2021 Design Excellence Awards | Meet the Jurors

TAHMINA ARJONA
MILLER HULL| SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Tahmina Arjona is an Interior Designer at Miller Hull dedicated to creating sustainable interior spaces that positively impact human interaction with the built environment. With over seven years of experience in commercial, mixed use, and civic projects, Tahmina has collected an invaluable experience in all phases of the design, including early space planning concepts and delivering high-quality construction documents. Her unique portfolio also includes working as a National Expert for the U.N. Industrial Development Organization focused on modernizing and increasing export capacity of carpet weaving, embroidery, and textile sectors in her home country of Tajikistan. The experience has provided her an in depth understanding of a large-scale commercial textile production and a meticulous and labor-intensive process of hand weaving a single carpet.

Tahmina graduated from Bellevue College with Bachelor of Applied Science in Interior Design.

Amazon Apollo

2701 Eastlake

 

Bellevue Plaza

LAURA ANDREWS, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INTERIORS
LPA| SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

As Managing Director | Interiors, Laura Jeanne Andrews leads LPA’s San Diego office’s interior design practice. With over 18 years of experience in the San Diego design community, she has diverse experience and collaborates on a wide range of project types with her primary focus being on the workplace practice. Experience includes projects for companies such as Ford Mexico, Warner Brothers Games, High Moon Studios, ID Analytics and Century 21 Award. At 701 B Street, the revitalization of the San Diego office tower was recognized as San Diego Business Journal’s Office Project of the Year and received awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Illuminating Energy Society.

She is passionate about the social aspects of design and learning how companies work and interact with spaces. She serves as an advocate for several teams at LPA, with the firm being named as AIA’s California Firm of the Year for 2021. She is an active member of the Programs and Education committee for CREW San Diego and in May 2021 Laura was featured as a Woman of Influence in Architecture 2021 by the San Diego Business Journal. Originally from the East Coast, she holds a degree from the University of Connecticut with a course of studies at the Design Institute of San Diego.

LPA Offices, San Diego

High Moon Studios, San Diego

701B, San Diego

ANNA MIKOLAJCZAK, NCIDQ
GENSLER| CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Anna is an award-winning designer at Gensler Chicago Workplace studio. She is a trusted design leader with a unique point of view that is continuously evolving based on the project and client she is working with. With a license in Interior Design and a degree in Architecture, she is a true problem solver who provides a multifaceted perspective to every challenge. Anna is experienced in all phases of design, with a focus on conceptual storytelling, finishes and materiality and presentation methods. 

Anna has transformed many client’s companies and she always makes sure that the design concept supports the workplace strategy as well as focuses on reflecting client’s culture and brand. She leverages both design and storytelling to help organizations connect to the purpose of their people and deliver experiences that foster talent and build a culture of change.

NCR Midtown, Gensler

Inspire Brands Headquarters, Gensler

Gensler Offices, Atlanta, Georgia, Gensler