New York, NY – April 12, 2018 – The New York School of Interior Design announced today that acclaimed interior designer Juan Montoya will deliver the keynote address during the New York School of Interior Design’s 2018 commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at NYU Skirball Center for the Performance Arts at 11:00 AM.

“We are delighted to have Juan Montoya speak to our students at such a momentous occasion in their lives,” said NYSID president David Sprouls. “He has earned a reputation as one of the most influential designers of his time because of his unique talents and innovative projects, and I have no doubt that our graduates will find Juan thought-provoking and inspiring.”

Juan Montoya is one of the most acclaimed and prolific interior designers in the world today. He was born and spent his early years in Colombia. After studying architecture in Bogotá, he moved to New York where he graduated from Parsons School of Design. Following two years of work and study in Paris and Milan, he returned to New York, where he founded Juan Montoya Design. His firm specializes in residential and contract interior design, with projects located throughout the United States and Internationally.

Juan’s contributions to the field of interior design are widely recognized. He is a member of the Interior Design Hall of Fame, a recipient of an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design, Star of Design Award, and the Legends Award from Pratt Institute. He is also included in AD100 since its inaugural list, AD Collector (France) top 100, AD 30 Deans of Design, and a Grand Master on Elle Decor's A-list.

A truly original thinker, Juan is not wedded to a particular style or period. Initially labeled a minimalist, his work has evolved dramatically since he first came to the public's attention. The great diversity found in Juan Montoya’s work notwithstanding, it is possible to trace elements that constitute the Montoya look in all his interiors. The exquisite juxtaposition of textures, colors and volumes, together with thoughtful attention to shadows, scale and spatial quality, result in interiors that exude refinement and elegant simplicity. Through the careful placement of objects, that often reflect his interest in a variety of cultures, Juan enhances the qualities of a room or of an entire apartment or house.

As part of the 2018 Commencement exercises, Montoya, along with award-winning architect, Gil Schafer of G. P. Schafer Architect, will receive Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degrees.

Gil Schafer III, AIA has focused his career on residential projects for the last 30 years. Prior to establishing G. P. Schafer Architect in 2002, Gil worked in several distinguished traditional residential architecture practices including Ferguson Murray & Shamamian Architects, where he remained for nearly a decade, and was an Associate at the firm.

Gil grew up with a strong sense of how a well-built, thoughtfully-designed home can bring pleasure to daily life. Over the course of his childhood he was fortunate to be exposed to life in a variety of places, each contributing to his sense of what makes places unique and how architectural traditions and lifestyle are influenced by context.

Following undergraduate studies in Growth & Structure of Cities at Haverford College and its sister institution Bryn Mawr, Gil graduated from Yale School of Architecture with a Master’s Degree in 1988. While at Yale, Gil studied under several noted practitioners including Thomas Beeby, Robert Venturi, Josef Kleihues, Frank Gehry, and Benard Tschumi.

Since it’s founding, G. P. Schafer Architect has received more than a dozen design awards. Gil is a member of Architectural Digest’s AD100 and winner of Veranda’s “Art of Design Award.” Additionally, Gil’s work and the firm’s projects have been widely published both here in the U. S. and abroad in both magazines and newspapers, including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Veranda, Town & Country, British Vogue, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among many others. The firm’s work has also been featured in more than two dozen books on design. In addition to his architectural practice, Gil lectures around the country on the relevance and livability of traditional residential architecture today and is the author of the bestselling books, The Great American House and A Place To Call Home.

Gil serves on several non-profit boards and advisory councils, including the Yale School of Architecture’s Dean’s Council, the Dutchess Land Conservancy, and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello. From 1999–2006, Gil served as the President and then Chairman of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, the nation’s leading resource for the classical tradition in architecture and its allied arts. When he’s not traveling for work, Gil divides his time between New York City, the Hudson Valley and Maine.

About New York School of Interior Design
New York School of Interior Design is a private, nonprofit college focused exclusively on interior design. The college offers certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs for students at all stages of their careers—whether they’re just becoming familiar with the discipline, considering a career change, or looking to deepen knowledge in a particular area. Consistently ranked one of the top interior design programs in the United States, students study both residential and commercial interior design, some with specialties in sustainable design, lighting, and healthcare interiors. NYSID students enjoy a small class size and sharp focus, a great deal of personal attention from dedicated faculty, and they go on to practice at the highest levels of the profession. To learn more, visit NYSID.edu.