September 4, 2024
Vibhavari Jani named vice president of International Interior Design Association
Vibhavari Jani, professor in the department of interior architecture & industrial design in the College of Architecture, Planning & Design at Kansas State University, has been elected as the 2024 vice president of the International Interior Design Association, or IIDA.
IIDA, the Commercial Interior Design Association, has a global influence and serves design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms and clients through an extensive network of members across 58 countries. The association is committed to advancing education, promoting design excellence, advocating for legislation, fostering leadership, and encouraging community outreach. IIDA works to elevate the profession of interior design, emphasizing its role in enhancing business value and positively impacting the health and well-being of individuals worldwide.
Jani, a 2013 Rotary Peace fellow, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role. Trained as an architect, interior designer, painter, singer and dancer, she holds a graduate degree in interior architecture and a bachelor's degree in architecture. With more than 22 years of professional practice in the United States, she has made significant contributions to the architecture and interior design industry. Her portfolio includes executive and administrative roles, as well as the design and management of large-scale projects valued at up to $100 million for major corporations, health care facilities, educational institutions, government entities and hospitality clients.
In academia, Jani is known for her passion for working with students, engaging them in creative, interdisciplinary and collaborative service-learning projects. Her research spans a broad spectrum of topics, including the contributions of non-Western cultures to architecture and design, the impact of collaborative efforts on education in these fields, sustainability, green design and the influence of emerging technologies on interior design curricula.
Jani is the author of the acclaimed book "Diversity in Design: Perspectives from the Non-Western World," which received the Best Book Award from the Interior Design Educators Council in 2012. She has also been recognized with a Gold Medal and Best Thesis Award for her research on "Interiors and Furniture for Open Plan Offices," published in 1990. Her contributions to research and creative projects have earned her numerous awards and grants.
In addition to her academic and professional accomplishments, Jani is a prolific artist and writer. Her paintings, poetry, essays and articles have been published in India, the U.K. and the U.S. Among her many creative works are the book "Creation," which highlights her abstract paintings based on the Vedanta Philosophy of India, "Baal Vikas Yatra" or "Baby's Growth Book," and her poetry collection "Sumbandh Naam Nu Ek Phool." Jani has been honored with the Kansas Campus Compact Engaged Faculty Fellowship and the Big 12 Faculty Fellowship in 2012, and she is also a Tiford Fellow.
The College of Architecture, Planning & Design congratulates Jani on her election as vice president of IIDA and looks forward to the continued impact she will have on the field of interior design through her leadership and vision.
Jani's position as vice president of IIDA will leverage and align with the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan in developing partnerships with global companies and students at K-State.