Anna Ruth Gatlin, Ph.D., NCIDQ

Anna Ruth Gatlin, Ph.D., NCIDQ

  • Associate Professor, Interior Design
  • INDS Internship Coordinator
gatliar@auburn.edu
Haley Center 3066
LinkedIn
Download CV

Anna Ruth Gatlin, Ph.D., is an award-winning designer, educator, and scholar who teaches undergraduate interior design courses, mentors undergraduate researchers, and mentors graduate students. Her scholarship focuses on the impact of interior design on nonprofit organizational capacity, and the intersection of traditional handwork with cutting-edge technology. Her current creative scholarship explores Baroque design works through this lens. 

 

In 2025, Dr. Gatlin started Phygital Design Lab with her creative scholarship research partner, Prof. Georges Fares. Together they work with 3D-printing, cross-stitch, augmented reality, weaving, quilting, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and many other physical and digital modalities. 

Education

  • Ph.D. Consumer & Design SciencesAuburn University2018

  • M.S. Consumer & Design SciencesAuburn University2012

  • B.S. Interior DesignAuburn University2009

Professional Experience

 

Auburn University College of Human Sciences

Associate Professor, Interior Design Program (2025-present)

Internship Coordinator, Interior Design Program (2024-present)

Assistant Professor,  Interior Design Program (2019-2025)

Lecturer, Interior Design Program (2017-2019)

 

Auburn University Facilities Management 

Interior Designer, Design Services (2011-2017)

Innovation

Selection of Creative Scholarship Works 

Fares, G. & Gatlin, A.R. (to be presented in March 2026). Wings in Stitches: Reimagining the Birds of the Chigi Palace in Augmented Reality. Interior Design Educators Council National Conference, Chicago, IL, USA.

Fares, G. & Gatlin, A.R. (to be presented in March 2026). Bernini in the Digital Baroque: An Augmented Reality Exhibition in Ariccia. Interior Design Educators Council National Conference, Chicago, IL, USA.

Gatlin, A.R., & Fares, G. (to be presented in March 2026). Quilting the threshold: Liminal floor patterns of the Chigi Palace. Juried by and exhibited at the Interior Design Educators National Conference, Chicago, IL. (80% contribution)

Gatlin, A.R., & Fares, G. (2025, June 26). Threaded Fusion: Cross-Stitching Technology and Tradition. Juried by and exhibited at the American Association of Family Consumer Sciences, Kansas City, MO. (80% contribution)

  • Best of Show Award Winner: Interiors, Textiles, & Product Design Category

Gatlin, A.R., & Fares, G. (2025, March 17). Stitched in Time: Unraveling Motifs in Bernini’s Chigi Palace in Augmented Reality. Juried by and exhibited at the Interior Design Educators National Conference, Chicago, IL. (50% contribution)

Gatlin, A.R. (2024, October 31). stAIned. Juried by and exhibited at the Interior Design Educators National Virtual Symposium. https://doi.org/10.17613/6b7d-qh23

Gatlin, A.R., & Fares, G. (2024, November 1). Redacted. Juried by and exhibited at the Interior Design Educators National Virtual Symposium. https://doi.org/10.17613/dtky-rh18

Fares, G., & Gatlin, A.R. (2024, November 1). Coalescence – From Cross-Stitch to Augmented Reality. Juried by and exhibited at the Interior Design Educators  National Virtual Symposium. https://doi.org/10.17613/dxr0-2e37

 

Selection of Published Works

Weber, P., & Gatlin, A.R. (2025). The built environment as organizational capacity: A post-occupancy evaluation of a child advocacy center. Nonprofit Management Leadership.

Gatlin, A.R., Swearingen, S.A., & Tan, L. (2022). COVID-19 Study Spaces: Supportive adaptation of home learning environments during the pandemic. Journal of Learning Spaces, 11(1) 79-92.

Gatlin, A.R., Kuhn, W., Doukopoulos, L., Boyd, D., & McCall, C. (2021). Successful at scale: 500 faculty, 39 classrooms, 6 years. Journal of Learning Spaces, 10(1), 51-62.

Tan, L., & Gatlin, A.R (2020). The Working Labs model in action. International Journal of Designs for Learning, 11(2), 108-117.

 

Selection of Conference Presentations

Fares, G., & Gatlin, A. R. (2026). Bernini, the Chigi Palace, and digital inquiry: Engaging students through modeling, visualization, and research. Elevated Education Exchange, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.

Fares, G., & Gatlin, A. R. (2026). Reframing graduate education with artificial intelligence: Pedagogical approaches and practical tools. 31st Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.

Gatlin, A.R. (2026). Rethreading narratives: Storytelling through craft and design. Design Principles & Practices International Conference. Rome, Italy.

Ficks, S.J.*, Gatlin, A.R., & Fares, G. (2026). Co-creating the past: Artificial intelligence and the reimagining of historical artwork. Design Principles & Practices International Conference. Rome, Italy.

Auger, L.*, Fares, G., Gatlin, A.R. (2026). Light, shadow, and the social life of pattern: Reimagining baroque motifs through materiality and making. Design Principles & Practices International Conference. Rome, Italy.

Neil, M.*, Gatlin, A.R., & Fares, G. (2026). Reconstructing craft: Layering visualizations of embroidery in AR design practice. Design Principles & Practices International Conference. Rome, Italy. 

Hill, S.*, Fares, G., Gatlin, A.R. (2026). The lost carriage: Reanimating baroque heritage through digital reconstruction and augmented reality. Design Principles & Practices International Conference. Rome, Italy 

Gatlin, A.R. (2025). Creative Scholarship in Practice: Teaching with a Color Wheel Quilt. Interior Design Educator’s Council Virtual Symposium.

Fares, G. & Gatlin, A R. (2025). Cut From History: Reviving Making in Design History Through Baroque Inspiration. Interior Design Educator’s Council Virtual Symposium.

*indicates undergraduate student

 

Honors & Awards

  • American Association of Family Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) National Conference, Best of Show: Textiles, Interiors, & Accessories, 2025
  • Inducted into the Auburn University Global Teaching Academy, 2025 
  • Biggio Center for Teaching and Learning, Faculty Fellow, 2023-2027
  • Design Communication Association (DCA) International Conference, Design of Distinction Award, 2022
  • Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) South Regional Conference, Best Presentation Award, 2022
  • DesignIntelligence Most Admired Educator, DesignIntelligence, 2017-2019
    • 25 average annual recipients across 3 fields of design (architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture)
  • IDEC Service Award, 2021
  • International Interior Design Association (IIDA) IDIE Awards, Alabama Chapter, First Place: Institutional Design, 2019


 

 

 

Committees & Professional Service

CreativeShowcase: The Work of Creative Scholarship –College of Human Sciences representative on the Executive Committee, 2023-present

IDEC Creative Scholarship Committee – Chair, 2025-present

IDEC Creative Scholarship Knowledge Network – Co-Chair, 2025-present

IDEC Grants Committee – Chair-Elect, 2025; Chair, 2026

Reviewer – IDEC P&T Guidelines White Paper, 2025

Form Furniture LLC – Board of Directors, 2022-2024

 

 

Undergraduate Research Mentorship

Undergraduate Research Fellows

Huber, D.* (2023-2024). Auburn University Undergraduate Research Fellow: “Analyzing set design in cinema.”

 

Johnson, A.* (2023-2024). Auburn University Undergraduate Research Fellow: “A study of the history of interior design and historical furniture pieces in media.”

 

Undergraduate Research - Mentorship

Rea, E.* (2025, March 26). Designing for dignity: A human-centered approach to inpatient psychiatric care. [Poster]. A.R. Gatlin (Faculty Advisor). Presented at the Student Research Symposium, Auburn University, AL.

 

Kisseleva, D.* (2025, March 26). Refugee camp design evolving from temporary to permanent settlement: Analyzing strategies implemented on opposite side of the world. [Poster]. A.R. Gatlin (Faculty Advisor). Presented at the Student Research Symposium, Auburn University, AL.

 

Bossle, M.* (2025, March 26). Perception and sense of agency in skilled nursing homes. [Poster]. A.R. Gatlin (Faculty Advisor). Presented at the Student Research Symposium, Auburn University, AL.

 

Bence, J.* (2025, March 26). Reducing rebuilding costs through efficient home footprints in Palisades, CA. [Poster]. A.R. Gatlin (Faculty Advisor). Presented at the Student Research Symposium, Auburn University, AL.

 

Johnson, A.* (2024, March 26). Chairs in cinema: an analysis of selected pieces.” [Oral Presentation]. A.R. Gatlin (Faculty Advisor). Presented at the Student Research Symposium, Auburn University, AL.

  • Won 1st Place, Oral Presentation, College-Wide College-Wide (see also IV.A.7.f)

 

Huber, D.* (2024, March 26). Analyzing and interpreting the importance of set design choices in modern cinema. [Poster]. A.R. Gatlin (Faculty Advisor). Presented at the Student Research Symposium, Auburn University, AL.

 

Lewis, H.* (2024, March 26). Designing a resilient future: Establishing a new “era” of 21st residential design. [Poster]. A.R. Gatlin (Faculty Advisor). Presented at the Student Research Symposium, Auburn University, AL.

 

Conrad, M.* (2024, March 26). Influencing human behavior in Japanese train stations through multisensorial design practices. [Poster]. A.R. Gatlin (Faculty Advisor). Presented at the Student Research Symposium, Auburn University, AL.

 

Kramer, A.* (2024, March 26). Enhancing inclusivity of multiculturalism in international airport restaurant design: A menu of options. [Poster]. A.R. Gatlin (Faculty Advisor). Presented at the Student Research Symposium, Auburn University, AL.

 

Burrows, J.* (2024, March 26). Applying Montessori-based design concepts in higher educational settings. [Poster]. A.R. Gatlin (Faculty Advisor). Presented at the Student Research Symposium, Auburn University, AL.