2025 Interns
At Via Design, our resource library is a crucial aspect of our design process—packed with an ever-growing collection of samples that help bring our creative visions to life. From tile and paint to fabrics, flooring, countertops, and more, the samples come in daily, each carefully selected by our team or showcased by reps. To keep everything organized and accessible, we rely on our talented design interns, who help manage this treasure trove of materials. It’s a dynamic and hands-on experience, and for our interns, it’s the perfect opportunity to dive into the world of interior design, learn about the industry’s ever-evolving trends, and keep our library as fresh and inspiring as the projects we create.
We interviewed our two newest design interns to learn why they chose to intern with us, what inspires them about interior design, and some of their favorite design trends.
Emmaly Garcia
Tell us about yourself!
I am Emmaly Garcia, I am from Belmont, Michigan. I am currently a senior at Kendall College of Art and Design, I am pursuing my degree in Interior Design.
Why did you choose to intern with Via Design?
I chose to intern with Via Design because of its amazing reputation for being innovative, creating thoughtful and impactful spaces. Not only that, but I was also always hearing from fellow classmates (Dia and Calyn) how wonderful the atmosphere is, and how to company feels like a family.
What inspires you most about interior design?
What inspires me most is the crafting that goes into it, not only that it reflects the client’s personality or taste, but that it can enhance the lives of those who interact within the space.
What are you passionate about?
I would say my true hobby is any kind of crafting, I love making things with my hands. The two main things I love making are jewelry and paintings, but really anything crafty is wonderful.
What’s your dream project to design or work on someday?
I would love to design a boutique hotel, something bold and eccentric.
If you could design a dream home for yourself, what is one must-have design feature it would include?
The one thing I would want is a sunroom, I want to be able to laydown on a comfortable sofa and read a book or even just look out the window to enjoy the sun.
Alison VanDeWalker
Tell us about yourself!
I grew up in Holland, Michigan, but I’ve called Grand Rapids home for the last 10 years. I now live in the Garfield Park neighborhood in a historic 1886 home with my husband, Andrew, and our furbabies, Penny and Buttons. I graduated from Calvin College in 2019 with degrees in Psychology and Recreational Therapy. In the following years, I discovered my passion lied in interiors, so I decided to go back to school. I’m now a junior in the interior design program at Kendall College of Art and Design, and very much looking forward to my future in design.
Why did you choose to intern with Via Design?
School can only teach you so much! I was itching to get involved in the field and gain hands-on experience, so an internship was the perfect first step. Via Design stood out to me as a well-established, highly professional and creatively diverse firm where I knew I would learn a lot. The resource library is so expansive and packed full of beautiful samples that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on!
What inspires you most about interior design?
The beauty, creativity, and expression of it all. Not only on the designing side, but the enjoyment side of it as well. The space you occupy has such an impact on you: your emotions, psyche, wellbeing. Not only does interior design make beautiful spaces, but also spaces that serve you and meet your needs. I want to design spaces that help people live their best lives and be their best selves.
What are you passionate about?
Vintage and historical design! I love the character, charm, and stories that come along with items and buildings that have lived a long and happy life already. I owned a vintage reselling business for 4 years and grew a love for vintage furniture, textiles, and home goods. Along with this came my passion for historical architecture and design. I feel passionate about incorporating vintage into everyday life to save money and the planet, as well as working to save historical elements in architecture and design instead of replacing with new.
If you could design a dream home for yourself, what is one must-have design feature it would include?
A dark, moody library! I dream about a room with floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves to store all of my vintage book collections, design magazines, and meaningful décor. It would either be finished in a dark oak or a deep bold paint color like aubergine, cranberry, or emerald. There would be gallery lights, vintage art, and a ladder. In the center of the room would be a vintage rug, an Eames lounge chair upholstered in velvet, a marble side table, and a floor lamp with a patterned fabric shade perfect for reading under.
What is your favorite design trend right now and why?
I love color drenching! There’s something about washing an entire space in a beautiful paint color that feels very elevated and moody. It also provides a sense of calm—almost like a warm hug. It’s the perfect base to allow your eyes to dance around the space and draw your attention to textiles, art, furniture, and décor.
We’re incredibly grateful for our design interns' hard work and dedication. Their efforts in keeping our resource library organized—sorting through samples and ensuring everything is in its place—are essential to the smooth running of our design process. It’s a behind the scenes job that keeps our team running efficiently, and we truly couldn’t do it without them. Whether it's running errands, helping with installations, or simply lending a hand where needed, they’re always ready to pitch in. We look forward to the continued growth of both our interns and our resource library!