By Ebunoluwa Sessou

Karissa Idoko is a final-year student majoring in Interior Architecture and Design at Abilene Christian University (ACU) in Texas, United States of America. She is passionate about social development and organizes annual design workshops in Nigeria during her holidays, inspiring adolescent girls to pursue careers in design.
She serves as the Secretary of the Abilene Christian University Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID-ACU), where she applies her writing and organizational skills to strategic planning and governance documentation. Passionate about sustainability, she plans to join a design team after graduation that creates eco-friendly; human-centered spaces that serve people and protect the environment.

What first sparked your interest in arts and design?

I have always loved observing how spaces, objects, and visuals shape how people feel and behave. From a young age, I was curious about why things were designed the way they were and how they could be improved.

Tell us what prompted it?

Yes. While in junior secondary school, I realized design were not just about technical skills but about people. It was the moment I understood that design solves real problems and improves everyday life. That is when it became personal.

Where do you draw inspiration from when creating your designs?

I draw inspiration from people, culture, and lived experiences, especially how communities adapt, create, and express identity through spaces and objects. What inspires my creativity is purpose. Recognizing that design can make life easier, more inclusive, or more beautiful pushes me to think deeply and creatively.

What is your favourite design tool or medium?

Sketching is the fastest way for me to explore ideas freely before refining them digitally. Digitally I work with revit and I am intentional about my design. I balance creativity with technical and business requirements because I see them as partners, not opposites.

Creativity brings the vision, while technical and business requirements ensure the design is realistic, sustainable, and impactful.

Staying confident in a field can be very competitive, how is it like?

I stay grounded in my purpose and focus on growth, not comparison. Confidence comes from preparation, learning, and consistency. I work hard as an international student studying design and architecture. This is because education helped me see design as structured problem-solving. It strengthened my ability to think critically, research deeply, and design with intention. My Professors have been so supportive and inspirational.

I am a designer who blends creativity, leadership, and advocacy, working across sectors and also creating platforms for young girls to explore design.

What role do mentorship and collaboration play in your growth?

They are essential. Mentorship provides guidance and perspective, while collaboration pushes you to think beyond your own lens. I have been blessed with many mentors from my university and the Firm where I did my internship.

Design shapes access, inclusion, and opportunity. When done well, it can address social gaps, improve systems, and give voice to overlooked communities.

Have you considered combining design with other fields?

Absolutely. Design naturally connects with technology, business, education, and social development. That intersection is where real impact happens. I am already doing that, leading a non-profit organization that promotes design pathways for girls.
I see myself designing at a higher professional level while scaling initiatives such as KGID to reach more girls across Nigeria and beyond.

I want to be remembered for expanding possibilities using design to empower people, especially young girls, to see themselves as creators, problem-solvers, and leaders.