health of materiality,” North said.
Brelje was selected by the School of Design faculty to receive an Academic Excellence Award this year. Criteria for the award includes maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher, demonstrating a solid work ethic, extra-curricular participation, collegiate camaraderie, pursuit of excellence, and self-awareness.
“Desirae is an excellent student, classmate, and designer,” North said. “She has a deep understanding of her role in the design of the built environment, and the relationships and collaboration it takes to produce beautiful and functional interiors.”
Receiving the award was a gratifying moment for Brelje.
“At times, the stress of pushing myself creatively and academically can feel overwhelming,” she said. “It shows me that the passion and care I put into my work are being seen and appreciated, which motivates me even more to continue growing and challenging myself.”
The desire to foster community and support among her peers inspired Brelje to help initiate Dunwoody’s Women in Design club, and she served as co-president of the organization. In addition to providing support and connection among students in the design programs, the group hosted an architectural panel and co-sponsored a speaker event with the Dunwoody chapter of NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architects) during Women’s History Month.
The network of mutual support gave Brelje confidence to take on challenging class projects and helped her discover an interest in using design to enhance healthy communities.
Her senior capstone allowed her to explore this theme.
“This project has inspired my interest in wellness design and the meaningful impacts I intend to create,” she said. “My project focuses on supporting veterans’ transition back into society and explores how thoughtfully designed environments can promote healing, resilience, and a sense of belonging.”
Brelje conducted in-depth research on therapeutic design principles, including biophilic elements, spatial flow, and sensory experiences, and how to apply these strategies to create functional and calming spaces.
“It’s rewarding to see my ideas come to life in a way that combines my hands-on skills with a strong social purpose, and my capstone has really helped to reinforce my beliefs in the power design holds to make real differences in people’s lives,” she said.
In her free time, Brelje unwinds by spending time with her boyfriend, enjoying opportunities to travel, and discovering new foods and experiences. She loves outdoor activities in the summer, like paddle boarding and taking long walks with her two Australian shepherds.
“Some of the most valuable lessons I have learned at Dunwoody are the importance of inclusivity, designing for well-being, and the power of collaborative environments,” Brelje said. “I look forward to continued growth as a designer while creating environments that positively impact peoples’ daily lives.”