Meet one of the creative minds behind Jayco’s stylish and functional décors, Stacy Stewart, lead Designer since 2005.
Question: Where did you grow up?
Answer: I was raised as a farm girl in Lagrange County, Indiana and graduated from Westview High School.
Q: Are you, or have you ever been, an RVer?
A: Yes, we own a 23B Kiwi, the precursor to the Jay Feather travel trailer.
Q: What do you enjoy most about RVing?
A: Everything—spending time with family and friends, cooking over the fire, biking and even setting up the campsite. The hands-on experience often inspires new ideas for our industry.
Q: How long have you worked in the RV industry?
A: 29 years.
Q: What drew you to the RV industry?
A: The challenge of being creative while being cost effective and production-friendly.
Q: How long have you worked at Jayco?
A: Since 1988, becoming a designer in 2005.
Q: What are your key responsibilities at Jayco?
A: Working with the product managers to select interior components for the Jayco team.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about working at Jayco?
A: To be able to work with a great team of coworkers, dealers and vendors.
Q: As a designer, what has been your biggest achievement thus far?
A: Coming from a manufacturing background has allowed me to blend consumer-desired interiors with manufacturing-friendly procedures.
Q: Out of all the products or features you’ve designed, which has been your favorite and why?
A: I honestly do not have a favorite, but I can tell you, with the 2018 models coming out, there are a lot of great things to be excited about.
Q: What’s the most gratifying aspect of your job?
A: To hear first-hand feedback from the dealers about how great the product looks and sells.
Q: In 1999, you, Margo Kauffman and Lori West were awarded a patent for a camping trailer feature you invented. Can you please tell us a little bit about that process?
A: The interior designer at the time, Lori West, had requested a Venetian-blind look in our pop-up campers. As a team, we designed that look with a combination of fabric, cord, clips and stiffeners. This provided a look that would be RV functional and cost-effective. Our team came up with the name SoftShade™. The product was patented with the help of other Jayco professionals and is still in production today.
Q: What’s the most satisfying aspect of your job?
A: When we see manufacturing, sales and our consumers being excited about the Jayco product.
Q: What is your key design principle and/or consideration when coming up with décor?
A: To find styles that are appealing to a wide variety of consumers.
Q: What do you see as the “next big thing” in RV décor?
A: To bring a richer feel to the interior by using a variety of woods and stains and new finishing techniques.
Q: How has women’s influence on the RV industry changed, professionally and/or as consumers?
A: Today’s professional women are both decision makers and income producers at home and work. Women shoppers tend to look more at value and longevity, so we’ve kept these factors in mind when making design choices
Q: What advice would you give other professional women in the RV industry?
A: That through hard work and perseverance, the RV industry is becoming an equal opportunity workplace that allows women to become successful.
