Sherrill Baldwin Halbe

Dr. Sherrill Baldwin Halbe is a Lecturer in Interior Design at Montana State University's School of Architecture within the College of Arts and Architecture, with additional teaching appointments at San Francisco State University. She has taught interior design for approximately two decades and maintains an active research profile focused on human-centered design solutions.

Her educational background includes a B.S. from Montana State University (1967) and an M.A. from San Francisco State University (1984), and she holds a PhD in her field. Dr. Halbe has firsthand experience living in a 600 square foot home in Napa Valley, California, which informs her research and teaching approach.

Dr. Halbe's research interests center on interiority in vernacular design and its relationship to affordable housing, with particular expertise in small dwelling design. Her work emphasizes client involvement and participatory design approaches as advocated by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. She explores how simplifying life intelligently while applying design principles can create meaningful living experiences in smaller spaces, incorporating sustainability, biophilic design, and wellness methodologies.

Her recent publications and research focus on human-centered design solutions for small dwellings, with particular attention to Italian vernacular architecture. These works demonstrate consistent interest in practical applications of design principles for constrained spaces, universal accessibility, and sustainable living solutions.

• American Society of Interior Designers (1998-2021)
• Interior Design Educators Council (1998-2020)
• Certified Interior Designer 1425 (2000-2016)
• California Council Design Certification Chairperson (Oct-Nov 2008)
• Architectural Standards Committee Co-Chair (2004-2021)
• Hyalite Homeowner Association Workshop Organizer (2019)

Dr. Halbe has secured research funding including a grant from the MSU Provost Office (MONPRO003) for her project 'Finding Human Centered Design Solutions: Exploring Interiority in Italian Vernacular Small Dwellings.' She continues to teach courses including ARCH 121IA Introduction to Design and ARCH 528 Advanced Studies in Interior Design through Summer 2025.