CHICAGO — IIDA is pleased to announce Maya Bird-Murphy, founder and executive director of Mobile Makers, as the recipient of the 2023 Anna Hernandez/Luna Textiles Visionary Award. This annual award commemorates the remarkable accomplishments of Anna Hernandez, the Founder of Luna Textiles, by recognizing and presenting a prize to women entrepreneurs and industry leaders in the commercial interior design field.

“Maya exemplifies the comprehensive vision and skills needed to build and drive the growth of her business, create a future for others, and drive indelible change in the industry,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. "Recognizing and honoring her impactful, essential, and motivational efforts elevates this work and highlights the leadership our community accentuates and celebrates."

Mobile Makers is a non-profit organization advocating for education and diversity in the design industry by conducting valuable workshops in Chicago and Boston. Upon starting her journey in the design field, Bird-Murphy was disheartened by the lack of diversity and opportunities available to individuals looking to promote inclusivity and equity in the industry. This inspired her to create an organization unlike any other with the ability to educate, empower, and diversify both current and future generations of designers.

This year’s entries were reviewed by a committee of interior design industry professionals, including: Object Agency Principal, Jon Otis, IIDA; IA Interior Architects Senior Interior Designer, Tara Headley, IIDA; and Perkins&Will Principal, Branded Environments, Chicago, Eileen Jones, FIIDA.

"On behalf of the jury, it gives me great pleasure to present this award to Maya," said Otis. "Accessibility to education is of utmost importance in our industry and beyond, and we are delighted to recognize someone who has contributed significantly to the field with this distinguished accolade."

Bird-Murphy will be honored during the 2023 IIDA Annual Meeting on June 11 at Venue SIX10 in Chicago, where she will also receive $5,000 from the IIDA Foundation.

For questions in regards to this or other IIDA Foundation programs, please contact IIDA Continuing Education Manager Mary Tokar at mtokar@iida.org.