Dr. Gabriela Fonseca Pereira
Assistant Professor, Interior Design
Family and Consumer Sciences
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Research
Biography
Gabriela Fonseca Pereira is an Assistant Professor for Interior Design. She received her Ph.D. from the Oklahoma State University and has a Master's degree in Design and Technology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil, a degree in Visual Arts (Federal University of Pelotas - UFPel, Brazil) and Furniture Design (Sul-Rio-Grandense Federal Institute - IFSul). She practiced graphic, furniture, and interior design in Brazil. Her current research focus on housing solutions for aging-in-place, gerontechnology, and virtual reality for interior design.
Current Courses
499.023Independent Research For The Master's Thesis
400.023Independent Study
340.001Interior Design I: Studio
340.002Interior Design I: Studio
440.001Interior Design I: Studio
440.002Interior Design I: Studio
491.023Internship: Seminar In College Teaching In Family & Consumer
291.023Undergraduate Teaching Experiences In Family And Consumer Sciences
499.023Independent Research For The Master's Thesis
Teaching Interests & Areas
- Emerging Technology
- Virtual Reality
- Housing Solutions for Older Adults
- Human Factors and Special Populations
- History of Interiors
Research Interests & Areas
Housing solutions for Aging-in-Place, Gerontechnology, Virtual Reality
PhD Human Sciences (Interior Design)
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
MS Design
Rio Grande do Sul Federal University (UFRGS)
Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Bachelor of Arts Visual Arts
Pelotas Federal University (UFPel)
Pelotas, RS, Brazil
Connie J. Ley Outstanding Researcher Award
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
2023
CAST Outstanding Teacher Award – Pre-Tenure Category
College of Applied Science and Technology
2022
2018 Women's Research Award
The Women's Faculty Council, Oklahoma State University
2018
1st Place - IDEC Student Design Competition - Graduate Student Level
Interior Design Educators Council
2017
Abstract
Xiu, D., Dyar, C., Fonseca Pereira, G., Vaux, D. (2024, March). Multigenerational households in the United States: Design for American Families. IDEC Annual Conference, New York City, NY
Book, Chapter
Kang, M., & Fonseca Pereira, G. Designing co-living communities for the aging population. Transforming issues in housing design. Wiley (2023)
Altenburger, E., & Fonseca Pereira, G. Navigating the space between soft leads and mixed reality with design students. Nisha Ashanti (EDs), Handbook of Interior Architecture. Routledge
Conference Proceeding
Fonseca Pereira, G., Gruber, D., & Bicudo, A. A case study of Inclusive Design to improve sense of belonging in higher education.. EDRA55 Annual Conference Proceedings (2024)
Fonseca Pereira, G. Exploring students’ experiences with mixed reality technology in interior design projects: a pilot study.. 2024 IDEC Annual Conference Proceedings (2024)
Fonseca Pereira, G., Kang, M., & Elsey, E. Potential hazards in aging parents’ homes and adult children’s attitude towards Gerontechnology for falls. 2024 IDEC Annual Conference Proceedings. (2024)
Culbreth, C., & Fonseca Pereira, G. Inclusive Design Analysis in Educational Spaces and Users’ Perceptions: A Case Study.. EDRA54 (2023)
DeZur, E., Culbreth, C., Elsey, E., & Fonseca Pereira, G. The Potential Use of Unity Game Engine for VR in Interior Design Human Factors Research.. EDRA54 (2023)
Journal Article
Whelan, E., Dyar, C., Edwards, K., Altenburger, E., Fonseca Pereira, G., & Johnson, B. Anticipated satisfaction of technologies in the homes & lives of older adults to prolong independence. Online Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine (2023)
Xiu, D., Dyar, C., & Fonseca Pereira, G. Multigenerational living style is back? An awareness for interior Designers. Dana E. Vaux (EDs). IDEC Exchange A Forum for Interior Design Education. 1.Spring (2023): 13-14.
Pereira, G. F., & Kang, M. (2022). Examining the diffusion of fall monitoring gerontechnology among older adults for aging-in-place. Journal of Aging and Social Change, 13(1), 33-48. doi: 10.18848/2576-5310/CGP/v13i01/33-48
Sehn, T., Pereira, G. F., Ruecker, S., & Aymone, L. (2020). Reading together: A way to bring older adults closely and increase place attachment. PIXO – Journal of Architecture, City, and Contemporaneity, 4(4), 32-51. doi: 10.15210/pixo.v4i14.19885.
Pereira, G. F., Kang, M., & Sample, R. (2019). Older adults’ perceptions on accessibility in a senior cohousing community. International Journal of Constructed Environment, 10(2), 9-25. doi: 10.18848/2154-8587/CGP/v10i02/9-25.
Presentations
Belonging/Inclusion in Campus Spaces: Considering Caregiving and Intersectional Identities. Annual Conference of the National Council on Family Relations. National Council on Family Relations. (2024)
Xiu, D., Dyar, C., Fonseca Pereira, G., Vaux, D. (2024, March). Multigenerational households in the United States: Design for American Families. IDEC Annual Conference, New York City, NY. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://idec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-Proceedings-Report_Final-6_11_24.pdf
Aging simulation to build learning and empathy among interior design students.. EDRA53. Environmental Design Research Association. (2022)
Home spaces used as third places during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults living in the U.S.A. and in Brazil.. IDEC. Interior Design Educators Council. (2022)
Use of gaming program Unity for interior design virtual reality 3D modeling. IDEC. Interior Design Educators Council. (2022)
Anticipated Satisfaction of Technologies in the Homes & Lives of Older Adults to Prolong Independence. IDEC National Fall Symposium. Interior Design Educators Council. (2021)
Difficulties for Aging-in-Place in a Senior Cohousing Community: A Pilot Study.. EDRA52. Environmental Design Research Association. (2021)
Interior design teaching at public universities in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic.. IDEC Annual Meeting. Interior Design Educators Council. (2021)
Senior Co-Housing Dementia Care Facility; A Qualitative Study. IDEC National Fall Symposium. Interior Design Educators Council. (2021)
Social Interaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Older Adults at Home. EDRA52.. Environmental Design Research Association. (2021)
Grants & Contracts
Educating older adults on home modifications through Virtual Reality experience to promote aging-in-place.. BirdFEEDER (Fund for Experimentation, Enquiry and the DEvelopment of Student Research). Illinois State University. (2025)
Center for Inclusive Intergenerational Environment. Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2023)
CAST Grant for Innovation in Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI). CAST. Illinois State University. (2022)
Enabling Extended Reality and Game-Based Learning in Design and Construction Courses.. University Teaching Grant. Illinois State University. (2022)
Examining Gerontechnology’s diffusion for falls among the decision-makers to support their parents’ aging-in-place.. Interior Design Educators Council Foundation (IDECF) Special Projects Grant. Other. (2022)