Chicago Interior Designer, Jordan Guide

Jordan Guide - Chicago Based Interior Designer

Jordan Guide’s love of design began at an early age, during visits to her Grandfather’s in-home design studio at Lake Point Tower. Her active imagination was not to be limited by coloring books and crayons, she preferred blank paper and her Grandfather’s Letraset. The environment could not be more inspiring: floor to ceiling windows, a collage of logo designs adorned the office and her Grandmother topped off the living spaces with contemporary Bauhaus furniture and fixtures. It was this exposure to creative minds and appreciation for design and architecture that continues to define her personal style.

As a young student, Jordan was eager to pursue higher education and graduated high school one year ahead of schedule. She used her head start in College to explore graphic art and fine art at the College of DuPage. She earned her first Associates Degree in The Arts in 1999. Hesitant to begin the life of a starving artist, she enrolled in a more business oriented curriculum at DePaul University, majoring in Marketing and Advertising. However, it only took one semester into business school for her to realize that she needed to follow her passion in the familiar world of art and design.

She used her time away from school that summer to travel to Europe. After a three month trip to France, where she marveled over the Architectural Mecca that is Paris, she returned home with a renewed sense of commitment to the field that would become her profession. This time it would be more than classroom learning, she sought real world experience in Interior Design and was fortunate to find a mentor in Barbara Pallat, Principal of the prestigious Barbara Pallat Interiors located in Burr Ridge, IL.

Her full time school schedule did not keep her from aiding in the completion of Barbara’s projects. Through these projects, she acquired first-hand experience in residential design, gaining valuable knowledge in the creation of custom interiors, business management, client relations and the Merchandise Mart. In her final year of design school and mentorship she was taking on clients as a junior designer under the supervision of Barbara. Upon graduation in 2003, she accepted a full time position with Barbara and continued to work toward her professional designation as an Interior Designer.

In her quest to expand her design experience Jordan accepted an executive design assistant position at a Chicago commercial design firm, specializing in hospitality design. This experience proved essential to her understanding of public spaces and code requirements. It was also important real world experience in preparation for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Exam. In late 2006 Jordan met the experience requirement and was able to successfully pass the NCIDQ exam. In 2007 she was able to register with the State of Illinois and attained the designation of Interior Designer. She returned to Barbara Pallat Interiors with a new position as an Independent Interior Designer.

In late 2007, Jordan’s first project gained her immediate recognition from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), earning a first place Design Excellence Award in the Universal Design category, for her design of an ADA specialty kitchen. Jordan has also received the title “Rising Star” in i4Design Magazines Suite Sixteen Issue in 2008. Other notable projects include: Marlboro VIP Room Campaign, Europe, Carnivore Steak House, Milwaukee, WI. and Bri’Zan Couture, Naperville, IL. She is currently working on the offices for Beta Investment Group in Chicago, IL.

Jordan sits as an advisory board member for College of DuPage, and serves as an active continuing education advocate and interior design spokeswoman to design students. She holds a Professional Membership to the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and Illinois Interior Design Coalition (IIDC).

Jordan recently launched a Wall Decals online store (WALLTAT) featuring the latest in wall décor WALLTAT.com sells wall décor made of removable wall decals created by artist from around the globe. Her own collection of wall decals is expected in the spring of 2009.