IIDA NY to Host Conversation on Practices of Personal Identity in Design

The International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY) presents the second installment of the two-part Pioneering Design® Series — “Practices of Personal Identity.” The curated showcase will highlight the work and creative journeys of LGBTQ+ and immigrant artisans, each bringing diverse backgrounds in arts and design. In a new format for this installment, each artist and designer will have the opportunity to display their work and engage in one-on-one conversations with attendees. The event will take place on Thursday, September 4th, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the Blu Dot Lexington Showroom (715 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022).

“With this installment, we wanted to move beyond the traditional panel format and create an intimate environment where attendees can engage deeply with the artists and designers behind the work,” said Mel Casipit, Co-Chair of the Pioneering Design® Committee. “By fostering one-on-one conversations, we reveal how personal identity isn’t just a backstory, it is the very foundation of their creative process, enriching design with lived experience and cultural depth.” Kristen Camejo, Co-Chair of the Pioneering Design® Committee, added, “These are pioneering voices, friends, peers, and creatives who bring their whole selves into their design practice, and we wanted to give them a platform that feels just as personal and authentic as their work.”

The Pioneering Design® Series highlights the power of collaboration to expand perspectives, spark dialogue, and bring bold ideas to the design community, spotlighting designers and artists who redefine the practice through personal vision, inclusive values, and independent innovation. “Practices of Personal Identity” is intended to challenge the norm and inspire new narratives. This edition spotlights queer and immigrant artists whose work compels us to reconsider not only what design looks like, but who it serves and represents, and invites the design community to an evening celebrating creatives who boldly infuse their identity into their work. The showcased work spans architecture, furniture, fashion, and poetry, all united by a commitment to visual language, creativity, and self-expression. The evening will also feature diverse entertainment, including a live band and a drag show. The artists in attendance include:

• Giuseppe Amato, Founder and Chef of Amato | Cibo: An architect, interior designer, and event planner, Amato draws on his background to create authentic Italian dining and networking experiences rooted in his Neapolitan heritage, celebrating simple cooking and beautiful design as a means to inspire and bring people together.
• Michael James Casey, Architect, Designer, and Founder of MJCNYC: A New York City–based architect, Casey creates beyond buildings, designing furniture and clothing that celebrate identity, resilience, and queer voices through bold, precise designs that challenge the status quo.
• Kristen Kelly, NCIDQ, IIDA, Senior Design Manager and Artist at Workflow Interiors and K.L. Kelly Studio: A visual artist based in Brooklyn, New York, Kelly creates immersive abstract landscapes that explore human impact on climate change through innovative techniques and large-scale compositions, blurring the line between real and speculative environments.
• Kouros Maghsoudi, Founder & Creative Director at Kouros Maghsoudi: Maghsoudi blends his Persian heritage with playful postmodern design in his Mehmooni furniture collection, reflecting a bold vision of sex, liberation, and opulence, while his sustainable architecture and urban design work explores future cultures influenced by fashion and city life.
• Neekou Maghsoudi, Multidisciplinary Artist & Founder and Persian Poet: The founder of Persian Poet, Maghsoudi, creates poetic works that blend personal reflection with cultural commentary across public spaces and media, exploring identity, intimacy, queerness, and diaspora.
• Alex Romero, Artist, Designer at Alex Romero: A multidisciplinary artist and 2023 Designer Dozen Award winner, Romero creates vibrant window displays that explore transformation through dynamic interplay of line, color, and movement, blending fine arts training with spatial design to evoke subconscious emotions beyond words.

Tickets for the upcoming Pioneering Design® event, Practices of Personal Identity, may be purchased here. This event will provide 1 IDCEC CEU.