Behind the Rise of a Consummately American Designer

NYSID alumnus Erick Espinoza ’13 (BFA) became creative director of the prestigious interior design firm Anthony Baratta, Inc., at the age of 24. He has been named a House Beautiful Next Wave Designer, and his first house’s interior, which he designed, was featured in The New York Times, Country Living Magazine, and Connecticut Cottage and Gardens. NYSID honored him with its Rising Star Award at Gala 2024.

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Why I Give: The Duffy Family

“Our children are well taken care of. I wanted to share some of our resources with other people who might have less. When Anne and I were young, neither of us could afford to travel to far-flung places. Later in our lives, Anne and I visited India, China, Burma, Vietnam, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, and many parts of Latin America. Morocco was a highlight of our life. Exploring these roads less traveled ripped me out of my own experience and deepened and broadened my understanding of the world. This kind of educational experience, through a school like NYSID, seemed to be the greatest gift we could give.”

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Portfolio: Motomu “Lucia” Sakakibara '23 (BFA)

As Motomu “Lucia” Sakakibara ’23 (BFA) embarked on her thesis research, she envisioned a destination where people in metropolitan areas could go for decompression and self-reflection. Her models were Storm King, Dia Beacon, and Grace Farms, non-profit cultural organizations that brought her quietude and inspiration when she needed space from the city. For her cultural organization’s location, she chose a 1930s building, originally a stable, in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, on a plot of land ringed by woods.

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Portfolio: Charlotte Doody '23 (MFA1)

Chairman’s Award winner Charlotte Doody '23 (MFA1) researched many spas and wellness centers in preparation for her thesis. Her inquiry resulted in this revelation: “In modern day America, taking care of one’s health has become a sacred practice—a pilgrimage towards balance and well-being.” So she designed Aether Wellness Center around the idea that, “health is a new religion.”

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Portfolio: Nivedhitha Ravi '23 (MFA2)

For her thesis, Nivedhitha Ravi '23 (MFA2) was determined to “translate the needs of seniors into spatial solutions” in an innovative community for elders. Her intended client was the National Council on Aging. She researched the specific needs of current New York City seniors, because context and culture make design stronger. She found that, “Seniors need to be able to move around, but existing nursing homes restrict movement in an effort to reduce falls.”

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Portfolio: Nirali Prajapati '23 (MPSL)

“The intent was for the design to be able to minimize light trespass (from inside to outside and outside to inside) without compromising the safety of a student campus,” Nirali Prajapati ‘23 (MPSL) says. “This translated into Dark Sky-friendly lighting, flexibility for personalization in private units, and sustainability and durability becoming the basis for the lighting design approach.”

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Illuminating a Demand

The New York School of Interior Design’s one-year, post-professional Master of Professional Studies in Lighting Design (MPSL) has a 100 percent employment rate for graduates within 6 months of the program’s completion, and has for years…. MPSL Program Director Shaun Fillion, LC, CLCP, Educator IALD, as well as alumni Estefania Diaz ’15 (MPSL) / ’16 (MPSS), Lighting Designer at Ventresca Lighting Designers; Iliana Filotheidi ’19 (MPSL), Senior Lighting Designer at HLB Lighting Design; and Diogo Coelho ’18 (MPSL), Lighting Product Manager at Amerlux, share their insights.

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The Secrets of Bespoke Design

Interior designers’ relationships with artisans are extremely valuable. Designers and master craftspeople become partners in making, collaborating around every detail to turn their customers’ dreams into reality. Perhaps there’s no one better suited to teach what’s behind this process than Harry Heissmann, the owner of Harry Heissmann Inc. and the instructor of NYSID’s quartet of courses called “Advanced Trade Techniques,” which teach students high-level designing in Custom Upholstery (I), Custom Flooring (II), Custom Wall Treatments (III), and Custom Cabinetry (IV). Heissmann shares his thoughts with Atelier Managing Editor Jennifer Dorr here.    

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