Cheryl Durst on design, diversity, and defining her own path

For the executive vice president and CEO of IIDA, design is a “truly human-centered profession.” And the perfect pair of black pants is only elusive for now.

Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA is no stranger to making history. As the first recipient of the Interior Design Hall of Fame Leadership Award, and the first Black woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, the executive vice president and CEO of the International Interior Design Association is accustomed to standing out in the crowd. But she’s making it her personal and professional mission to bring others who’ve often been overlooked along with her.

“We know that lack of adequate representation is a problem throughout the design professions. And I believe organizations like IIDA have a key role to play in both promoting and enabling talented Black and brown people to enter and flourish in the world of design,” says Durst. “IIDA has always prioritized inclusion, but when we talk specifically about the workforce, we can do more — and we do!” 

Under her 26-year leadership, IIDA has made significant strides in advocacy, community-building, and equity within the industry. Four years ago, the organization launched its Design Your World program for design-curious teens from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. 

“This program brings the design industry and design skills within reach for the students, and reveals that a career in design is viable and desirable,” Durst shares. “In fact, in the short time the program has been around, we have seen 11 alumni enter design school. Don’t let them tell you a pipeline project is a long game — we are already seeing success, and we aren’t stopping now.”

In this first installation of Design Juice, Durst reflects on her career, the importance of DEI in design, and her vision for a more inclusive future.

Q: Your career at IIDA spans more than two decades, during which you’ve become a transformative leader in the design industry. Can you share the pivotal moments that shaped your journey to becoming executive vice president and CEO?

Cheryl Durst: I started my professional life as an educator — teaching high school English — and found my way to design, or design found me. That experience grounded me in the intrinsic value of teaching and learning, and coincidentally showed me the power of design to shape human lives. 

When I encouraged a student who was unhappy and not performing well to change his perspective by relocating his desk, everything about the class changed for him. It’s a story I still tell today because it speaks to helping people feel seen and heard, creating comfort and belonging, and encouraging human beings to achieve great things. 

It’s a reminder that sometimes the most powerful aspect of design is at our fingertips. It also helps explain why those two threads, lifelong learning and the human impact of design, have informed my career ever since. And coincidentally, I still hear from that student, who has created his own success story.

Q: Design is often viewed as a reflection of culture and society. How do you see the role of interior design evolving to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse world?

Durst: Design has always been a reflection of culture, but culture today, thankfully, has a broader definition and needs to be more inclusive. Design that has grown organically from a designer’s own cultural heritage and influences brings art, authenticity, and curiosity into our spaces. Clients who are culturally competent and willing to embrace inclusivity allow design to do this work. The built environment we inhabit can be used to educate us, and to create welcome and belonging, and I think as designers today look to create experiences, not just spaces, they are looking for ways to incorporate a broad range of cultural notes.

Q: You’ve been a vocal advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in design. What experiences or insights have driven your passion for DEI, and how do you integrate these principles into your leadership at IIDA?

Durst: As a Black, female leader in an industry that has skewed around 90 percent white and is still predominantly led by men, the EDI “space” is just … life! I have been a part of bringing inclusivity to the design industry from day one. When I took on the role of executive vice president and CEO of IIDA in 1998, I received racist threats. The world has made tangible progress since then, but there is still work that needs to be done, and it is urgent work.

I consider fostering inclusion for people of all backgrounds, abilities, and ages and creating opportunities for greater diversity within the industry a core part of my mission, and IIDA’s mission. During my tenure, we’ve prioritized this work by launching initiatives and scholarships that empower the next generation of designers, recognize women and people of color doing great work in the profession, and advance both discussion and action around EDI for companies and individuals. Closer to home, the IIDA headquarters [in Chicago] is a workplace that succeeds with the help and guidance of an all-female, diverse leadership team, and a highly diverse staff. 

Q: The design industry has a significant impact on how people experience spaces and, by extension, how they feel included or excluded. Why is it crucial for designers to prioritize DEI in their work, and what are the potential consequences if they don’t?

Durst: Designers have so much impact on daily life for all of us. And so design must consider all of us; design is truly for the people. As our world becomes ever more interconnected, our spaces need to accommodate many different purposes and activities, to evolve to serve a changing landscape, to make gathering and proximity comfortable and attainable, rather than the opposite. Ignoring design’s mandate to serve all of humanity can have very serious consequences: history provides plenty of examples of the built environment creating division, sometimes intentionally. Design is a truly human-centered profession, and as designers lean into that intention to think of people first, we get spaces that extend a welcome to all. 

Q: The intersection of design and technology is rapidly expanding. How do you see this evolution impacting DEI in the design field, and what should designers be mindful of as they innovate?

Durst: I remain optimistic and excited about the future at large as well as the future of design. In fact, IIDA just launched a first-of-its-kind Certified Design Futurist program to teach designers how to hone the future-leaning skills they already have into a new core competency for design. New tech tools are only one part of the future of design, but obviously an important one. 

We’ve all heard about bias in AI models, and it’s not a surprise that in the rush to create and adapt new technologies, we would bump up against an uncomfortable truth: the human experience includes bias. Like any new tool, we need to use it with creativity and care but also with caution, being mindful of our humanity and remembering that design concerns itself with people and their needs. No matter the method, we will still need to meet those needs. And with new tools, the possibilities are open-ended and exciting for designers.

Q: Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope to leave within the design community, particularly regarding your contributions to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Durst: If we’re talking legacy (wow), I would say that I hope I will always be thought of as a leader who makes it her business to make design better. I have spent my time working for better education for designers; the right to practice the profession; closer connections throughout the industry; greater recognition of design and the contribution it makes to humanity; and of course equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the design professions. That last part is important to me and is a cornerstone of IIDA. But it’s also a continuation of that essential throughline: Diversity makes design better. When we welcome more people, more voices and more origin stories, the work gets better. We get better. And better is always my goal.  

Q: Now let’s shift to more personal matters. What are you reading at the moment?

Durst: I love to dive into both fiction and non-fiction, simultaneously. I am especially a fan (total nerd) about historical fiction. I’m currently in the midst of The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. It’s the final novel in the Wolf Hall trilogy, charting the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell. I’m also reading A Visible Man by Edward Enninful, the first Black editor-in-chief of British Vogue. The book is a fascinating exploration of the worlds of beauty, fashion, and media and how a gay, Black working-class refugee changed the industry and how we all understand what “beauty” means.

Q: Ooh, I’ll have to add that to my reading list! What are one or two essential news sources you must read (or listen to) every day?

Durst: Without hesitation: The New York Times. I read it online Monday through Friday and in old-school newspaper format on Sundays. And NPR for both listening and reading on the website.

Q: What is your go-to song for inspiration?

Durst: “You Gotta Be” by Des’ree.

Q: Yes, that’s such a classic! Also, I saw on your Instagram that you’re in search of the perfect pair of black pants. Have you found them? If not, can you describe them and what you’re looking for?

Durst: Ten points for Gryffindor — I love this question so much! I have not found the perfect pants yet, but I’m enjoying the field research. I’ve gotten close; however, it seems to be fashion’s holy grail! For me, the perfect black pant is a wardrobe staple. It is eminently “wearable” with flats, sneaks, heels, or boots. It has a straight leg and is slightly cropped at the ankle with a bit (but not too much) of a flare. The fabric doesn’t wrinkle or crease, and the pant is wearable in all types of weather, packs well, and can withstand a cross-country or transcontinental flight without sagging, bagging, or giving the wearer a wedgie. I’m thinking regardless of brand (or price), the perfect black pant is effortless, and can be worn with style and confidence. And, of course, the perfect black pant goes well with the perfect white shirt! The search continues…