Kay Sargent, ASID, CID, LEED AP, MCR/w, WELL AP

The ASID Designer of Distinction award celebrates attention to social concerns within the interior design profession and the expression of creative, innovative concepts that have advanced the profession and helped transform lives. This award recognizes an ASID professional member who exemplifies a commitment to the profession as demonstrated by a significant, high-quality body of work representing excellence in interior design.

Kay is a recognized expert on workplace design and strategy. She is an industry thought leader on workplace and travels globally sharing from her broad experience. Kay has authored multiple white papers and articles on design related topics including wellbeing; next gen workforce; technologies impact on the workplace; space fusion and the rise of the human factor. Throughout her career she has served on almost every global or national board that represents the design community – ASID, NCQLP, IIDA, IFI, CoreNet, IWBI, IFMA and volunteered for CIDQ and FIDER. As Co-Director of HOK’s WorkPlace team, Kay is responsible for helping clients redefine how, when and where their people work, and supports a holistic design approach that integrates people, processes and technology.

George Bandy, Jr.

The Design for Humanity award celebrates an individual or institution for having significantly contributed to improving the environment for humanity through design-related activities or projects that transform lives. The impact of these activities must have demonstrated far-reaching effects. The award includes, but is not limited to, environment, health and wellness, universal or barrier-free design, energy conservation, safety, communication, transportation, and technology

George Bandy Jr. is a global leader in sustainability and social responsibility, he has been responsible for executing the comprehensive concepts and practices of sustainability throughout several corporations, nonprofits and brands. He proactively identifies opportunities to position environmental, economic and socially responsible solutions for both the organizations and its customers so that, together, they can demonstrate the type of sustainability leadership that will result in a brighter future for all.

George is highly sought after as a presenter on key topics such as the business of sustainability, biophilic design, social sustainability, circular economy, greening the supply chain, health and wellness in the built environment and innovative smart and healthy design. Recently George was recognized as a 2020 Living Future Hero, in 2018 he was a USGBC Leadership Award recipient and was also honored with the inaugural GreenStep People Award.

George is the former Chief Sustainability Officer for Mohawk Industries (2016-2020), prior to that he was the Vice President  of Sustainability for Interface (1999-2016); George also served as the Sustainability Officer for the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston from 1994-1999. George currently serves on the board of directors for Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), an organization that independently recognizes excellence in green business industry performance and practice around the world. George was also just appointed to the IIDA Board of Directors a not for profit organization advancing sustainable interior design globally. He is the former chairman of the board of the U.S. Green Building Council(USGBC) and has also served on the board of Second Nature, a nonprofit that champions for higher education institutions to make the principles of sustainability fundamental to every aspect of learning. 

Material Bank

This award recognizes an individual, organization, manufacturer, or research project for having produced a significant and innovative product, project, or body of work that contributes to interior design by positively impacting human behavior; promoting comfort, efficiency, or communication; exemplifying a commitment to the profession; exhibiting a commitment to sustainability, health, and wellness; and displaying an overall appreciation for design.

Material Bank is the fastest and most powerful way for design professionals to search and sample materials. Through Material Bank’s powerful platform, designers and architects can conduct complex searches across hundreds of brands and thousands of materials in seconds. In addition to the convenience and time-savings this affords, Material Bank also aggregates the materials - eliminating wasteful packaging and shipping resources and promoting a sustainable reclamation program.

Barbara J. Huelat, FASID, EDAC, AAHID

This award pays tribute to the work and accomplishments of Nancy Vincent McClelland, an ardent advocate for professional recognition in the interior design field and the first woman president of the American Institute of Decorators (now ASID), from 1941 to 1944. It honors individuals, organizations, manufacturers, or research projects for outstanding support of the interior design profession through education, research, promotion of the value or impact of interior design, or another significant contribution. Awards are given annually as merited. Nominees need not be ASID members.

Barbara is one of the field’s preeminent experts and a prominent speaker on healthcare design and technology. She is a founding board member of the Center for Health Design, Former National President of American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers and author of two nationally acclaimed books – Healing Environments: What’s the Proof and Healing Environments for the Mind, Body and Spirit.

Her three decades of design experience cover virtually all types, components and sizes of domestic and international healthcare facilities, including her signature projects with the Mayo Clinics, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute of Japan, and many more.