Nhia Thao

Design Philosophy

My design philosophy stems from the need to unite designing for utility and culture. My Hmong heritage is inseparable from my identity, but often the spaces and environment of where we live do not form to our needs. To address this, I design with a critical cultural lens. Culture and identity are major drivers in the design, thinking, and inspiration of what I do as an artist and designer. To me, design is not just making the environment a beautiful place, but it is also addressing the needs of the user including their unique cultural and spiritual identities.

Want to incorporate eastern Asian Feng-Shui interior design philosophy with western thinking. Interested in gaining exposure to the design industry and eager to apply the lessons learned in school to a real-world situation.