March is Women's History Month, a time to commemorate, study, observe and celebrate the vital role of women in American history. We are celebrating International Women's Day, March 8, with a spotlight on some of our favorite female designers, who are pioneers in the industry and value service to their clients and communities.
Tiffany Brown
Architect Tiffany Brown has overcome significant challenges to become the executive director at the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and a leader in promoting diversity and inclusion in the architecture profession. She founded the 400 FORWARD initiative to help young women, especially African-Americans, pursue careers in architecture to make the industry more equitable.
Jill Cole
Jill Cole is the managing principal of Cole Martinez Curtis and Associates. She has devoted herself exclusively to hotel, resort, and recreational properties. She has designed a myriad of prestigious projects, from The Arizona Biltmore to the legendary Château de la Crée in Santenay, France. For her work, Cole has received Gold Key, Designers Circle, and ARDY awards for interior design. Memberships include the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) and Hospitality Design‘s Platinum Circle.
Samantha Josaphat
Samantha Josaphat is a NYC-based architect, interior designer, and the founder of Studio 397 Architecture. Studio 397 is a reference to her becoming the 397th African American female architect to achieve licensure in U.S. history. She served as president of nycpba|NOMA, the New York Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects, and worked in corporate architecture firms, before founding Studio 397.
Fauzia Khanani
Fauzia Khanani, founding principal of Studio Fōr, a NYC-based architecture and interiors firm, believes spatial design has the power to improve quality of life for everyone. As a result, she co-founded Design Advocates for designers to share resources and collaborate on efforts to serve the public good through design, research, and advocacy, and is a core organizer for the Design As Protest Collective, a group of anti-racist designers dedicated to design justice in the built environment.
Lindsay Wilson
Lindsay Wilson is the president of global architecture and design firm, Corgan, and works closely with clients to understand how their own workplace can reflect their culture, challenge conventional thinking and transform their business.