Renowned designer Shashi Caan to speak at NYSID 2010 commencement exercises

Cindy Allen, Editor in Chief of Interior Design magazine, to Receive Honorary Degree

New York - May 3, 2010 - New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) is pleased to announce that multi-talented interior designer Shashi Caan will be the keynote speaker for this year’s commencement exercises on Wednesday, May 19. In addition to speaking Ms. Caan will receive the college’s Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts. The ceremony will be held at the Asia Society 725 Park Avenue, New York City starting at 4pm. This year NYSID will graduate 7 MFAs, 32 BFAs and 60 AAS candidates.

Key Note Speaker
Shashi Caan

Founder and Principal of the Shashi Caan Collective, Ms. Caan leads her own architectural design practice devoted to making seamlessly supportive environments through a unique collaborative design process. She is internationally acclaimed for bridging the divide between practice, theory, and education. At the forefront of advocating Interior Design’s role in society, her work demonstrates an understated sensibility uniting the multiple layers of architecture, interior and product design.

Honoring this commitment, Ms. Caan holds the highest positions in international design advocacy, as president of The International Federation of Interior Architects/ Designers, IFI - which represents over 65,000 designers worldwide - and current Chair of the International Design Alliance, IDA.

Honoree
Cindy Allen

Cindy Allen has been with Interior Design magazine since 1996, becoming Editor in Chief in 2001. She quickly established herself as an essential force in elevating the publication and her exposure—strengthening its credentials as a main ambassador of design while proving it the vehicle of growth and success for the industry it represents. The fruits of her labor have resulted in dramatically increased circulation while garnering many design awards along the way.

A self-proclaimed design junkie, Ms Allen brings an unbridled passion for design to the pages of the magazine each month, offering a unique view into design, and personal connections to the leaders in the industry.

NYSID President Christopher Cyphers chose Ms. Caan as keynote speaker recognizing her role as interior design’s global ambassador and one of the fiercest advocates for the ongoing professionalization of the field.

“Furthermore, Shashi Caan is among America’s leading design intellectuals, and gives voice to the internationalist approach to design education and practice through her role as president of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI). NYSID is exceptionally fortunate to have such a prominent figure in the global design community address the Class of 2010,” said President Cyphers.

Ms. Allen is being recognized for her role as one of the most influential advocates for the interior design industry.

“Cindy Allen is perhaps the most important member of the design press, and her publication, Interior Design magazine, has become the official organ of the interior design profession,” said President Cyphers. “Cindy is also an impassioned supporter of design education, and has given many design schools and students, NYSID among them a place to showcase their work alongside the nation’s most celebrated designers,” he added.

Founded in 1916, the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) is New York’s only private, not-for-profit college devoted exclusively to interior design education and related disciplines. NYSID’s guiding principle is that the interior environment is a fundamental element of human welfare and the college is committed to actively improving
the quality of life for all segments of humanity. This ideal is put into practice by a dedicated faculty of well-known designers, architects, art historians and authorities in the field who guide a diverse student body of over 700 full-and part-time students.

NYSID offers certificate, undergraduate and graduate programs in the field of interior design. The college is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and NYSID’s BFA is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

# # #