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IIDA ANNOUNCES RECIPIENT OF ANNA HERNANDEZ/LUNA TEXTILES VISIONARY AWARD
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2019

IIDA ANNOUNCES RECIPIENT OF ANNA HERNANDEZ/LUNA TEXTILES VISIONARY AWARD

CHICAGO, IL — The IIDA Foundation, in partnership with Contract magazine and Teknion, is pleased to announce Christina Cho Yoo, IIDA, AIA, and Ming Thompson, IIDA, AIA, of Atelier Cho Thompson as the recipients of the Anna Hernandez/Luna Textiles Visionary Award, with an honorable mention for Karin Liljegren, IIDA, of Omgivning. This award recognizes contributions made by female business owners in the design industry. All recipients will be honored at the IIDA Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 9, 2019, at Venue SIX10 in Chicago.

“Every day, empowered women are driving the design industry and changing the way we approach the profession,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “We are honored and privileged to celebrate two women-owned design firms, both of which demonstrate unique ways of engaging with architecture and design that provide enhanced environments for their communities. It is this multi- faceted, interdisciplinary approach that will fuel the future of design.”

Christina Cho Yoo, IIDA, AIA, and Ming Thompson, IIDA, AIA, founders of Atelier Cho Thompson, will receive $5,000 from the IIDA Foundation. Their multidisciplinary design and concept firm, located in San Francisco and New Haven, engages in the art of architecture, interiors, graphics, brand strategy, furniture, installations, and exhibitions.

Omgivning is a Los Angeles-based firm founded by Karin Liljegren, IIDA, that strengthens urban communities through architecture and interior design, emphasizing reuse of materials and existing spaces.

Anna Hernandez was the founder and president of Luna Textiles and was known for advancing and celebrating the work of women in the interior design industry. This award was founded to honor her contributions to the profession.

“I am thankful for this fund and its dedication to continuing Anna’s legacy through supporting strong female entrepreneurs as they build the future of the industry,” said Hernandez’s husband and acclaimed multidisciplinary designer, Michael Vanderbyl, IIDA, principal of Vanderbyl Design.

Entries were reviewed by a committee of interior design industry professionals: Tina Barnard, IIDA, founder and owner, Tina Barnard Designs; Jennifer Busch, Hon. IIDA, vice president, A&D, Teknion; Karen Donaghy, publisher, Contract Magazine; and Felice Silverman, FIIDA, principal, Silverman Trykowski Associates.

“It has been exciting and rewarding to see so many worthy submissions from female designers and business owners,” said Barnard on behalf of the jury. “We loved that Christina and Ming created a firm that seamlessly takes on overall design aspects in lieu of being constrained by just one. And, although Karin’s company has completed over 350 projects, it breaks free of silos by being involved in product design. The women who represent these firms are truly designing for our today and tomorrow.”

For more information or questions in regards to this or other IIDA awards, contact Aisha Williams, senior director of industry relations and special events, at awilliams@iida.org.

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ABOUT IIDA

For 25 years, IIDA, the commercial interior design association with global reach, has been a leader in defining, supporting, and enriching the interior design profession. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms and their clients through our network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. We advocate for advancements in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of interior design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well- being of people’s lives every day. www.iida.org

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