Name: Emma Abramowitz
Company: BORA Architects
Position/Years of Experience: Interior Designer, 5 years
IIDA member since: 2012

Why are you a member of IIDA?: I am a member of IIDA for the community aspect. I absolutely love meeting people in the industry whether they work for another firm, are a product rep, or work in a related field. I especially value my involvement with the IIDA Oregon Chapter Board of Directors. I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the best and brightest individuals in the industry and am lucky to call many of them my friends, colleagues, and mentors. It’s not always a given that you will find a true mentor within the company you work for, but I have been lucky enough to have met many through IIDA and I am thankful for that.

Favorite IIDA event: The Design Excellence Awards. I have always admired this high caliber event and love the sense of prestige that it brings to our design community. For the most part, Portland is very laid back and casual, however, I love the formal aspect of this event as we honor the great design work that is coming out of Oregon!

What are you currently working on?: A major renovation of a historic building in downtown Portland. This is the first adaptive reuse project I’ve worked on, which has a strong interior design focus. The building has a very unique past and I am honored to be a part of its future use.

What does interior design legislation mean to you?: It means a lot of things, but most importantly it means equality. I attended a 5-year, accredited interior design school, passed my NCIDQ exam, and everyday work alongside architects, engineers, and other licensed consultants as a team, yet while we are all placed at a conference table I am the one professional in the room without legal backing from the State of Oregon. Many Interior Designers share this same sentiment and we deserve to be recognized.

What is your personal mantra?: “Shut up and do it.” As hard as it is, sometimes I try to put myself in uncomfortable situations to ensure that I am growing as a person. This mantra helps me get through situations that aren’t always so easy.