IIDA has named Christie Porter, IIDA, founder and chief executive officer of ONE NINE Architecture as the recipient of the 2022 Anna Hernandez/Luna Textiles Visionary Award. Porter is also founder of two other organizations, ONE NINE for Humanity and ONE NINE Mercantile. The annual award honors a woman business owner making valuable contributions to the design industry.

“Christie stands as an outstanding example of the power and purpose of this award,” said Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, and IIDA executive vice president and CEO  “She exemplifies how the power of design improves quality of life for communities near and far to support creativity, generosity, leadership and mental health.”

After 16 years in the industry, Porter founded ONE NINE Architecture in 2018 with a mission to enact courageous, bold change in the architecture and design fields. Based in Irvine, California, ONE NINE Architecture services commercial tenant improvement, retail, multifamily nonprofits, education and medical projects, as well as residential new builds, additions and remodels.

ONE NINE for Humanity is the nonprofit organization created from ONE NINE Architecture. The team consists of designers who are passionate about using their skills to help international communities in need by providing home building and housing facilities, and structural and design improvements for facilities, as well as supplies and resources. The organization also connects disadvantaged youths with counseling and mentoring programs. ONE NINE Mercantile repurposes textiles and other materials donated by ONE NINE Architecture from their clients’ projects to create new interior design products that are then sold or donated back to the nonprofit to provide personal space makeovers for kids in low-income or disadvantaged households.

This year’s entries were reviewed by a committee of interior design industry professionals: Gilbert Broco, IIDA, CI Group chief operating officer; Diana Farmer-Gonzalez, IIDA, Gensler Miami principal and managing director; James Kerrigan, FIIDA, Jacobs Design principal of interiors; Angie Lee, FIIDA, Pembroke vice president and head of interior design; and Jon Otis, IIDA, Object Agency principal and creative director. 

Porter was honored during the 2022 IIDA annual meeting June 12. She will also receive $5,000 from the IIDA Foundation.