The Daily Orange

Media Credit: Katie Schuering [Click to enlarge]

Three years ago, as a freshman, Antonia Cafaro and other College of Visual and Performing Arts students took a spring break trip to London for free.

There was no binge drinking or days lazily spent on the beach. Instead, associate professor of textile design Karen Bakke taught a pre-surface pattern design class. The class was meant to promote surface pattern design as a major, and it worked.

Cafaro was hooked, and she wasn't the only one; the current senior class has risen from two to 17 people. 

But with VPA facing a shortage in space, all students who take classes in the major have one room to share for both their classes and studio work, often at the same time.

The space in 232 Schaffer, equipped with a sink, art supplies, microwave and refrigerator, has become their home.

Though Ann Clarke, associate dean of VPA, said that changes are being made in the next week to give students in the major more space, students like Cafaro are still frustrated.

As happy as Cafaro is with the major, she is equally unhappy with the space. 

"50-plus people in this room is absolutely ridiculous," she said. 

Designing for multiple industries

The 126-credit surface pattern design program at Syracuse University is more than 70 years old, said Marion Dorfer, one of only two professors in the major.

She would know - she received both her bachelor's and master's of fine arts in surface pattern design at SU.

The program in VPA is also rare. It is the only surface pattern design program in the country, although other schools have similar majors such as Clarion University's "fabric surface design" and Michigan State University's "apparel and textiles design." 

Students in the major design any sort of product that has repeated patterns.

This includes printed and woven fabrics sold in stores, dinnerware found on dining tables, linens that cover dorm beds, paper used as gift wrap and the tile and wallpaper in homes. 

"We make patterns for mass production," Dorfer said. "We make anything that has a repeat in it. People don't realize where this stuff comes from." 

Students in the major have continued on to high profile spots in the design industry. SU alumni hold executive positions at Polo Ralph Lauren, Martha Stewart Living, Tommy Hilfiger and American Greetings. 

Getting the word out

In an effort to connect students with these industries, Cafaro and others have restarted the surface pattern design organization SPADES (Surface Pattern DEsign Students), formally known as SPOTTS (Surface Pattern of Today and Tomorrow's Students).

SPADES' goal is to raise awareness about the degree program. Christina Wiendczak, senior vice president of SPADES, credits Professor Bakke's presentation for getting her interested in the major. 

"A lot of it is word of mouth," said Wiendczak. "We're more than just wallpaper." 

Sophia Walker, a junior fashion design major, is taking a surface pattern design class as an elective. She learned about the class from friends and decided it could help her with the art side of fashion designing. As popular as the class was with her friends, Walker said she was unaware about the space issue. 

"I didn't even know (the classes) were crammed into this one room," she said. "It makes sense that they need more room. It doesn't affect me as much as others who have to be in here all the time."

With growing popularity, Wiendczak is asking herself one question: "What will happen if more people join?" 

The fight for space

As senior president of SPADES, Cafaro wants students and faculty to come together and find solutions to existing problems. One of these problems is space.

"We have been moving around a lot," she said. "Originally, we were in Smith, then Slocum and now Schaffer." 

Senior surface pattern design major Amanda Williams said she feels like the black sheep of VPA. 

"We get looked over a lot," Williams said. "Seniors in painting and illustration get their own cubicle. It didn't use to be this way, but because of lack of space, it's easy to take things away from the smallest major in VPA." 

Ann Clarke, associate dean of VPA, said surface pattern design is not the only cramped program. 

"Accommodations are being made this week to allow more studio space for them to work," Clarke said via e-mail. "However, many programs in the School of Art and Design have only one room for majors including, for instance, sculpture, where space needs/desires can be considerable." 

Cafaro acknowledges VPA is allotting them more room, but she's not satisfied with the new accommodations. 

"They want to move the sophomore classes into a computer cluster with no windows or circulation," she said. "We were told we had to move the computers out ourselves." 

Cafaro doesn't feel the administration is moving fast enough. She said she has contacted the administration constantly, but no compromise or solution has been met. 

"This is our senior year, and it's supposed to be our best work," she said. "Every piece we do is supposed to be in our portfolio, and we're having to fight for space." 

Clarke is asking for patience. 

"These challenges do also sometimes require time, as any change affects other similarly engaged groups of students in other majors," said Clarke. "While difficult, I have deeply appreciated the patience of the surface pattern design students and faculties as we address their needs."

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