At this year’s Spring High Point Market, Ellen Gefen caught up with a dynamic group of designers and artists known as the Design Besties. What began as a group chat after meeting at the Vacation Rental Design Summit has grown into a nonprofit organization with a mission to give back, starting with makeovers for teachers’ lounges around the country.
Meet the Founding Design Besties
The founding members include:
- Nikki Watson, founder of The Design Quad
- Rhobin Delacruz, New York-based interior designer
- Whitney Atkinson, inventor of WUGS Weighted Rugs
- Lori Johnson, Dallas-based fine artist
The First Teacher’s Lounge Makeover and How It Fueled a Bigger Vision
Their collaboration began when they first met at the Vacation Rental Design Summit in High Point in 2024, and felt their shared chemistry and connection. “We realized how powerful our relationships were, not just personally, but in how they amplified our business goals,” Nikki shared. That synergy sparked their first project: a surprise makeover for a teachers’ lounge in Plano, Texas. The reaction from teachers was so moving, they knew it had to grow.
See the Before and After Design Besties Makeover Photos in Plano, Texas
A National Mission Begins: Design Bestie Chapters Across the Nation
Now, the Design Besties of the home and furnishings industry are taking their mission national, aiming to create regional chapters that transform teachers’ lounges, one city at a time. “Think Habitat for Humanity,” Rhobin said, “but for interior designers giving back.” United by their desire to give back to teachers who are molding our children for the future, they’re using their brands to uplift the communities.
Why Connection, Collaboration and Community Are Every Designer’s Trade
The group will be back at High Point, where it all began, preparing for their next surprise lounge reveal at a local school. As Ellen noted, the spirit of High Point and the High Point Market isn’t just about furniture; it’s about people coming together to uplift a community and elevate lives through design.
Whether you’re a new designer or seasoned pro, their message is clear: connection is the most powerful tool in your toolbox. And sometimes, all it takes is a group text to start something big.
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