Determined by Design?

NoMa and Union Market neighborhoods, here we come! Congratulations to our partners The NRP Group LLC on this milestone achievement. We are super excited to partner with you on the development of this all-affordable community and can't wait to bring the vision to life through our Design Equity? services. Together, we are #determined by design !

Our #LadyBoss is constantly inspiring and surprising us! Add brand / product partner to her resume! Head to our Pinterest Board to see the dynamic mood board she curated for Tarkett Hospitality Moth Collection https://pin.it/pTLMK2DWN

At Determined by Design?, the word "diversity" is not a hashtag for us. Being limited to speaking about our mission only during Black History Month or other cultural celebrations is not enough for us. Unafraid to take risks, we jump to defy every design stereotype in the industry and show up as The People's Design Firm?. In an industry led by ego and "luxury", the importance of design in creating equitable spaces is not present and providing our Design Equity? services has actively shifted the narrative - making elevated Interior Design the standard for All, and not a luxury for a few. We are in service to the People, our People and all People. Join the conversation and learn more as our Lady Boss Kia Weatherspoon, NCIDQ, ASID chats with Sonia Alleyne - How to Engage Through Storytelling of the Business First Podcast on our approach to design and advocacy.

Did you catch our latest feature on the Zero to 5000 Podcast powered by Mitchell + McClure !? ??? Dive into the world of interior design like you've never seen it before as our Lady Boss Kia Weatherspoon, NCIDQ, ASID, a visionary designer and advocate for equitable design, shares her journey and the powerful impact of thoughtful, inclusive spaces. From her roots in Portsmouth, Virginia, to reshaping the design landscape in economically challenged communities, Kia's story is a masterclass in combining passion with purpose. Tune in to hear how Kia's commitment to inclusivity and understanding has transformed not just spaces but lives. This episode is a testament to the power of design and empathy in creating meaningful change. Visit www.zeroto5000.com to listen in ?? #DesignForAll?#EquitableDesign #SocialImpact

The impact that was felt at last months EFA Conference connected us to Alex Spanko and we could not be happier. Thank you for having our Lady Boss Kia Weatherspoon, NCIDQ, ASID join the podcast as you both shared vulnerable real time experiences and insight on WHY spreading Design Equity in Eldercare and Beyond is a necessity for all. ?? Click here to listen: https://lnkd.in/gXgBYmd4

Join Parsons School of Design and the Illuminating Engineering Society, in collaboration with Light Justice, on April 5 for Light + Justice Symposium: Interior Spaces. This hybrid live/virtual event will explore how indoor lighting quality—especially in public facilities—is generally neglected for marginalized, under-resourced, and vulnerable occupants and will feature panels of experts in lighting, design, and outreach. Our Lady Boss Kia Weatherspoon, NCIDQ, ASID will be presenting on how we at #DBD include thoughtful illumination into interior spaces within Affordable Housing. Of the few panels she will be sitting on, we are most excited about the panel discussion on Lighting for Vulnerable Spaces with Lya Osborn of Light Justice and the reasons why "Lighting is Prosperity" - so let them dance, let them sparkle, let them illuminate - inclusive of all space types. To learn more about the program, visit the link below: https://lnkd.in/eapzWxYd. The event is Free for New School students, faculty and staff. RSVP Mandatory. See You in NYC! ??

Our Lady Boss?Kia Weatherspoon, NCIDQ, ASID unafraid to take risks. Her superpower is that she jumps – defying every design stereotype as she’s moved through the industry. For over 15 years, her vehicle to doing so has been through founding Determined by Design? - the only interior design firm in the nation that provides Design Equity? services - shifting the industry benchmark and elevating the standard of Interior Design as one for All and not just a luxury for a few. This Friday she is excited to speak on all things equitable design to the Interior Designers for Education and Sustainability at Virginia Tech!! If you are an Interior Design student?at Virginia Tech, make sure you join us as Kia speaks on how living a life?#Determinedbydesign?influenced the firm’s design mission and impact on black + brown communities.

Another project in the books with our partners Dantes Partners and Grimm + Parker Architects ! ?? ?? Positioned in a prime location across from Shaw Metro Station and Shaw Library this striking, 11-story, concrete-and-metal structure — designed to artfully emulate the warmth of undulating wood paneling — offers a total of 110 Studio, One-, and Two-bedroom apartment units, complemented by a Retail space zoned for an Arts + Creative tenant and green roofs. Residents will enjoy a host of amenities, including a well-equipped fitness center, a grand double-height lobby, a dedicated work-from-home space, and a chic clubroom with a stylish step-out terrace presenting residents with a coveted view of the city’s dynamic downtown skyline and beyond. From concept, to space planning, to design?our Design Equity Interior Designers brought the historic origins of the space alive with "Marks of a Triumphant Crest" and it came to life greater than what we could ever imagine in collaboration with Dumas Collective, DAVIS Construction, Modern by H2 and No.7 Consultants. This work is not for us. Its for the People we do it for and the ever-lasting impact it has on the communities we serve. Connect with us to learn more about the design process and how You can create an inclusive, sustainable and elevated living standard for all with our Design Equity? services.

As we close out Black History Month, guess who is on the cover of the Multi-Housing News March Digital Issue!! ?? Read an excerpt from Lady Boss Kia Weatherspoon, NCIDQ, ASID interview with Dana Mosher about "Designing Affordable Housing in an HGTV World". “Some development partners don’t think to incorporate an interior design consultant until after they’ve priced their job at least three times—and they have been pricing with inadequate or subpar building materials,” said Weatherspoon. Many are leaning into standardization of their properties at the guidance of the facilities and maintenance team. “I think that poses a struggle for affordable housing residents, because now you’re only thinking about material selections from the point of view of, ‘How can we clean this? How can we replace them?’ They’re wanting a longevity that is just not realistic.” As the only Interior Design firm providing Design Equity? Services, our focus has always been rooted in that interior design is an elevated standard for all and not a luxury for a few.?Our approach requires transparency, respect, candor, care - and our guidepost is we are in service to the people. Equitable Design is a practice of empathy that positions us to best represent the people - and we are working to make it an Industry Standard. #WeAreBlackHistory Click here to read more ?? : https://lnkd.in/eZ8k43qU