Stefanie Shunk: Design Innovation

Feb 05, 2024 By Jessica Jones

Stefanie Shunk, FIIDA talks mentorship and how IIDA has helped shape her future as a designer and leader

By Jessica Jones Feb 05, 2024

Published in Articles

As a Principal and Design Director at Gensler, Stefanie Shunk, FIIDA of the New York Chapter, encourages innovative thinking and dynamic collaboration with colleagues and clients in her design practice. She believes in purpose-driven design and the importance of advancing design leadership. Stefanie prioritizes investing her time in her team and in the design community, fostering the growth of the next generation of design leadership. IIDA membership provides opportunities for leadership and mentorship that help propel the future of the design industry. She is a member of the IIDA’s College of Fellows, and says that “this acknowledgment by the IIDA community is such an honor.” As she looks towards the future, Stefanie understands the value and importance IIDA has to the future of design. Through mentorship and the support of the IIDA community Stefanie continues to contribute to the impacts we create in design.

What inspired you to become a design professional?

A love of the environment around me and excitement for travel inspired me to go into design. For me, design is about how spaces make you feel and how these experiences create a greater sense of belonging. I’ve enjoyed a passion for curating interiors from a very early age and enjoy memories from grade school of helping my friends redesign their rooms for a more elevated and organized experience. This passion and curiosity evolved over the years. Fast forward 30 years into my career and I'm just as passionate about creating dynamic environments and experiences for everyone to enjoy.

Shunk attends Leading Design leadership class series in 2019.

Photo by Image courtesy of Gensler

Shunk attends Leading Design leadership class series in 2019.

Photo by Image courtesy of Gensler

As the design director for this project, Shunk hosted a confidential client tour at the Campari Headquarters.

Photo by Image courtesy of Gensler

As the design director for this project, Shunk hosted a confidential client tour at the Campari Headquarters.

Photo by Image courtesy of Gensler

Why is the IIDA community important to the future of design?

We have an obligation as an industry to lead for positive change and impact. Our future must embody designing equitable and inclusive spaces that are environmentally resilient and sensory driven. We have an incredible impact on the world we live in and share a responsibility as industry leaders for how we move forward.

How has IIDA shaped your career and the way you look at design?

My early involvement in IIDA helped create a foundation upon which I built my career. The organization's ability to open doors and enrich our experience as designers was invaluable. Local Chapter events and programs connected us with our community, mentors, peers and inspired our future design aspirations. IIDA is an incredible platform for connection. Having access to IIDA events early on in my career was very formative, both as a New Yorker and as an interior designer.

Why would you encourage others to join IIDA?

IIDA is an incredible platform for advancing the interior design industry. Not only does the organization broaden the network of members within each local chapter, as a global organization IIDA connects us individually to the industry overall and gives us a broader reach by allowing us to connect beyond our cities. This is incredibly important for what we do as a profession, we are all in this together, creating impact as a community through the choices we make as designers.

I’ve attended some incredible IIDA member events and speaking engagements. One of my favorite memories was meeting Daniel Boulud at a speaker series hearing about the inspiration behind his own creations as a chef. Through facilitating these events and convening designers, IIDA allows us to experience unexpected opportunities that we as individuals, might not have otherwise had access to enjoy.