Commencement 2023

On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, the New York School of Interior Design honored the class of 2023 with a graduation ceremony at 92Y’s Kaufmann Concert Hall in New York City. One hundred sixteen interior designers obtained their degrees after much hard work and tenacity. Eighty-five graduates walked the stage. The College’s abundant, accredited online degree programs made this NYSID’s most geographically diverse graduating class in the history of the College, with students hailing from 22 countries. Some of the students who studied online also graduated virtually, joining from afar via a live broadcast.

The chairman of NYSID’s Board of Trustees, Ellen Kravet, opened the ceremonies. NYSID President David Sprouls thanked the Class of 2023 for helping the College cultivate a culture of belonging; for succeeding beyond his high expectations and garnering a haul of industry awards this year; and for upholding a 107-year-old tradition of excellence, which was apparent in their thesis projects, on exhibition through September at the NYSID Gallery and Graduate Center. “You are innovators and agents of change who demand inclusion for all and embrace the responsibility of prioritizing the health of the planet, as well as our own well-being, at every turn,” said Sprouls. “We and the world are so very ready for you.”

Kate Kelly Smith

Newell Turner

Wisdom from the Commencement Speakers

President Sprouls presented Kate Kelly Smith and Newell Turner, both giants in the field of design media, with the New York School of Interior Design’s highest accolade, the Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts in Interior Design.

Smith is executive vice president and managing director of Luxe Interiors + Design and chief sales officer of the Sandow Design Group. Before joining Sandow Design Group, Smith was senior vice president of the Hearst Design Group, leading the publishing side of House Beautiful, Veranda, and Elle Decor. Folio recognized her as a “corporate visionary,” naming her one of the Top Women in Media 2015. She’s the daughter of an interior designer, and her deep understanding of design has driven her publishing career.

It’s not surprising that this powerhouse of a media executive used her speech to empower NYSID’s graduates. “Design is about solving deeply personal and complex problems by making a positive impact on people’s lives,” Smith said. “You have the power to shape our environment, influence our behavior, and improve our well-being while defining style, form, and taste.”

It was meaningful to have Smith speak in tandem with the great design journalist Newell Turner, because they spent 12 years running the Hearst Design Group together. Turner was founding editorial director of the Hearst division that produced Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and Veranda. He is an author, editor, photographer, and design consultant with over 35 years of experience in design and lifestyle magazine publishing. His recent book is Mexican: A Journey Through Design (Vendome Press, May 2023). He is also a former New York School of Interior Design trustee who is deeply invested in design education. Turner said, “See beauty not only in the grandeur of high-profile or big projects, but also in the seemingly mundane and everyday spaces that shape our lives. Let beauty be your compass.”

Paulina Castillon Gomez ’23 (BFA

Antonio Harris II ’23 (MFA1)

Student Speakers

NYSID allows its graduating students to vote to determine who will speak on their behalf at commencement. This year, the undergraduates selected Paulina Castillon Gomez ’23 (BFA). “Strive to show up as your authentic selves every single day,” she said. “Your work as an interior designer is not only about acquired knowledge, but also about how you connect and create for the people around you.”

The graduate students selected Antonio Harris II ’23 (MFA1) as their speaker. Harris, a US Air Force veteran, is already working as a junior design strategist at the LAB at Rockwell Group. Harris said, “We must remain committed to making intentional choices. . . to imagining the unimaginable; to providing solutions and solving important problems; to uplifting and thoroughly inspiring.”