Moving Out So He Can Move Up

Even though plenty of schools close to Travis Mimm's home in New Jersey offer interior design degree programs, Travis opted to move over 1,000 miles south to Tampa specifically to attend the International Academy of Design & Technology. During an AutoCAD drafting internship he did in New Jersey, Travis was mentored by an interior design grad from the Academy in Tampa. "I was really impressed with the skill level she had for her age. She stood out in the company," he says. Travis was so impressed with his mentor, in fact, he says he never really even looked at any schools other than the Academy.

Travis admits the move south was hard at first. "Going from New Jersey to Florida was definitely a culture shock," he admits. But he eventually settled in to both life in Tampa and at the Academy. "I'm as impressed with the Academy as I thought I would be," he says. "It is very hands-on and very innovative, yet the department is constantly looking for ways to be better."

Travis is also impressed that he is far from the only student to relocate to attend the Academy. "In class, I'm sitting next to kids from all over the world: Bermuda, Brazil, West Virginia, Missouri. I'm meeting interesting people. That's great not only because I'm getting exposed to new and different ideas, which is important in design, but also because of the networking opportunities it allows. Now I can land in so many more places."

Wherever Travis lands, though, he feels confident his degree from the Academy will have prepared him well. Travis still has three quarters to go, yet he's already able to do freelance design work, taking on projects for a firm in New Jersey and Tampa-area contractors. He also teaches AutoCAD workshops at school. "This school prepares you for jobs—even before you graduate."