Spotlight Story: Rai Ramirez-Barbosa

Driven by a passion for thoughtful design, Rai Ramirez-Barbosa, Cert'26, aims to create spaces that are not only beautiful, but also functional and meaningful.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Rai moved to the United States a few years ago. Shortly after, she began pursuing her dream of becoming an architect and is now also expanding her path into interior design. Her interest in design began around the age of 12, and through determination, dedication, and a strong support system of family and friends, she continues to grow toward her goals. She believes that small wins help her build momentum and continue growing. She values maintaining a healthy balance between work, school, and family, using strong time management and planning to stay on track while creating space for meaningful moments with loved ones. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cycling, and hand sketching.

At the BAC, Rai’s Principles of Interior Design Certificate coursework has greatly informed her professional approach. Her favorite classes were Materials and Methods and Lighting Design, which pushed her to think beyond concepts and translate ideas into real design decisions that best support each project. She also enjoyed researching culture, demographics, and climate to guide material and furniture selections.

She credits her time in Architecture Studio for shaping her design process and developing strong concepts.

The iteration process that I’ve learned at the BAC, refining and evolving each version of a model and drawing, has been essential to my growth as a designer. It’s taught me how to build a strong concept and carry it through every stage of a project. Process matters just as much as the final product.

She has worked at Flow Design Architects for the past four years, an architecture and interior design firm, in the role of designer. One of her favorite projects is a lakefront residence, a modern three-level home, where she worked closely with homeowners to design their ideal vacation home. She also participates in community outreach initiatives, visiting middle and high schools to inspire students to explore careers in architecture and interior design.

More recently, she designed a commercial project that is now open to the public, a play café created for parents and children. She developed the layout and selected furniture and finishes within a given budget. She found the project especially rewarding, as it introduced a new and playful concept, allowing her to guide clients in selecting unique pieces that align with the overall vision. Most importantly, the experience strengthened her ability to work through the demands of a more complex project.

Rai also reflects on her Gateway project experience as confidence-building:

Working on real projects with real clients in a team of students made me feel like I could do this, even if I didn’t know everything yet.

Through her studies and professional work, Rai exemplifies the BAC’s model of learning by continually blending academic insight with real-world design impact.

Rai reflects that her journey has not been easy, and that her path continues to evolve. She encourages new students to believe in themselves and take that first step, emphasizing the importance of passion, commitment, perseverance, and continuous learning, believing that loving what you do is the key to pushing through challenges and finding fulfillment in your work.

Learn more about the BAC’s Principles of Interior Design Certificate program!