Designing Confidence

GS Students Reimagine the Career Closet — and Discover Their Own Potential

On a quiet December morning, the lobby of the Interdisciplinary Academic Building on Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro campus felt anything but ordinary.

Portfolios were clutched tightly. Nervous laughter drifted between clusters of first-year Interior Architecture and Design students. One by one, they stepped forward to present something deeply personal: their vision for a space designed to help fellow students walk into interviews with confidence.

By the end of the morning, it was clear this was no longer just a class project.

For the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD), it was the moment a modest idea transformed into something much larger.

“I’m overwhelmed by the impact of this simple project,” said Glenn Gibney, associate vice president for Career Readiness. “What began as a redesign effort has become a platform that is reshaping student confidence and academic experience.”

A Closet in Need of Transformation

Since its inception, the Career Closet has provided students with free professional clothing for interviews, internships and career events. The service removes barriers for students who may not have access to appropriate attire — an essential step toward equitable career readiness. But the program’s donation-based model often left its inventory inconsistent in style, size and availability.

In 2024 alone, more than 350 students visited the closet, taking home over 1,000 items.

OCPD imagined something better: a curated lending model stocked with new clothing, improved operations, and a redesigned space that didn’t feel like a storage room—but like a boutique built on dignity and possibility.

That vision required collaboration — and the expertise of budding designers on campus.

Designing for Impact

Under the guidance of Swati Goel, Ph.D., students in Design Studio I were tasked with reimagining the space—its floorplan, lighting, textures, user experience, and accessibility. They presented 27 unique proposals, each a blend of research, creativity, and problem-solving.

Goel remembers the energy in the room. “The students were very happy,” she says. “I think this was a great project for our collaboration, but also for the students to see the professional side of design projects.”

For many students, it was the first time their work had a real client, a real purpose, and real stakes.

That professional reality was underscored when Trevon Hardy, early talent administrator from Lands’ End, arrived on campus to view the presentations. Coordinated by OCPD in partnership with the Office of Business Engagement, the visit gave students something rare in their first year: a real client, real feedback, and real stakes. 

Students Find Their Confidence—and a Calling

For many students, the impact of the project reached far beyond design boards and renderings. It became a moment of clarity.

For Elizabeth Zmarrou, a returning adult student, the experience was deeply affirming.

“As a returning older student, pursuing the dream I had to give up to pay the bills, this project was incredibly validating,” she said. “Seeing my work taken seriously by a real client showed me that I really am a designer—and that it’s worth pursuing this dream, even if a little late in life.”

Others found confidence through the discipline of the process itself. Karmi Green discovered her voice through drafting, revising, and presenting.

“The Career Closet redesign allowed me to grow as a designer while dealing with real-life scenarios,” she said. “It helped me feel more confident in my major.”

Yan Huang saw something even bigger: the power of design to shape human experience.

“Seeing how thoughtful design can impact confidence and accessibility made the project feel purposeful instead of just an assignment,” Huang shared. “It was a chance to contribute to the campus community while gaining hands-on experience.”

For Alyssa Kirkland, the lesson was about responsibility—and trust.

“I learned so much not just about design, but about making your work truly fit your client’s needs,” she said. Presenting to industry professionals elevated the project. “It showed how professionals outside the university truly believe in investing in students.”

And for Margaret “Meg” Hicks, the experience turned uncertainty into assurance.

“It was a great learning experience to work with a real client and present to employers,” she said. “It helped me feel more confident as a student and a designer.”

Individually, their stories are powerful. Together, they trace a shared arc—one where hands-on learning becomes a catalyst for identity, confidence, and belonging.

A University-Wide Effort Fueled by Collaboration

The redesign marks only the first phase of a broader, university-wide collaboration. Next, students in fashion merchandising, apparel design, and related disciplines will contribute expertise in inventory systems, retail strategy, and clothing curation—bringing the vision fully to life.

Hardy left campus impressed by both the students and the scope of the initiative.

“The Interior Design students demonstrated exceptional professionalism and vision in transforming a simple conference room into an inviting, confidence-boosting space,” he said. “I was equally excited to learn how Apparel students will contribute their expertise—curating clothing that reflects students’ personal style while helping them feel their best as they prepare for interviews and professional experiences.”

He emphasized the deeper significance of the work.

“A student may be accomplished, passionate, and fully prepared to launch their career,” Hardy said, “but without the confidence that comes from feeling and looking their best, an important piece of the puzzle is missing. Georgia Southern students are solving that puzzle beautifully.”



More Than a Makeover

To the OCPD team, faculty, and corporate partners, the Career Closet redesign is a tangible example of what happens when silos fall away and students take center stage.

But to the students, it was something even more personal: a moment when they realized their ideas mattered.

In the years ahead, thousands of students will borrow clothing from the Career Closet to take their first steps into professional life. And they will do so in a space crafted with care, empathy, and the creativity of the very students the closet exists to serve.

A space designed to help them look confident—created by students who learned how to feel confident, and ready for day one.