ASID Announces Recipients of National Awards and College of Fellows

June 16, 2021  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

The National Awards acknowledge four companies or individuals, recognizing a body or work created over the course of a career within the categories of Designer of Distinction, Design for Humanity, Design Innovation, and Design Luminary (formerly the Nancy Vincent McClelland Merit Award). The ASID College of Fellows is the Society’s ultimate honor. Fellowship and Honorary Fellowship are bestowed upon ASID members who have made significant contributions to their profession, the interior design community at large, and ASID as an organization. Through these programs, ASID seeks to celebrate those propelling the interior design world forward and showcase the incredible accomplishments of those changing the world through design.

“It is so important to celebrate those who are making an impact in the world through interior design,” said Gary Wheeler, ASID CEO, FASID. “We are thrilled that after such a challenging year, we are able to honor the winners of the National Awards and the inductees in the College of Fellows. We are hopeful that these winners will inspire and empower ASID members and the industry at large, and showcase the impact of design.”

National Awards

The ASID National Awards recognize a body of work created over the course of a career rather than a specific achievement. However, institutions, companies, and patrons may be recognized for specific exemplary projects or product innovations. With four awards in four distinct categories, the National Awards enable ASID to celebrate all facets of design and those making a difference in the world through the profession.

The 2021 Designer of Distinction is Joey Shimoda, ASID, FAIA. The Designer of Distinction award celebrates the achievement of an interior designer who exemplifies a commitment to design excellence as demonstrated by a significant, high-quality body of design work that has advanced the profession. Shimoda creates architectural interiors that become transformative places for human delight. As a master planner, architect, interior designer and landscape designer he guides projects into places that celebrate client culture.

The recipient of the 2021 Design for Humanity is Kia Weatherspoon, ASID, NCIDQ. The Design for Humanity award commends an individual or organization that has harnessed design to improve the greater good with far-reaching activities. For over a decade, Weatherspoon has led Determined by Design, which has elevated equitable design outcomes for over 3,500 hundred families, 25 communities, and designed over 165,000 sq.ft of interior spaces for affordable and low income housing.

The 2021 Design Innovation award is presented to Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA). The Design Innovation award recognizes an original and noteworthy product, project, service or initiative with high potential to positively impact the interior design profession. ANFA helps translate basic research findings on health, wellness, and well-being for use in workplace, education and healthcare design of finishes, lighting and layouts, among other sustainable and resilient building types.

The recipient of the 2021 Design Luminary Award is Jill Pable, Ph.D., FASID, FIDEC. The Design Luminary Award recognizes an individual or organization for advancing the interior design profession through outstanding education, advocacy, research or promotion. The award honors Nancy Vincent McClelland, an ardent advocate for the professional recognition of interior design and the first woman president of the American Institute of Decorators (now ASID) from 1941 to 1944. Pable seeks to elevate awareness of the potential contribution that thoughtful, research-informed design can bring to people experiencing trauma, and especially those who are unhoused.

College of Fellows

For 2021, ASID will induct four Fellows and one Honorary Fellow. With less than one percent of ASID membership achieving fellowship, it represents the Society’s most prestigious program. Those who join the College of Fellows as Fellows or Honorary Fellows must have been ASID members for at least 10 consecutive years and embody the highest level of ethical conduct and professionalism, exhibiting consistent and demonstrative leadership. The inductees to the 2021 College of Fellows are:

Denise Rush, ASID - Dean, of the School of Interior Architecture, at The BAC - Boston Architectural College. In service to the college's mission, it is her duty to ensure that the schools' curriculum is at the intersection of professional practice and academia.

Jeff Smoler, ASID - Design practitioner and educator. With over 45 years of experience in interior design, Smoler has held a number of positions within the industry. As the former President of the Associate Members of ASID, he initiated change in the ASID bylaws in order to permit associate members to vote.

Kay Sargent, ASID, LEED AP, WELL AP - Expert on workplace design and strategy. Sargent is an industry thought leader on workplace and travels globally sharing from her broad experience.

Toni Wyre, ASID - Commercial interior designer specializing in education, healthcare and corporate interiors and was recognized as one of Arkansas Business' Top 40 under 40 Professionals in 2013.

Honorary Fellowship was also granted to one individual. Honorary Fellows are not interior designers by profession but have shown distinction in supporting ASID and the interior design industry. The 2021 Honorary Fellowship was awarded to:

Paula Wallace- Founder and president of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), which she founded in 1978.