College of Fellows One-on-One: Part 3

Oct 04, 2021 By IIDA HQ

IIDA's highest honor, the College of Fellows, honors the achievements and impact of design industry members. Learn more about our newest inductees.

By IIDA HQ Oct 04, 2021

Each year, IIDA recognizes a group of members for their exceptional contributions to the interior design industry and community, and who demonstrate outstanding professional achievements, and impact on the profession and industry. These members are mentors, educators, and leaders, and are bestowed the highest honor that IIDA awards, the honor of being named to the IIDA College of Fellows.

Our 2021 College of Fellows is IIDA’s first-ever group of all women. Through a three-part series of one-on-one conversations with these remarkable women, we share their important work and achievements as they discuss design, life, leadership, and beyond.

Join IIDA Director of Member Services, Monae Redmond as she sits down with inductees Karen Muraoka, FIIDA, Principal and Interior Designer at Karen Muraoka Interior Design, LLC, Ana Pinto-Alexander, FIIDA, Director of Health Interiors and Principal at HKS, and Kay Sargent, FIIDA, Senior Principal and Director or WorkPlace at HOK.

Karen Muraoka, FIIDA

Karen Muraoka began her design career in 1982 at Architects Hawaii Ltd. in Honolulu and continued there until she opened her own firm, Karen Muraoka Interior Design, specializing in healthcare design in 2011. She then moved to Japan, working with a large and innovative medical center group, that gave Muraoka the freedom and encouragement to explore new avenues of healthcare design. Now back in Hawaii, Muraoka continues to run her practice, while also participating as a frequent juror at both NeoCon and healthcare design conferences. She has been involved with IIDA since 2001, having grown as a leader, receiving the 2019 Legacy Award from the IIDA Hawaii Pacific Chapter, furthering her a pathway to share her passion with other aspiring designers.

Ana Pinto-Alexander, FIIDA

Ana Pinto-Alexander is principal and director of HKS’ global health practice, ranked among the top five by Modern Healthcare, where she provides leadership as an instrumental member of the firm’s Leadership Council, driving strategic vision and planning. With more than 36 years of experience, Pinto-Alexander’s devotion to evidence-informed design has anchored her belief that holistic healing environments improve the experience for the patients, families, and staff. Pinto-Alexander’s childhood in Colombia and extensive international travel have influenced a unique design perspective based on research and empathy. Pinto Alexander’s interior design firm of 22 employees, Maregatti Interiors, was acquired by HKS in 2011. In 2009, she was recognized as one of the “25 Most Influential People in Healthcare Design” by Healthcare Design magazine and in 2020 she received the HiP Healthcare Award from Interior Design magazine.

Kay Sargent, FIIDA

Kay Sargent has more than 35 years of experience and is an award-winning designer who has worked with several Fortune 500 companies to optimize their global real estate portfolios and create innovative work environments based on their unique organizational DNA. As Co-Director of HOK’s workplace team, a practice that supports organizations undertaking multiple projects in various locations, and a member of HOK’s Board of Directors, Sargent is responsible for helping clients redefine how, when, and where their people work. Prior to joining HOK, Sargent served as director of workplace strategies for Lendlease; VP of A&D and workplace strategies for Teknion; and as a principal for interior architects in Washington, D.C. Sargent currently serves on the AVIXA Board of Directors; the National ASID Foundation Research Taskforce, the IWBI Mind Advisory Team, the Advisory Board for WorkDesign Magazine, and was recently appointed to the George Washington University Customer Experience Certificate Program Advisory Council.