We are thrilled to announce that three ASID Texas Chapter members have been bestowed with 2026 national honors.

Daphne Chilaka, ASID Student, WELL AP, LEED Green Associate

It is the mission of the ASID Foundation to support informed, sustainable, and healthy initiatives in the design of built spaces by providing funding to individuals and groups.

Every year the ASID Foundation awards $5,000 for the Joel Polsky Academic Achievement Award, which recognizes an interior design research project or thesis project conducted by an undergraduate or graduate student related to wellness and design.

The 2026 recipient is Daphne Chilaka, a Ph.D. Candidate at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Daphne won for her Master’s Thesis in Architecture from Covenant University entitled "Circulation Planning and Design in Intermodal Passenger Terminals." This research uniquely integrates interior environmental design, behavioral science, and operational planning, producing an evidence-based, human-centered framework for improving orientation, efficiency, and well-being in high-density transportation hubs. It provides actionable guidance for designers and planners, with the potential to inform interior and operational standards for transportation terminals globally, demonstrating both originality, broad applicability, and measurable impact.

Janie Blair Luft, ASID, LEED AP ID+C

ASID recognizes the need to grow diversity and inclusion in the interior design profession. Through ASID Ones to Watch, the Society supports rising leaders to ensure that diversity is reflected at all levels of the industry. The Ones to Watch program identifies and recognizes rising leaders in the interior design industry who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and a willingness to push the boundaries of the profession. Emphasis is placed on participants whose backgrounds are currently under-represented in management roles in the interior design industry, including women, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, LGBTQ, and persons with disabilities.

Janie Blair Luft has been named as a 2026 ASID Ones to Watch Winner. Janie joined the Dallas office of Perkins&Will in 2018 following graduation from the University of Arkansas. Driven by a passion for design, she excels at creating innovative, artful spaces that are purposeful, unique, and concept driven. Her work spans diverse sectors, including workplace, education, healthcare, and aviation. She strive to approach projects as people-centric, a sharp design eye, and a collaborative spirit.

Komal Sheth, ASID Allied

The ASID National Awards are the Society's highest level of professional recognition, celebrating the people, organizations, and teams who are proving that design impacts lives. The National Awards spotlight those who have a demonstrated legacy of achievement, those who have significant annual accomplishments, and projects solving critical needs. Awards are presented in several categories designed to honor all facets of design and contributions to the industry and beyond. The categories encompass all responsible for design excellence.

Recognizing outstanding design projects that respond to challenges facing our world around health, equity, and sustainability in the built environment. The FOCUS Project Awards honor projects designed with intent for impact. Each category has one winner per firm size. Merit recipients are also selected at the discretion of the jury.

Komal Sheth of Spaces Designed, Interior Design Studio in Austin has been recognized as a Small Firm Merit Recipient in the FOCUS Wellness category for the firm’s Lakeview Atelier.