The design voice of impact and change. Kia Weatherspoon, NCIDQ, ASID, has spent the last 15 years defying every design stereotype. The most damaging: interior design is a luxury reserved for a few. Her voice, advocacy for Design Equity™, and design practice have shifted the narrative, making interior design a standard for all. Kia is challenging the lack of these standards in economically challenged communities. Her presence and leadership have created ripples, prompting housing developers, agencies, and industry partners in economically challenged communities to not just to take notice of her work –but to do better.

As an advocate and educator in business leadership, equity, and diversity. Kia has been recognized as a HIP Designer for Good by Interior Design Magazine, a part of the Washington Business Journal’s 40 under 40 Class and the International Interior Design Association Luna Textile/ Anna Hernandez Visionary Award recipient.

Kia is adamant change is possible when difficult conversations happen. She has them every day as a female leader of color, speaker, educator and mentor, who exemplifies what’s possible for those who are determined by design. 

Lecture description:

We live in a world of labels—corporate, hospitality, senior, millennial, black, white, affordable, high-end, etc. While these descriptors and identifiers may have been intended to support sales, marketing and other functions, they have essentially created a more polarized human experience and hindered creativity and Design Equity™. These labels prevent design professionals from thinking outside of the box and providing the best possible solutions for clients. Labels have made design seem out of reach for some people, when well-designed spaces should be a standard for all, not a luxury for a few.

In this presentation, Kia will help the audience recognize the impact of labels, demographics and data on the design process. She will share her mission of Design Equity™, challenging professionals to approach projects with a focus on community and the collective human experience. Kia believes that change is possible through design. By adjusting language and spearheading a more inclusive design process, architects and designers can create with empathy and develop thoughtful concepts that tell stories, connect people and unite communities. Through this presentation, Kia will challenge firms and design professionals to support an inclusive design process in order to properly reflect the communities they serve and inspire the next generation of designers and architects.

“As designers, as people, we need to remove labels so we can do better. These labels disrupt entire communities. We want diversity, design equity and different outcomes, so we need to constantly challenge ourselves to do better.” –Kia Weatherspoon, ASID