John Turpin, Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor
Interior Design
Educational Background
|
| Doctor of Philosophy | Arizona State University, 2008 |
| Major Concentration | Design History, Theory and Criticism |
| Minor Concentration | Women’s Studies |
| Dissertation | The Life and Career of Dorothy Draper, Interior Designer: |
| A Study in Class Values and Success | |
| Master of Science | University of Cincinnati, 1997 |
| Major | Architecture |
| Emphasis | History of Interior Design |
| Thesis Title | Dorothy Draper and the Emerging Profession of |
| Interior Design | |
| Bachelor of Science | Florida State University, 1989 |
| Major | Interior Design, Magna Cum Laude |
Research Statement
A leading expert on the work of Dorothy Draper (1888-1969), Turpin’s explorations of the history of interior design in America concentrate on the work of the New York designer who pioneered the development of interior design and decor in commercial settings. From his scholarship emerges a uniquely feminine perspective on the relationship between social issues and design, particularly those of equity and diversity, and the values of middle class women between 1925 to 1960. Turpin’s work exposes the impoverishing effects of patriarchal trends in art and design criticism by highlighting the neglected contributions of Draper and other talented women who enriched the practice and aesthetic of interior design. Turpin seeks collaborations and partnerships with scholars, foundations and other organizations with common interests in the manifestation of social practices in publicly experienced interior spaces. Specific goals include collaborative planning for publications, conferences and a definitive monograph on Draper and her contributions to modern interior design.
Teaching Emphasis
As Department Chair, Turpin’s administrative efforts include strategic planning development; curriculum oversight; recruitment and retention of faculty; alumni and community outreach; and acting as a liaison between the Department, collaborative programs, and the University. Turpin’s teaching and advising responsibilities include:
- ID 250 History of Interiors I
- ID 350 History of Interiors II
- ID 520 Historical Perspectives in Design
- Chair/committee member for master's level thesis and research projects
Professional Affiliations
- Interior Design Educators Council
- Design History Society
- Council for Editors of Learned Journals
Scholarship
Publications
Juried Book Chapters
- Turpin, J. (2006). Domestic doyennes: Purveyors of atmospheres spoken and visual. In M. Tayor and J. Preston's (Eds.) Intimus: Interior Design Theory Reader. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 368-374
Invited Book Chapters
- Turpin, J. (2010). Designing for diverse users: A cultural imperative. In D. Guerin and C. Martin (Eds.), The State of the Interior Design Profession. New York: Fairchild Publishing, 326-331.
- Turpin, J. and Guerin, D. (2010) Women in Inteior Design: The development of leaders. In K. O'Connor (ed.), Gender & Women's Leadership: A Reference Handbook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 948-955.
Refereed Articles
- Kucko, J., Turpin, J. and Pable, J. (2009). A Single Interior Design Association: The Time is Now, Journal of Interior Design, 34:3, vii-xx.
- Turpin, J. (2009). Exploring success: Dorothy Draper and the Means-End Approach. Proceedings, Interior Design Educators Council International Conference, 867-877.
- Blossom, N. and Turpin, J. (2008). Risk as a Window to Agency: A Case Study of Three Decorators, Journal of Interior Design, 34:1, 1-13.
- Turpin, J. (2007). The History of Women in Interior Design: A Review of Literature, Journal of Interior Design, 33:1, 1-16.
Journal Editor
- Interiors: Design, Architecture, and Culture. London: Berg Publishers; Co-editor with Anne Massey, Kingston University, UK (2009-present)
Presentations
- Turpin, J. (2010). Challenging the meta-narrative to read again the mini-narratives of the field of Interior Design. Interior Design Educators Council Annual Conference, Atlanta.
- Sayrafi, M. and Turpin, J. (2010). Palestine revisited: An exploration of the cultural forces and identity that define the interior design of a Palestinian house. Interior Design Educators Council Annual Conference, Atlanta. Winner for Best Poster Award.
- Turpin, J. (2009). Exploring success: Dorothy Draper and the Means-End Approach. Interior Design Educators Council Annual Conference, St. Louis. Received Best Paper Presentation Award.
- Turpin, J. and Blossom, N. (2008). Inhabiting risk: The female decorator in the public sphere. Interior Design Educators Council International Conference, Montreal. Received Best Paper Presentation Award.
Grants and Projects
- 2010 Fairchild Topical Issue Grant ($1500) for Designing Health: the 6th Annual Interdisciplinary Design Institute Research Conference entitled Designing Health.
- 2008 IDEC Special Projects Grant ($4000) for Raison d’etre: Crafting the Historical Narrative of the History of Interior Design. The international symposium focused on bringing together scholars from across the globe interested in the discipline of the history of interior design. Co-authored with Dr. Bridget May, Marymount University.
- 2008 Design History Society 25th Anniversary Award ($1500) for Raison d’etre: Crafting the Historical Narrative of the History of Interior Design. Co-authored with Dr. Bridget May, Marymount University.
- 2007 Journal of Interior Design Anna Brightman Fund ($5000) for Raison d’etre: Crafting the Historical Narrative of the History of Interior Design. The international symposium focused on bringing together scholars from across the globe interested in the discipline of the history of interior design. Co-authored with Dr. Bridget May, Marymount University.
Awards, Honors and Accomplishments
- 2010 University College Assessment Leadership Award for the Dept. of Interior Design for demonstrating exceptional leadership in program-level assessment as part of Washington State University’s campus-wide assessment initiative.
- 2010 Inductee of the Interior Design Educators Council’s College of Fellows
- 2010 Interior Design Educators Council’s Presidential Award
- 2010 IDEC Award of Excellence: Best Poster, (Mai Sairafi and John Turpin)
- 2010 IDEC Award of Excellence: Paper Presentation Finalist
- 2009 Regional Chairs’ Award: Best Paper Presentation
- 2008 Regional Chairs’ Award: Best Paper Presentation (co-authored with Nancy Blossom)
- 2005 Regional Chairs Award for Best Paper Presentation
- 2008 University Excellence in Teaching Award, ASWSUS
- 2006 Achieved status of LEED Accredited Professional
- 2006 University Excellence in Teaching Award, ASWSUS
