Perspective Moving UP: Emerging

Dec 19, 2022 By Jessica Jones

Nominated by IIDA members, this group of designers are emerging as design leaders and are helping shape the future of our industry

By Jessica Jones Dec 19, 2022

Published in Perspective

The design industry is full of innovative and creative new thinkers that are impacting design, clients, and organizations. One designer can change the feel and experience of an entire space, connecting people and ideas, and leaving a lasting mark on the industry. Below we highlight designers emerging as leaders in design, nominated by IIDA members.

Twee Andersen, Assoc. IIDA
Associate Interior Designer
DLR Group

While only three years out of design school, Twee demonstrates skills and ability well beyond her years of experience. Prior to her Interior Design education, Twee attained a BS in Psychology through her studies at the U of M. She actively utilizes this education to amplify her design impact, folding social, emotional, and physical considerations gracefully throughout her design process. Twee’s generous personality and sharp design eye grant her opportunities to lead hospitality design projects with Hoteliers such as Hilton and Marriott and local clients such as Doran Companies and Sherman Associates as part of local residential and hotel projects.

Outside of the office, she is an outstanding community member and a well-established role model for regional interior design students. Twee is devoted to mentorship and student engagement by participating in local schools for mentorship, portfolio reviews, and independent study groups, and supporting students of the BIPOC community. She has served as a Student Advisor and Director of Diversity and Inclusion for NEWH and participates in IIDA Northland's Student Affairs committee as well as B.O.L.D by IIDA Northland and MSP NOMA.

Twee Andersen, Assoc. IIDA
Associate Interior Designer DLR Group

Triana Carter, Assoc. IIDA
Interior Designer + Project Manager
Library of Congress

Triana Carter’s love for interior design started at a young age, but she never thought she could make a career out of it in her small town in Maryland. Initially pursuing a degree in Business, she found her passion in her first Intro to Interior Design class at Anne Arundel Community College and knew she had to make a career out of it. Since graduating with her associate degree in Interior Design, she has gone on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Savannah College of Art & Design and become a Fitwel Ambassador. In her five years of professional experience, Triana has worked on residential, hospitality, aviation, justice, and corporate workplace projects.

As an in-house designer for the Library of Congress, Triana is using her experience and passion for design, sustainability, and wellness to improve current policies and standards in a government organization. A graduate of IIDA MAC’s PLAID program and an inaugural participant of the IIDA x Interface Converge Summit, Triana is always willing to learn and grow as a designer. Triana is also a board member for a non-profit that focuses on introducing minorities from small towns to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. As a designer, Triana intends to “set the world on fire” – in a good way – by allowing her passion, experience, and curiosity to influence her work & life.

Triana Carter, Assoc. IIDA Interior Designer + Project Manager Library of Congress

Brianna Hunter, IIDA
Project Designer
MKDA, Miami

Brianna Hunter is an NCIDQ registered and LEED ID+C accredited interior designer who has taken the workforce by storm. With only four years of professional experience in hospitality, workplace, and retail design, Brianna utilizes her legal background to approach design from an analytical and user-focused perspective. Having previously worked at Perkins & Will, she developed skills in conceiving and executing projects with a specialization in ideation and graphics.

Currently working at MKDA Miami as a Project Designer, Brianna now manages her own projects from start to finish. Her vivacious spirit drives innovative design strategies with a passionate flare for detailing/ technical drawings and environmental psychology. To fuel her unrelenting work ethic, she serves on the IIDA SFC Board as the Director of Student Affairs which has allowed her to further hone her leadership skills.

Brianna Hunter, IIDA Project Designer MKDA

Brianna Johnson
Designer
The Walt Disney Company

Brianna Johnson is a LEED GA certified designer focused on understanding the link between community, functionality, and sustainability in interior design. She has professional experience in workplace, retail, and residential design, as well as public green space renovations. Fascinated with how design and science can come together to create sustainable solutions, she seeks to understand how, in her role as a designer, she can create spaces that are healthier for occupants and positively impact the planet.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Brianna’s connection to the city’s many resources for art, film, and architecture eventually led her to her education in art history and interior architecture. She designs spaces that acknowledge design of the past in a contemporary way, while also being flexible and meeting the needs of occupants today. She believes that a strong understanding of the end user and dedication to detail is the way to create beautiful and inspiring interiors.

Brianna Johnson Designer
The Walt Disney Company

Alvin Oei
Senior Design Manager
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

Trained with an eye for storytelling, Alvin Oei is an artist that has worked across different sectors in the creative field over the last 15 years. His experience ranges from interior architecture, illustration, graphic design, and branding to retail design. Currently, he is the Senior Design Manager for Disney, Parks, Experiences, and Products. With an environmental design degree from ArtCenter College of Design, Alvin’s work bridges the gap across various disciplines through narrative-driven spatial experiences. His work includes rebranding old pre-schools with new backstories, writing children’s books for pediatric burn clinics, and helping to craft visitor experiences for whisky distilleries with global design agency BRC Imagination Arts.

In addition, Alvin was a freelance brand strategist for global organizations including HEYTEA, Sporspot, and Disney. Alvin’s core value is the ability to help craft brand narratives that ultimately turn into visitor experiences with targeted goals. In his spare time, he runs the 501(c)(3) CMD+Y with a team of designers to work on various educational initiatives aimed at empowering youth. Alvin is also one of the key members of the new CONVERGE sustainability initiative, kick-started by IIDA + INTERFACE which aims to strengthen discussions of sustainability around the interiors industry.

Alvin Oei Senior Design Manager Disney Parks

Marysa Zieschang, IIDA
Interior Designer
Stantec

Marysa Zieschang is a registered interior designer based in Austin Texas. She has spent over five years designing impactful spaces ranging in scale and complexity. She takes pride in her ability to translate a client’s vision into an environment that best fosters growth, innovation, and connectivity within the communities she serves. Marysa places personal value in the aspect of a designer’s ability to influence; that we have the opportunity and potential to change the world. This personal value has become deeply rooted in her own life and design approach since the time that her son, now 3, was born.

On becoming a parent, she felt that we needed positive change to occur quickly for future generations and that a designer is able to do exactly that through their own sustainability efforts. Whether it be fulfilling her duties as Chair of IIDA’s Austin Emerging Leaders Program or her continued advocacy efforts through volunteer work as an ambassador for CIDQ or Texas Association for Interior Design various committees, she can always be seen exercising her abilities for the industry, environment, and its inhabitants' benefit.