Title: 25 Black Interior Designers Speak Frankly About Their Careers, Successes, and Challenges | Architectural Digest
Headings: 25 Black Interior Designers Speak Frankly About Their Careers, Successes, and Challenges
25 Black Interior Designers Speak Frankly About Their Careers, Successes, and Challenges
While progress toward diversifying the profession has been glacial, these interviews reveal how the design industry can effect change
Kesha Franklin — Halden Interiors
Designers speak: On being held to a different standard
Sheila Bridges—Sheila Bridges Design
Designers speak: On tokenism and inclusion
Leyden Lewis — Leyden Lewis Design Studio
Designers speak: On feeling like an outsider
Tiffany Brooks — Tiffany Brooks Interiors
Designers speak: On how to effect change
Rayman Boozer — Apartment 48 Interiors

Content: Schooling, to me, was what gave you the accreditation. Because I hadn’t done that, I actually hid in a shell for a very long time, not feeling like I could go to anyone to seek a mentor….I felt like I was discrediting the industry by showing up to an event and saying, “Hey, I’m a designer,” and then they’re saying, “What school did you go to, or who do you study under? What firm do you work for?” I couldn’t answer those questions, so I learned the hard way. When I went to design events I would be, sometimes, the only black individual in the room, or one of three in a room of 100 attendees. I’d feel very lost. The industry was very cliquey. Even when someone did strike up a conversation, there was this curiosity, like ‘What are you doing here? What’s your story? How did you end up in this room?’