Class of 2023

They have roots everywhere from Korea to Lebanon to Minneapolis, and training in fields including law, fashion design, and hotel management. But these 15 design stars on the rise share two things in common: a talent for telling stories through spaces and a guaranteed spot in tomorrow's list of top designers

Evan Millárd

NASHVILLE

What does Evan Millárd mean when he says his firm, Millárd, specializes in "jewel box interiors"? Many things, he says, including "designs that wrap you in an emotion, celebrate a treasured person or thing create precious memories, or that are whimsical and out of the box." Treasured people and precious memories shaped his aesthetic. Born in South Korea and adopted as an infant, Millárd credits his mother and grandmothers for his "love for color and pattern, which comes from how they decorated." Because of them, he "gravitates toward jewel tones layered with intricate details and exaggerated designs." @evandmillard

Leah Alexander

ATLANTA AND LOS ANGELES

"Start before you are ready" is the advice Leah Alexander lives by. It applies to her hobbies as a marathoner, kickboxing instructor, and yogi, as well as to her career. During a stint as a personal shopper on Rodeo Drive, Alexander realized that she loved helping people "who appreciate beautiful things and live beautiful lives." Pivoting to interior design, she worked at three firms in 10 years before launching her own. Her just-do-it philosophy is definitely paying off: In 2022, Alexander won HGTV Designer of the Year in the Kitchen + Dining category for her "Green Goddess" kitchen, a bold space that mixes chartreuse and green. @leahalexander_

Ahmad AbouZanat

NEW YORK

He has a degree in interior design, plus he's also studied hotel management, architecture, lighting, and furniture design. But the skill Ahmad AbouZanat of Project AZ relies on most is listening.