David Rockwell and Joy Moyler to Receive NYSID 2024 Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts
The New York School of Interior Design will celebrate 121 graduating students on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Commencement will recognize and celebrate the hard work of the College's talented graduates who have finished their education and are starting a bright future in interior design.
Each year, nominees for the honorary doctorate are selected from a distinguished pool for their demonstrated leadership in the interior design industry and values consistent with the College's mission and higher education. This year, NYSID selected Joy Moyler, celebrated interior designer with a signature style all her own, and David Rockwell, acclaimed architect, designer, founder, and president of the Rockwell Group.
"At first glance Joy and David’s work is very different, but when you scratch the surface you see two designers who are both influenced by other artistic disciplines, fashion in Joy’s case and theater for David," says NYSID President David Sprouls. "This is an important reminder that interior design—as a creative endeavor—draws on so many past and future, singular and collective, human experiences. I could not be more pleased that these two design leaders will be giving commencement addresses to the Class of 2024, the designers of tomorrow."
About Joy Moyler
Joy Moyler’s love of color and textiles are forever embedded in her DNA. From collecting fabric swatches for her late Mom to make quilts, and spending countless hours at Barney’s as a child, pouring over wool and cashmere while watching her Dad and Grandfather being fitted for suits, she has been learning all her life. For Joy, the texture, haberdashery and haute couture details found in fashion inspire her brand of architecture and interior design.
A trip to Spain when she was fourteen, confirmed her love for architecture and grounded her career path. “I became enthralled by the light, color, angles and textures of Madrid and Barcelona,” said Moyler. Joy’s work is informed by a multitude of design styles, from Beaux Arts to Modernism, and everything in between. Her broad understanding is reflected in the furniture, decorative finishes, hardware and textiles she uses.
With a BS in Architecture and more than 20 plus years of experience, the New York-based designer boasts a range of projects, including residential, retail, hospitality and commercial projects. Joy Moyler Interiors recently completed projects include Raevo Golf Resort in Moscow, Russia, alongside famed golfer Jack Nicklaus, as well as residential work for clients including Pia Getty, Leonardo Dicaprio, Adrien Brody, John Mayer and Thomas Keller. The firm also created Joy Moyler Atelier, a capsule tabletop collection, inspired by the architectural design elements found on The Dakota, The Beresford and The Majestic, the landmark residential buildings on New York City’s Central Park West.
Joy has been profiled in myriad design publications worldwide, and her name consistently shows up in places like Elle Decor A-List and Architectural Digest 100. She is also Contributing Design Editor for Veranda Magazine and Columnist for Homes & Gardens, UK.
About David Rockwell, FAIA
Long before turning his attention to architecture, David Rockwell, FAIA, had a fascination with immersive environments. Growing up in the United States and Guadalajara, Mexico, David was a child of the theater, and was often cast in community repertory productions by his mother, a vaudeville dancer and choreographer. There, he experienced the power of collaboration in service of a shared artistic goal, and witnessed the ways in which narrative and design created meaning and lasting memories. Later, he would bring his passion for theater and curator’s eye for the color and spectacle of Mexico to his practice.
Through this unique lens, David founded Rockwell Group, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024. Now a 330-person, cross-disciplinary architecture and design firm based in New York with satellite offices in Los Angeles and Madrid, Rockwell Group emphasizes invention and thought leadership. Led by David and partners Shawn Sullivan and Greg Keffer, the firm creates extraordinary experiences and built environments across the globe. Merging theater, performance, and architecture to create unique narratives for each project, the firm’s work includes hotels and restaurants, theaters, cultural and educational institutions, set designs, products, exhibitions, and urban interventions that engage the public realm.
One of his recent projects is the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York (Restaurant and Lobby Interior Architect), and his notable works include Nobu Hotels and restaurants worldwide. Honors include the AIANY President’s Award, the National Design Award from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for outstanding achievement in Interior Design, and a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for She Loves Me.
Known for his commitment to non-profit and community organizations, David serves as the Chair Emeritus of the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) and as a board member of Citymeals on Wheels, New York Restoration Project, and the American Theatre Wing.