Felicia Bonillas: Passion Meets Purpose

(Above image courtesy of Felicia Bonillas)

The summer after her freshman year of high school, Felicia Bonillas’s mother encouraged her to enroll in summer classes at a local vocational school. After combing through courses they offered, she landed on an intro to interior design class, “I chose this class simply because it sounded the most interesting, never imagining it would shape my future,” said Bonillas. Walking into the class she didn't know what to expect, but was soon captivated by all the ways interior design influenced space and shaped the world. For Felicia Bonillas, IIDA, what began as a summer elective quickly became a defining experience that would guide her education and career aspirations.

Her firm, Bloom Collective, partners with underrepresented communities and non-profits to uplift and empower them through good design. Sustainability and human-centered design are central to her work and important to the communities she designs for. To her it is important for designers to understand recent trends and incorporate different perspectives to improve how we design for the human experience. It’s for this vision and entrepreneurship that Felicia Bonillas was named the 2026 Anna Hernandez/Luna Textiles Award winner.

Representation, diversity, and connectivity are very important to Bonillas’ current work. Growing up biracial, she navigated a complex space of understanding her identity, being both Latina and Asian. “As I gained experience in the industry, I realized that I craved to see more faces like my own leading the conversations and reshaping the industry,” she explained.

Smiling person with long dark hair and clear glasses wearing a teal blazer, black top and white pants, seated on tiled stairs, hands clasped. — **Felicia Bonillas, IIDA**
Founder and Principal Designer
Bloom Collective

“In 2020, I founded The Bloom Collective as a response to disrupt the industry status quo.” The firm’s core values are rooted in the belief that diverse perspectives produce the most impactful environments. “We lead by modeling the representation we once craved, ensuring our practice reflects the communities we serve,” she added.

Bonillas’ creative mind is constantly influenced by the world around her. Whether it's something she sees or hears, she is always looking for inspiration. As an avid reader, books tend to inspire her work as well. From biographies to fictional novels and everything in between, she finds inspiration in everything. “For me, every book has something to offer whether it’s different perspectives, knowledge, or settings that can serve as fuel for my creative sparks,” noted Bonillas. She also draws inspiration from other mediums like music, nature, museums, and traveling.

Smiling woman in striped shirt at a cluttered desk holds a white mug while using a mouse; two monitors show a laptop and 3D site model. — Bonillas believes that one of life’s biggest lessons is the art of practice. She is dedicated to the practice of elevating the built environment and human experiences through design.

Image courtesy of Felicia Bonillas

A white fluffy doodle and a black lab-mix sit side-by-side on a sunny trail among yellow wildflowers, both leashed and panting happily. — Julio and Isla are office support and security at Bloom Collective, bringing a bubbly and comforting energy to the office.

Image courtesy of Felicia Bonillas

Looking back, there have been many projects that she has a deep connection to. One project that holds a special place in her heart is the Chemistry Renovation and Commons Building at the University of Arizona. For this project, she had to transform a historic building into something modern and accessible while maintaining the integrity and essence of the original architecture. This was a challenge, but it pushed her to be more innovative in the design process and made her a better designer. One defining moment was the impact it had on people with disabilities. “When the building opened, one of the project stakeholders (who was a wheelchair user) got emotional and they thanked the design team for our work because prior to that moment, they literally had never been able to enter the building,” she recalled. “That instantly opened my eyes to the deep impact of inclusive design, and it touched my soul in a way that I will never forget.”

The University of Arizona Chemistry Renovation project pushed Bonillas creativity and led to a seamless design that intertwined modern accessibility with the historic elements of the existing structure.

Photo by Matt Winquist

Bright two-story campus lounge with tall windows, black pendant lights, white tables, orange couches, students studying and walking. — "When you design a space and get to see that feeling of genuine human connection, it stays with you and people long after they have left a building or space."- Felicia Bonillas on the impact of this renovation project

Photo by Matt Winquist

This project informed the way she designs and reframed her design thinking to include two important factors, curiosity and empathy. Curiosity informs her design decisions and sparks her innovative thinking while empathy gives her understanding. “Approach a project by asking questions! It shows us that we don’t have all the answers (which is OK!), and it leads us on a path toward meaningful discovery that may not be found otherwise,” she explained. “Empathy forces us to take a step back to honestly understand other people’s lived experiences. We see the world from new vantage points and when we use those perspectives to inform our design decisions and thinking, it brings us and the community closer together,” she added.

Thinking about the future of her studio, Bonillas plans to shift from solo practice to having her own employees. With the support of IIDA's Anna Hernandez/Luna Textiles Award, she hopes to grow her studio, foster new talent in the industry, and continue to cultivate the next generation of designs through mentorship.

Six people—four adults and a young girl—smile at a sunlit patio table beneath dense green vines, surrounded by cocktails, glasses and menus. — Bonillas enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.

Image courtesy of Felicia Bonillas

In the end, one summer class led her not only to a fulfilling future in design but ultimately to industry leadership and a national recognition of her work. “One of my favorite quotes is by author Paulo Coelho: ‘When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.’ For me, winning this award is an affirmation that I am in alignment with my purpose of elevating the interior design industry through my work of mentorship, advocacy, and professional practice.”

Learn more about the Anna Hernandez / Luna Textiles Award here

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