Interior Design Alumna Contributes to Nashville International Airport Expansion

Taylor Gustafson brings O’More training to large-scale public project

Interior design alumna Taylor Gustafson is contributing to the ongoing expansion of Nashville International Airport, applying skills developed at Belmont’s O’More College of Architecture & Design to a large-scale public project used by millions of travelers each year. 

Gustafson, who graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design, is now an interior designer at Fentress Studios, where she works on aviation and public space design. Her work includes the airport’s Concourse D extension, which opened in July 2025, and the Concourse A project, currently under construction. 

Gustafson, a Tennessee native, developed an interest in design early, often helping family and friends with decorating projects. A high school course in fashion and interior design helped clarify her career direction and introduced her to potential academic programs. 

While researching colleges, she discovered O’More College, then located in Franklin. After visiting campus, she decided to enroll. 

Expanding Opportunities at Belmont 

Gustafson began her studies at O’More College prior to its transition to Belmont and was part of the cohort that experienced the move to Belmont’s Nashville campus. “It was a little bit overwhelming at first, but I was so excited to be on Belmont’s campus,” she said. “We got to be a part of so many more opportunities.” 

During her time in the program, Gustafson participated in studio courses designed to expose students to different sectors of design. In one project, she worked alongside occupational therapy students to better understand how design impacts accessibility and user experience. 

Faculty also emphasized critical thinking and decision-making in the design process, encouraging students to consider how their work functions in real-world settings. 

“The faculty really sparked deeper thinking for me,” Gustafson said. “They helped me understand different ways to design, and I’ve taken that into my career.”  

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Launching a Career in Commercial Design 

After graduating in 2021, Gustafson began working in residential design before pursuing commercial design work on larger, public-facing projects. 

“I made a list of all the states I wanted to live in and started sending resumes and portfolios out,” she said.  

She accepted a position with Fentress Studios, a firm known for its work in aviation and large-scale public projects. Gustafson relocated to Denver in 2022 and joined a team focused on airport design. 

Her first project was Nashville International Airport, a full-circle moment that connected her professional work to a familiar place. After beginning the project from Fentress’ Denver office, Gustafson decided to move back to Nashville to support the work through construction and completion. 

Designing for Public Spaces 

Airport design requires careful consideration of how people move through and interact with large, complex environments. Gustafson’s work includes elements that guide passengers and enhance usability, often in ways that are not immediately visible. 

Features such as floor patterns and material changes can serve as wayfinding tools, helping travelers navigate spaces more easily. 

“People might think, ‘pretty floor,’ but there’s another piece to it — it’s intentionally designed to guide people through the space and improve how they experience it,” she said. 

Her work also incorporates material choices that signal specific areas, such as color variations that help identify key locations like restrooms. 

Returning to the Classroom 

In addition to her professional work, Gustafson remains connected to O’More through mentorship and student engagement. She recently hosted a group of Belmont interior design students at the Nashville airport, showing them around the concourse and discussing lighting, materials and spatial design considerations. 

The visit provided students with an opportunity to see how classroom concepts translate into real-world applications. 

For Gustafson, the experience marked a shift in perspective.  

“I realized ‘Oh, I’m the person who has the experience now,’” she said. “I really did make it.”  

Advice for Future Designers 

Reflecting on her path from student to professional, Gustafson encourages current students to trust their training and approach new opportunities with confidence. 

“Looking back, I wish I trusted myself more,” she said. “I knew what I was doing, and those four years at O’More prepared me for this.” 

As construction continues at Nashville International Airport, Gustafson’s work will help shape a space used by millions of travelers each year, bringing her O’More education into a highly visible and impactful setting.