This article is part of an ongoing profile series spotlighting IIDA industry members.
Meet Omoleye Simmons, vice president of commercial design at Tarkett
What core values are most important to you as a leader, and how do you ensure they are embedded in the company culture?
As a leader, my core values are rooted in the deeper meaning of design — anchored in cultural consciousness, authenticity, and purpose. I view artistry and authenticity as essential to meaningful design. At Tarkett, I work to embed these principles into our culture by encouraging teams to develop through artful exploration of narratives that connect with the community —designs that are honest, thoughtful, and attuned to human experience. By cultivating an environment where curiosity is nurtured, artistry is celebrated, and voices are truly heard, we create products — and relationships — that are not only innovative, but enduring and impactful.
Can you share a pivotal moment for you in your career?
A pivotal moment in my career came after years of passionately pouring creative energy into award-winning flooring collections. The reputation I built led to an opportunity to work with a former colleague — someone who understood my vision and valued the depth of my talents — to step into a transformative role: leading design at Tarkett.
What made this opportunity so powerful was its alignment with my roots. As a designer and former art educator, I found purpose in coaching fellow designers, articulating the why behind design and offering creative guidance. Now, I had the platform to do this at scale: to build a team and shape a culture of design excellence within a global brand. It wasn’t just a career shift. It was a creative calling — to lead with passion, depth, and a commitment to design that’s both intentional and impactful.
What is the legacy you or Tarkett hope to leave?
I’m leading a bold creative reset, rebuilding the brand’s design ethos from the inside out. My focus is on establishing a culture of artistry, authenticity, and meaningful storytelling. That is what is the legacy I hope to leave behind.
What big goal have you or (company name) set for the next 3-5 years?
As part of this creative reset, my 3–5 year vision is to reintroduce our brand through impactful product and immersive experiences. We’re not just designing flooring — we’re shaping narratives, and we want the design community to feel the depth and intention behind our process.
This is about connection, curiosity, and creativity — establishing our presence as a brand where authentic design, artistry, and dialogue converge.
What’s one big inspiration — or passion — that you think everyone should know about (this can be another designer, book, podcast, artist, hobby, ritual etc)?
I’ve really embraced the creative freedom that comes with cooking. It’s something I love, especially when I’m making food for others. I enjoy exploring flavors and textures, layering ingredients, and letting instinct lead the way. For me, cooking is about more than just the food — it’s creating a mood and offering joy. I loosely follow recipes, but often a dish I imagined in my head gets just as many compliments. It’s all about making the everyday a little more thoughtful and a bit more enjoyable.
With a strong foundation in fine art and textile design, Omoleye Simmons merges her education with a deep conceptual sensibility. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Winthrop University and a Master of Science in Textile Design from Philadelphia University, credentials that underpin her thoughtful and artful approach to design.
An accomplished designer with over a decade of impactful work, Simmons has developed numerous flooring collections recognized for their originality and relevance, earning her more than a dozen accolades across the industry. In her current role as vice president of design at Tarkett, she leads the creative vision of the brand’s product development and serves as its ambassador within the interiors community, shaping the dialogue around design with intention, purpose, and artful expression.
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