Nia Andino

I've been working in the interior design field since 2009, focusing on FF&E procurement and operations. My role involves managing materials libraries, making sure everything is up to date, and having vendors come in to present so that the team is aware of the latest products that are out there. The other part of my work is sourcing materials for projects - when the team starts on a concept and gets into material selections to bring that concept to life, they rely on me to help source options for client meetings. I got my start through an internship as a materials librarian while studying at Parsons School of Design, where I earned my BFA in Interior Design. Years later, I ended up working for that same company I interned with for over 10 years. My career has evolved between being a materials librarian and also being a design assistant, freelancing for smaller independent interior designers. Having been in the materials field for so long, meeting with people constantly and attending trade show events, I've gained a wealth of knowledge about different materials. People have really come to rely on me to find innovations and interesting materials that they didn't even consider. I'm also a visual artist and writer - I paint and have done live painting events and been in shows. I feel like that same connection comes across with artwork, and it ties into how I think about interior design as very psychological, influencing how a person navigates through their day and life in the spaces they're in.