Every year, AZ Big Media, which publishes both PTK and AZRE magazines selects Arizona’s top people and projects to showcase in its premier commercial real estate magazine — PTK — from an impressive and competitive nomination pool. Each day we will highlight 20 different categories of People to Know. Here are the interior designers to know in Arizona for 2024:
LEARN MORE: Read last year’s edition of PTK magazine
Alexandra Ayres
Principal, director of interiors, Phoenix
STG Design
Ayers brings more than 17 years of experience and a team leadership approach to projects from conception to completion. She excels at building relationships and offers a collaborative approach to partnership, giving clients and design partners confidence in creative solutions that align with business objectives.
Biggest career accomplishment: “I have been fortunate enough to receive the opportunity, encouragement and support from my peers in the commercial real estate industry to establish and expand the presence of STG Design. This endeavor has always been a personal aspiration of mine. Those who know me well understand my enthusiasm for embracing challenges and my passion for nurturing the growth of something from nothing.”
Lindsey Emeterio
Senior designer
Krause Architecture + Interiors
As a senior designer, it’s Emeterio’s responsibility to create cutting-edge, unique, safe and functional commercial spaces. Alongside her team, she works directly with clients to apply their programming requirements, branding and marketing materials, and core values to design their new office.
Biggest career accomplishment: “My biggest career accomplishment is being promoted to an associate within the studio and recently advancing my design management skills to advance to a senior designer. I have taken on new roles and responsibilities within the company. I am consistently growing my skillset, professional relationships and portfolio.”
Surprising fact: “I was born on Friday the 13th, but I am
quite lucky.”
Dani Franklin
Project interior designer
Corgan
Throughout Franklin’s career, she has had numerous design recognitions and several projects featured in local publications. In addition to her full-time job at Corgan, she is a force in the design community, currently serving as the vice president of professional development on the IIDA Southwest Chapter Board of Directors.
Biggest career accomplishment: “A goal of mine has been to give back to the design community on a greater scale. I recently achieved this by being asked to teach as a faculty associate at Arizona State University.”
No. 1 on the commercial real estate bucket list: “To serve in a national capacity: leading a large-scale project outside of our local community.”
Samantha Parker
Senior interior designer
Deutsch Architecture Group
Parker has several years of design experience focused on the financial industry and won a series of design awards: CUNA Excellence Award for Branch Design, MAC Award for Branch Design, Top Branch Design Award by Bank Director (awarded twice).
Surprising fact: “I am from Maine and grew up in the lobster industry — I can tell you anything you want to know about them. I worked at my family’s restaurant, which also offered wholesale and retail seafood sales.”
No. 1 on the commercial real estate bucket list: “I would love to be involved in a Net Zero Corporate Office project. The program sets an extremely high bar and seeks to resolve many of the climate and resource issues we face today.”
Liz Taylor
Senior experiential designer
RSP Architects
With upwards of 20 years of experience in multiple areas of design, Taylor is passionate about the value of multi-disciplinary teams and believes that varied perspectives lead to better design solutions. She has worked at several large design firms in addition to running her own business for more than a decade.
Surprising fact: “I have held a deep interest in pattern making since childhood that only grew in college through my art history and decorative arts coursework. About five years ago, to explore this interest, I did a deep dive into surface pattern design. I have licensed many of these patterns (as well as art and greeting cards) to companies like Minted and Target and have also done custom pattern design work for a wide array of clients.”
