Educators, students, and industry leaders recognized for advancing accessibility, equity, and public wellbeing through design
Interior design educators, students, and professional leaders gathered at United Nations Headquarters to mark World Creativity and Innovation Day at the annual NY11+ Awards Luncheon, highlighting the growing role of interior design education in addressing accessibility, ageing, health, and social equity across communities.
This year’s theme, “Critical Interiors: Design for All,” emphasized the profession’s expanding responsibility to shape environments that support dignity, inclusion, and quality of life across diverse populations.
“Interior design engages real societal challenges and creates meaningful change, especially for underserved and at-risk communities,” said Tania Branquinho, NY11+ President and Assistant Chair of Interior Design at Pratt Institute. “NY11+ creates opportunities for students, educators, and practitioners to work together across institutions and disciplines, strengthening the role of design education in shaping more inclusive communities.”
The program was hosted in partnership with the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC), continuing a long-standing collaboration first championed by NY11+ founder Ruth Lynford and ICCC leader Dianne E. Davis, whose work helped position interior design within global conversations on intergenerational living and community wellbeing.
The collaboration reflects NY11+’s continuing engagement with international conversations on ageing-in-place, accessibility, and inclusive community development aligned with United Nations priorities supporting healthy, equitable environments across generations and advancing the role of design education in shaping socially responsive built environments.
A Statewide Education Consortium Advancing Inclusive Interior Design Education
NY11+ represents leading interior design programs across New York State and serves as a collaborative platform connecting education, professional practice, and public advocacy.
“Meeting at the United Nations reminds us that design is not just about space — it’s about participation, dignity, and opportunity. NY11+ helps make those connections visible by bringing students, educators, and practitioners together in shared public conversations about the future of our communities,” said Hans Galutera, NY11+ Vice President and Acting Treasurer and CEO of HG Design Works and the International Ambassador of Education for the Society of British Interior Design (SBID).
As NY11+ approaches its 30th anniversary in 2027, the organization continues expanding public exhibitions, cross-institutional collaboration, and advocacy supporting the next generation of interior designers.
Recognizing Leadership in Inclusive and Socially Responsive Design
NY11+ honored three practitioners whose work reflects leadership in mentorship, professional advocacy, and socially engaged practice:
- Jennifer Graham, Managing Principal, Perkins&Will
- Kiki Dennis, Principal, TenBerke
- Rose Novak, Senior Associate, Gensler
Additional scholarship support was provided through a personal contribution from honoree Jennifer Graham, matched by Perkins&Will, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to advancing inclusive interior design education.
The program also featured a keynote presentation by Joel Sanders, FAIA, founder of JSA/MIXdesign, whose research on gender-inclusive and accessible environments continues influencing public space design, policy frameworks, and accessibility standards internationally.
Student Design Work Presented in a Major Civic Exhibition
A central component of the luncheon recognized student work from seven New York State interior design programs currently exhibited at the Port Authority Bus Terminal Gallery, one of the most heavily visited public transit environments in the United States.
Supported by Myron Johnson, Manager of Film Production, Entertainment, and Cultural Arts at the Port Authority Midtown Bus Terminal and Lincoln Tunnel, the exhibition remains on view through May 31 and presents emerging student responses to real-world social and environmental challenges within one of the nation’s most active civic infrastructures.
Premier sponsor PID Floors contributed $5,000 in student scholarships supporting this year’s awards and advancing NY11+’s commitment to inclusive design education, while also supporting public awareness initiatives connected to the event.
The exhibition initiative has also benefited from the continued leadership support of Jeffrey H. Lynford, Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, whose multi-year contributions helped establish and expand the student exhibition within a major civic transit environment.
The Port Authority Bus Terminal student exhibition was co-chaired by Tania Branquinho and Helene Oberman, supporting cross-institutional collaboration among participating interior design programs across New York State.
Student Award Recipients
Fashion Institute of Technology — Kendall Ballode
New York Institute of Technology — Mozaiah Tibbs
New York School of Interior Design — Monica Bittenbender
Parsons School of Design — Hanyan Sun
Pratt Institute — Stephen Shkreli (group project) with Soohyun Ahn, Kai-Chi Chiu, Arianna Correa, Anajali Shailesh Dave, Henry Domst, Elizabeth Hammett, Hang Min, Megan Pulling, Brissa Ramos, Pornpitcha Ruampongpattana, Katherine Oliver, Jiahui Tang, Leah Toscano, Minqi Wu
School of Visual Arts — Ye Chen Tong
Syracuse University — Kenji Frazier (group project) with Holly Ishiro Randall, Pinyi Wang, Isabel Lamporte
Villa Maria College — Autumn Enright
Additional Supporters and Contributors
NY11+ gratefully acknowledges additional contributions supporting student recognition, the awards program, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal exhibition:
- Cosentino Stone — floral sponsorship
- Dr. Carol Bentel — student book awards
- Pratt Institute — student book awards and silk print awards
- Pamela Durante — student book awards
- Garrett Leather — student award backpack
- Tania Branquinho — exhibition graphics, marketing collateral, and NY11+ certificates
- Tania Branquinho and Helene Oberman — co-chairs, Port Authority Bus Terminal student exhibition initiative
NY11+ Board Leadership
Tania Branquinho — President, NY11+; Assistant Chair, Pratt Institute
Hans Galutera — Vice President and Acting Treasurer; CEO, HG DesignWorks LLC
Helene Oberman — Secretary; Managing Director, Interior Design Magazine
Pamela Durante — Chair, NY State Board for Interior Design
Ethan Lu — Chair, Interior Design, Fashion Institute of Technology
Jason (Kyong Hwan) Lee — Assistant Chair, Interior Design, Fashion Institute of Technology
Florencia Vetcher — Director, Interior Design Department, New York Institute of Technology
Daniel Harper — Associate Dean, New York School of Interior Design
Carly Cannell — Director, BFA Interior Design Program, Parsons School of Design
Dr. Carol Bentel — Chair, School of Visual Arts
Alper Besen — Faculty, School of Visual Arts
Zoriana Dunham — Program Coordinator, Syracuse University
Sandra Reicis — Program Chair, Villa Maria College
