Carol Way Cisco, ASID Allied
Carol Way Cisco, ASID Allied, is an award-winning interior designer, human rights advocate, educator, author, and speaker with over 40 years of experience advancing the role of design in human well-being. Born in Chicago, she has dedicated her life to exploring how architecture and interior design can positively impact the human condition. Over her career, she has traveled extensively on humanitarian projects, including creating an international campus for world literacy and a human rights embassy in Brussels, Belgium. Her work is guided by the philosophy that design is more than aesthetics—it is a powerful tool to enhance physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
As the founder of Designing for Veterans, Carol has created a nonprofit studio that provides severely disabled veterans with custom interior and architectural solutions tailored to their physical, mental, or emotional needs at no cost. Using evidence-based design principles, she has codified what she calls “The Life-Changing Power of Design,” demonstrating how intentional design choices—colors, textures, spatial arrangements, and furnishings—can promote healing and restore independence. Her innovative approach has earned recognition from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the International Interior Designers Association (IIDA), and numerous international awards, including International Interior Designer of the Year 2024.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Carol leads signature design + studio, where she applies her wellness-focused design approach to a range of projects. She is also developing a book, INTERIOR DESIGN for HEALTH & WELLNESS | The Life-Changing Power of Design, featuring real-life stories that illustrate the profound impact of design on human lives. As Past President of the ASID Missouri West-Kansas Chapter (2024–2025), she continues to inspire the design community, advocating for a holistic vision of interior design that enriches lives and elevates communities.
• Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago - BFA
• American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
• International Interior Designers Association (IIDA)
• International Association of Top Professionals International Interior Designer of the Year 2024
• Empowered Women of the Year 2025
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to continually raise the bar for yourself. Set high standards, challenge your limits, and never settle for doing things halfway. When you push yourself to grow, you build confidence and truly empower yourself.
I’ve never given up, and I strongly believe—like Henry Ford, Albert Einstein, and Thomas Edison have said—that whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. Believe in yourself, follow your passions, keep learning, and surround yourself with people who lift you up. You absolutely can achieve your dreams.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values I hold most dear are captured in my 3Es for Success: Educate, Experience, and Empower.
Education is the foundation—truly understand interior design so you can work confidently and benefit others. Experience comes from hands-on learning, whether on construction sites, in drapery workrooms, or upholstery shops—these opportunities teach you the craft and the language of the industry.
Empowerment comes when your knowledge and experience combine, giving you the confidence to create, communicate, and serve at your best. There’s always more to learn, and growth never stops.