Design U is a Canadian television series which premiered on April 4, 2005 on HGTV (Canada). Produced by Mountain Road Productions the series takes the design-clueless back to school for a crash course in interior design. After one intense day with a professional designer—learning the ins and outs of design theory—the design student gets to test their newly acquired design savvy during a two-day makeover. With $3000 and a team of renovators at their disposal, the student has to transform one room in their house. At the end, the design professor returns to review the results to see if the student makes the grade. Faculty Maureen Ross Neilson Host Seasons 1-4 Originally from Ottawa, ON, Maureen Ross Neilson graduated from Canterbury School of the Arts. She then continued her studies in Toronto, studying the performing arts at Ryerson University. Maureen comes from a strong background in improvisational comedy. She was very involved with The Canadian Improv Games, both as a participant, and then later as a workshop programmer and adjudicator. In Toronto she has toured with several different comedy troupes, thoroughly enjoying the fan base that laughed their way with her through the 1990s. Maureen has had an eclectic career to date, from playing several of the Bard's ladies as a clown, to puppeteering on the popular CBC children's television series, Mr. Dressup. Most recently, Maureen has appeared in numerous memorable roles. She starred as Laraine Newman alongside Jamie Gertz in It's Always Something: The Gilda Radner Story on ABC. She also played a young Sophia Loren in the movie Between Strangers and appears has Dr. Sharon DeLauro on the hit series DOC. Ernst Hupel Designer Seasons 1-4 Ernst is the co-owner of 2H Interior Design Ltd. and has been an interior designer for over 15 years. With a focus on custom, high-end residential and commercial spaces, he has a reputation for high quality, original and innovative design. Ernst has worked with a diverse group of clients, both in Canada and internationally, and is widely respected for his classic approach to design and for maintaining the integrity of the spaces he works on. Melanie Martin Designer Seasons 1-4 Melanie studied in both the Interior Design and Residential Décor programs at Algonquin College in Ottawa, ON and graduated with honours. She has been working in the interior design business since 1991 and founded her own company, Distinctive Designs, in 1995. She