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Designing the Next Chapter

Two old friends are using their history to shape the future.

By Texas Tech University

January 20^th, 2026

The lobby of Hotel Washington hums with quiet anticipation. For the Texas Tech interior design students and mentors gathering here, this trip is more than a change of scenery; it is a doorway into a wider world of ideas and opportunities, where history, design and possibility overlap. Just as the hotel itself overlooks the monuments that define American identity, the journey represents a chance to see design not as an abstract concept confined to textbooks, but as something lived, built and deeply connected to who we are.

A group of silhouetted people look out a large window at the Washington Monument on a rainy day. One person holds up a phone, presumably taking a photo.

Leading the effort are Michelle Pearson and John Botello. Michelle, who grew up in Slaton, Texas, and John, a native of Roswell, New Mexico, and Lubbock, were interior design classmates in the early 2010s at Texas Tech. They met in the College of Health & Human Sciences computer lab where they both worked as student assistants; they bonded over Chick-fil-A sandwiches, Chaco sandals and helping other students with design projects. Initially, Michelle was not planning on teaching, but her knack for mentoring and desire to help those around her would play a big role in her future. John had a written timeline of his career goals, culminating in a position at the White House.

Even though they were a couple of years apart in classification, their professor, Don Collier, kept creating opportunities where their paths overlapped. He curated student experiences, many involving travel, where they were able to see iconic design in person, making it tangible and attainable. Through these trips, they visited San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Newport, and New York City: some of the epicenters of American culture and the foundations of design as we see it today.

Michelle and John remember those experiences like they were yesterday. They both learned, firsthand, the value of seeing design beyond the classroom, and they took those lessons with them beyond graduation.

Michelle is now the Interior Design program director in the College of Health & Human Sciences. John is the Deputy Chief Usher/Acting Chief Usher and Creative Director for the Executive Residence at The White House, where he has served since 2017. Yet, no matter how far they were separated professionally, they stayed in touch – united in the conviction that those trips had changed everything.

Now established in their own careers, they decided it was time to bring that tradition back – together.

A group of young women in business attire listen to a speaker in a wood-paneled room. The women hold brochures and wear name tags.

“Those experiences shaped us,” Michelle recalls. “We wanted today’s students to have that same chance to see the world differently, to see design differently.”

“I don’t think I would be where I am today without these types of experiences I had as a student,” John adds. “It really opened my eyes to new possibilities outside of the occupations you would generally associate with the interior design world.”

For him, these possibilities turned into professional roles in creative direction, event design/production, hospitality, and institutional management within museums and private residences.

“More than anything, I want students to know they have endless options in fields beyond their imagination,” John adds. “Design can take you anywhere and the world is your oyster.”

Interior view through doorway of the Oval Office. The Presidential Seal hangs above the doorway. The American flag and Presidential flag flank the opening.

A group of young women in business attire hold booklets and champagne flutes, smiling in an ornate room.

Ornate room features a crystal chandelier, portrait, and floral arrangement. A doorway reveals a red room beyond, suggesting depth and history.

Close-up of gilded chair leg with carved floral detail and bright blue patterned upholstery.

A group of young professionals poses in front of the White House, making the

View through a window of white columns on a stone patio, overlooking a green lawn with a fountain.

Three people in business attire stand talking outside the White House. The man smiles while the women hold books. Construction fencing is visible in the background.

It was an added bonus for John that this inaugural trip was in his own backyard, but the Washington, D.C., trip was not simply a return to old traditions; it was a reimagining of them. Planning began over a year in advance, with the two curating an experience that would move fluidly between history and the present day. Their goal was not simply to show students famous buildings, but to provide them with an immersive lens through which to understand design as a lived practice.

The schedule was intricately designed: mornings spent in the quiet grandeur of the Great Hall and special collections of the Library of Congress or in dialogue with practicing designers at prestigious design firms. Afternoons spent exploring the Smithsonian and Holocaust museums alongside curators, visiting monuments and historic neighborhoods and homes or networking at a quaint garden party with high-profile, future colleagues. Evenings were spent gathered at a restaurant practicing etiquette or in the lobby of Hotel Washington reflecting on the day’s lessons and opportunities.

Interior view of the Library of Congress, featuring marble staircase, columns, and statue. Ornate ceiling with red and gold arched panels visible.

A group of women look upwards in an ornate room, one raises her hand.

A group of young women look at fabric swatches in an open book, in a wood-paneled library.

Woman shows artifacts to a group in a library. A woman with gray hair holds a box of small artifacts. Students surround the table, looking at the items. The room has wood paneling and shelves of books.

Hands hold fabric samples with stitched color swatches, displayed for a group of onlookers. Boxes of bookbinding materials sit on a table.

Open book shows a page with chair sketches and a biographical card about Thomas Chippendale. Card text includes details about his cabinet-making career.

Woman gestures while addressing a group in a library. Bookshelves line the wall behind her. The group listens attentively, some with arms crossed.

Open wooden card catalog drawer filled with index cards, red tops, labeled

Ornate ceiling features octagonal patterns and floral carvings, illuminated by a multi-tiered chandelier.

A group of young women stands in a circle listening to a woman in a museum rotunda. Marble columns surround them, and a statue is visible in the background. The woman speaks while holding papers.

A group of women stand in a museum gallery listening to a speaker. The speaker, wearing a hat, denim jacket and scarf, gestures with her hands. A framed portrait hangs on the wall behind them.

Overhead shot of a group walking down a wide, curving staircase in a museum. The walls are pale and a painting hangs at the top of the stairs.

Bronze sculpture of ballerina stands in glass case, back view. She wears a golden tutu and ribbon in her hair. Museum visitors are in the background.

Five women sit around a table in a Smithgroup office. The women are dressed in business casual attire. A sign reads

A group of young adults listens to a tour guide inside a brick building. A banner reads,

Skylight with steel beams and glass panes in a grid pattern, angled upward. The sky is overcast.

Hallway with brick walls covered in framed photos, people walk toward a lit doorway at the end.

Raindrops streak down the glass panels of a modern, geometric building facade. The panels have dark frames and reflect the cloudy sky.

Pile of worn, dark shoes filling the frame, receding into shadow against a wall. The shoes are various styles and sizes. Somber, low-key lighting.

They met up with Joe Imamura, a fellow Red Raider and Special Delegate of the Architect of the Capitol, who guided students through the hallways of the Capitol Building and accompanied them to Mount Vernon during its extensive preservation efforts. They walked through the Hillwood Estate of the late art collector Marjorie Merriweather Post, the daughter of Post, Texas-namesake C.W. Post. The group even visited the residence and expansive gardens of Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon, now called Oak Spring Garden Foundation. Bunny Mellon was an avid gardener and interior designer who worked closely with First Lady Jackie Kennedy to design many of the White House gardens are still present today.

A group of young women listen to a man in a suit who gestures while speaking in a large hall with marble floors and statues.

Two young women examine artifacts in a museum exhibit. One points to a bronze relief while the other holds a souvenir bag.

Person holds phone up, taking picture of ornate dome ceiling with arched windows.

Man in suit points while walking with woman in striped dress on path. Green trees and other people are in the background.

Group poses on the U.S. Capitol steps. A man in a suit and two women in business attire stand in the front row, surrounded by younger women in casual clothing.

Hydrangea flowers sit in a glass vase on a table. The flowers are white and green with dark green leaves. A patterned curtain hangs in the background.

Interior view of a modern room with a white leather lounge chair and ottoman. Large windows look out onto a green landscape. Neutral tones create a calm, minimalist atmosphere.

A group of women stand together, smiling and looking to the left. They are dressed in black or white dresses and hold glasses. The setting is outdoors with trees in the background.

Two bronze quail figurines stand on a round gold table in a bright, modern living room. A green couch and potted plant are in the background.

A group of young professionals gather and chat at an indoor networking event. Attendees wear name tags and business attire. A man in a suit smiles as he speaks with a woman in a black and white patterned shirt.

Brick mansion with gray roof and white trim, statue and manicured lawn in front. A curved driveway leads to the entrance.

A wall displays framed portraits of women and children in various sizes and ornate frames. The portraits appear to be vintage, black and white photographs.

Women in dresses walk along a stone path through a lush green garden toward a brick house with white columns.

Four women in dresses cross a wooden bridge in a lush garden. Sunlight dapples the water below. The dresses are light-colored, floral, and flowing.

Close-up of deutzia shrub with clusters of small white flowers blooming among green leaves.

Roses in a silver vase sit on a stack of magazines. Two women sit on a couch in the background. The room is lit warmly.

Three women sit at a table on a porch, smiling. Place settings with half-eaten food sit on a blue and white patterned tablecloth. The women wear name tags and summer dresses. White columns line the porch.

Close up of many white origami paper cranes attached to a tan textured wall.

Floral wallpaper with white blossoms, teal leaves, and brown branches against a textured green background. A butterfly with pink and blue wings flies near the bottom.

A group walks through a grassy field under a blue sky with scattered clouds. The people are dressed casually, and the man in front wears bright orange shoes. Trees are visible in the background.

Every moment was intentionally planned with specific people and locations in mind. No detail was overlooked, as you would expect from two so attentive to detail.

“There’s an aesthetic in every decision we make; everyone has a look and feel in how they tell their story, and all of these details tell the full story about the person or place,” John says. “It’s so interesting to see how people carry their lives with them in their homes and surroundings.”

What made their approach distinctive was the balance between history and contemporary relevance. John offered students a rare glimpse into the responsibilities of managing a space that functions simultaneously as a home, an accredited museum, an executive office and a stage for diplomacy: The White House. Michelle emphasized reflection and documentation, encouraging students to process their experiences through writing and photography. Together, they created a dynamic partnership – one opening institutional doors, the other guiding students in how to see and capture the meaning behind them, and collectively bringing specific individuals and institutions together to show the students what is possible.

A group of young women walks on a path toward Mount Vernon on a sunny day.

Building roof with a cupola and gold weather vane against a blue sky with white clouds.

“To paraphrase a quote from Don Collier, ‘no design is new design,’” John emphasizes. “We have to understand the roots to know where we’re going.”

The impact of their collaboration was evident in the students’ responses. Many spoke of the trip as a turning point: one that shaped not only their design sensibilities but also career trajectories and personal growth. For some, it was their first time engaging directly with practicing designers. For others, it was the chance to encounter historic works of architecture and design in person that transformed abstract textbook knowledge into lived understanding. Across the board, the trip expanded students’ sense of what was possible in their own careers, just as the trips did for Michelle and John when they were classmates.

“It was really amazing to see one student connect with the curator of Mount Vernon, realizing her great interest in the restoration of historical spaces,” John says. “Those are the types of interactions we hope for with these experiences.”

A crowd of people tours a bright green room with tall windows and ornate ceiling. Paintings hang on the walls, and a man in a blue shirt speaks to the group.

A group tours a large, tan building with white columns, under construction with scaffolding and yellow safety railings. A man in a blue shirt gestures to the group. Brown chairs sit on the green lawn in the foreground.

Low-angle shot of a beige building with a red roof and dormer windows, under a blue sky with scattered clouds and bright sunlight.

A tour guide gestures while speaking to a group of young adults outside on a tree-lined path. The guide wears a blue shirt and khaki pants. The group listens attentively.

A group walks on a brick path under trees. Several women and two men are visible. They are dressed casually and appear to be on a campus tour. — Michelle Pearson, John Botello, and Joe Imamura with students touring Mount Vernon.

“Seeing the students’ eyes when they walk into a space and hearing their reflections on it, that has truly been rewarding,” Michelle adds. “I can show them pictures of the Holocaust Museum, but unless they are able to experience the intentional design and feeling of the spaces, they don’t fully understand their impact.”

By reviving a tradition from their own education and tailoring it to the needs of today’s students, Michelle and John did more than plan a trip; they built a framework for mentorship, networking and cultural discovery that continues to shape lives after the students returned home. In doing so, Michelle and John not only honored the legacy of their professor but also extended it, ensuring that future designers would have the same chance to learn through travel, reflection and community.

“This is our program and I’m passionate about it,” Michelle smiles, “but getting to do this alongside one of my former classmates – it’s pretty amazing.”