Welcome to 2026! It is truly an honor to begin the year as a columnist for officeInsight magazine and to do so while also celebrating my 20th year in the interior design industry. The road to this moment has not always been easy, but it has been meaningful, influential and filled with lessons that continue to shape who I am today. I’m grateful to still be here, still growing, and still deeply in love with this profession.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Krystal Lucero. I’m a registered interior designer based in Austin, Texas, and a Senior Interior Designer at Edwards + Mulhausen Interior Design (E+M), where I’ve spent the last 12 years. I began my career in Houston at Leo A. Daly after graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University the only school I applied to. The only major I ever considered was interior design. I knew early on that I wanted to work in the built environment. What I didn’t realize yet was that, as a Black design student, I was also considered a bit of a unicorn.
After getting married in 2007, I joined Graeber, Simmons & Cowan (GSC), working alongside architects and designers who helped shape the city of Austin. Those years were foundational, professionally and personally. I built lifelong friendships, learned the power of collaboration, and discovered how much joy can exist inside long days when you’re surrounded by people who genuinely care about the work and one another. During that time, I continued focusing on higher education projects and began exploring furniture planning, a path that would later become central to my career.
As my experience grew, so did my curiosity. That curiosity led me to the client side when I joined Austin Community College (ACC) as an interior project coordinator. There, I helped open two new campuses and supported renovation projects across the district. This role fundamentally reshaped my understanding of design. I learned how decisions that look great on paper don’t always translate into real-life functionality and how really listening to users changes everything. It was a powerful lesson in communication and accountability.
Side note (and perhaps a future column topic): Interior design education often only scratches the surface of what it truly means to be a furniture planner and consult as an interior designer. This niche extends far beyond the furniture dealer designer world.
Time spent on the client side offers invaluable insight into how buildings actually perform long after the final photo is taken. Both these on-the-job experiences have profoundly shaped my approach to design.
In 2010, at 27 years old, my life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I continued working at ACC through chemotherapy and paused briefly during radiation. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to be supported during that season, especially as many colleagues were facing layoffs during the economic downturn. That chapter reshaped my perspective, my priorities and my understanding of resilience.
As my health improved, I found myself missing the creative side of design. I reached out to Harmony Edwards, someone I had known for years and, as timing would have it, we needed each other at exactly the right moment. Nearly 12 years later, I can still hear her words clearly: “Why don’t you come work for me?”
At Edwards + Mulhausen, I’ve grown not only as a designer, but as a human being. Our work spans higher education, healthcare and corporate environments, with a strong focus on furniture consulting, interiors, renovations and move coordination. We work hard, we care deeply, and we believe in giving back through the work we do. I’m grateful to be surrounded by people who value collaboration and authenticity.
Outside the office, life is full and beautifully chaotic. I’m a mom to two incredible boys, Bo and Bryant, and a proud basketball coach’s wife. I’m also a two-time breast cancer survivor and a heart mom — Bo was born with congenital heart disease. These experiences shape how I lead, how I listen, and how I show up for others every single day.
Professionally, I remain deeply connected to the design community. I currently serve as Chair-Elect Trustee for the IIDA Foundation, supporting designers through scholarships and financial assistance — work that is deeply meaningful to me. I’ve served on boards, participated as a juror, mentored emerging designers and had the honor of contributing to the CIDQ Definition of Interior Design Task Force. Community, mentorship and representation are not side projects for me; they are part of my purpose.
As I reflect on my years in the industry, I find myself thinking more about well-being; not just for our clients and their spaces, but for designers themselves. How do we retain experienced professionals? Why is burnout so prevalent? What does sustainability look like when applied to people, not just buildings? These are questions I look forward to exploring with you throughout the year.
As I begin this journey as a columnist, I want to make a few promises:
I will speak from lived experience, never from a pedestal.
I will always advocate for and celebrate the profession of interior design.
I will show up authentically, sharing both challenges and wins.
I will lead with honesty, respect and heart.
And yes, we’ll have some fun along the way. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a smile (or a laugh) landing in their inbox?
Finally, my sincere thanks to Rob Kirkbride and the entire officeInsight team for trusting me with this platform. Being invited to share my perspective, especially as someone from a smaller market in Texas, means more than I can express. I’m honored to be part of this community.
I’m grateful to be here. Let’s begin.
Editor’s Note: Krystal R. Lucero, RID, NCIDQ, IIDA, Senior Interior Designer, Edwards + Mulhausen Interior Design. Design advocate. Connector. Storyteller. And a believer that representation matters and that meaningful change starts with conversation. Let’s connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/krystallucero