Deborah Nemeth, IIDA, RID

Principal | Discipline Leader at SmithGroup | IIDA IL Immediate Past President

Greater Chicago Area Contact Info
1K followers 500+ connections

Join to view profile

About

Deborah leads the Interior Design Discipline at SmithGroup in Chicago. An award winning Interior Designer, Deborah has a passion for creating successful designs that are aesthetically pleasing, strategic and purposeful. Deborah has diverse experience working with workplace, higher education and health care organizations. She has demonstrated expertise in strategy, programming, space planning, design, documentation, construction administration, FF&E selection and specification and change management. Deborah's expertise provides her clients with solutions to realize their vision and meet their unique strategic business goals.

Deborah is committed to the advancement of the Interior Design profession and currently serves as the President for the Illinois Chapter of The Commercial Interior Design Association (IIDA).

Activity

Experience

Education

  • Purdue University Graphic

    Purdue University

    Bachelor of Art Interior Design Dean's List all semesters

    Activities and Societies: American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Purdue Chapter, Treasurer, Committee Head | Introduction to Interior Design - Teaching Assistant | Internship Strategies- Teaching Assistant | Student Ambassador-Interior Design

    CIDA Accredited

  • Australian Catholic University Graphic

    Australian Catholic University

    -

    Studied abroad for a seven week term in Sydney, Australia.

Licenses & Certifications

Volunteer Experience

  • Habitat for Humanity Chicago Graphic

    Team Leader - Women Build

    Habitat for Humanity Chicago

    The life-changing benefits of affordable homeownership are immense: it can improve school performance, decrease crime, improve financial outcomes, and enhance the health and well-being of children and adults – just to name a few. But due to gendered systemic barriers, like the pay gap and its impact on credit access and uneven childcare responsibilities that limit time and financial resources, it is far more difficult for women to become homeowners.

    Alongside 550 determined women, we…

    The life-changing benefits of affordable homeownership are immense: it can improve school performance, decrease crime, improve financial outcomes, and enhance the health and well-being of children and adults – just to name a few. But due to gendered systemic barriers, like the pay gap and its impact on credit access and uneven childcare responsibilities that limit time and financial resources, it is far more difficult for women to become homeowners.

    Alongside 550 determined women, we will raise $475,000 to help build Habitat for Humanity homes that will be purchased by women with affordable mortgages! Then, we're hitting the Habitat construction sites to help build the homes.

  • Habitat for Humanity Chicago Graphic

    Team Member - Women Build

    Habitat for Humanity Chicago

    - 1 month

  • Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Graphic

    Development Council

    Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center

    - 2 years

    The Development Council is charged with securing philanthropic support for the medical center, serving as a trustee of community philanthropy, and being an ambassador for Advocate Illinois Masonic in the communities we serve. The working group of volunteers and donors are responsible for the overall management of Advocate Illinois Masonic’s philanthropic growth of annual programmatic projects. In 2020, those efforts will be focused predominately on raising funds to support four areas:…

    The Development Council is charged with securing philanthropic support for the medical center, serving as a trustee of community philanthropy, and being an ambassador for Advocate Illinois Masonic in the communities we serve. The working group of volunteers and donors are responsible for the overall management of Advocate Illinois Masonic’s philanthropic growth of annual programmatic projects. In 2020, those efforts will be focused predominately on raising funds to support four areas: President’s Priority Fund, Dentistry, Outpatient Behavioral Health, and the Pediatric Developmental Center.

  • Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Graphic

    Associate Council

    Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center

    - 4 years

    Jan 2016 - Dec 2017 (2 Years) - Fundraising and Event Committee Co-Chair | Jan 2018 - Dec 2019 (2 Years) - Co-Chair

    The Associate Council is a group of dedicated young professionals who volunteer their time and talent to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (AIMMC). They raise awareness of and funds for AIMMC philanthropic programs.

  • Council for Interior Design Qualification - CIDQ Graphic

Publications

Projects

  • Levin & Perconti - Law Office Firm Relocation

    -

    An office relocation gave Chicago law firm Levin & Perconti the opportunity to transform its work environment, now more welcoming to clients and more inclusive to all levels of staff. It eschews the traditional “corner office” hierarchy for a more collaborative, contemporary workplace that better reflects the firm’s culture.

    See project
  • Indiana Toll Road Administration and Operations Building

    -

    The ITR Concession Co. handles the maintenance, emergency dispatch, weather preparedness and toll payment services of the 156-mile segment of Interstate 80/90 that traverses Indiana. For decades, it operated out of a 1950s maintenance garage that had been converted into a disjointed over-sized office space. The client sought to consolidate its administrative functions in one building that would improve the efficiency of its operations and the work environment of its employees.

    The new…

    The ITR Concession Co. handles the maintenance, emergency dispatch, weather preparedness and toll payment services of the 156-mile segment of Interstate 80/90 that traverses Indiana. For decades, it operated out of a 1950s maintenance garage that had been converted into a disjointed over-sized office space. The client sought to consolidate its administrative functions in one building that would improve the efficiency of its operations and the work environment of its employees.

    The new building occupies a site adjacent to Toll Road exit 92 in Elkhart, improving on/off access for emergency and maintenance vehicles. The more visible location is also convenient for the public, who visit for payment services, and while about 60-80 employees work onsite, many more travel to the building for training, human resources, and other administrative needs.

    Because the work can be stressful and intense, the building prioritizes employee well-being. The atrium brings natural light deep into interior spaces, and ample reflective materials create bright work areas free of glare. A mixture of open collaborative zones, lounge areas, closed meeting rooms, standing desks and bench seating provide myriad options for both interactive and individual work. A large central stair, with sculptural detailing and warm wood accents, provides another informal gathering area.

    The atrium features a café and breakout spaces—which open to a seasonal outdoor patio—overlooking a soothing prairie setting. A gravel walking path encourages workers to take healthy breaks, wandering through the prairie grasses and past solar panels that generate more than 40 percent of the building’s energy needs. Employees also have access to an indoor workout room, as well as a second-story terrace that provides a secure spot for night-shift workers to enjoy fresh air.

    Other creators
    See project
  • SmithGroup Chicago Office

    -

    The SmithGroup Chicago office transitioned to a free-address, un-assigned work environment in order to support business drivers: focusing on process to provide the best value for our clients, embracing ambiguity to capitalize on nimbleness, empower employee decision making, and support blurring the boundaries of our growing interdisciplinary, multi-generational and multi-market teams

    The result is a flexible, free-address office which allows employees to select the space and typology…

    The SmithGroup Chicago office transitioned to a free-address, un-assigned work environment in order to support business drivers: focusing on process to provide the best value for our clients, embracing ambiguity to capitalize on nimbleness, empower employee decision making, and support blurring the boundaries of our growing interdisciplinary, multi-generational and multi-market teams

    The result is a flexible, free-address office which allows employees to select the space and typology that best suits various individual tasks, teamwork and collaboration. Employees may choose from sit-to-stand desks, bench-style workstations with movable pin-up ideation boards, conference and huddle rooms and inviting nooks with great city views.

    In a recent poll of SmithGroup employees in the office, 98% of respondents were in favor of the free address format, a testament to the agility of the system and the efficacy of engaging employees in the process. Based on this office’s success, similar workplace strategy, analysis and designs are being implemented in five other SmithGroup office locations.

    See project

Honors & Awards

  • Global Services Firm

    CoreNet Global - Chicago Chapter

    2022 Real Awards | Small Project of the Year (under 60,000SF)

  • Indiana Toll Road Administration & Operations Building

    ASID Illinois Chapter Design Excellence Awards

    First Place Contract Over 10,000SF

  • Northwestern University - Ford Building Renovation

    ASID Illinois Chapter Design Excellence Awards

    Custom Detail: Millwork

  • SmithGroup Chicago Office

    ASID Illinois Chapter Design Excellence Awards

    First Place Contract Over 10,000SF

Organizations

  • IIDA Illinois Chapter

    Professional Member | President

    - Present

    IIDA is the Commercial Interior Design Association with global reach. We advocate for advancement in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of Interior Design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people’s lives every day.

  • CoreNet Global | Chicago Chapter

    Young Leaders

    - Present

    CoreNet Global is the premier association for corporate real estate professionals and the only one capable of convening the entire industry. We have nearly 7,000 members around the world; this is where your colleagues, partners, competitors & future employers come together to share ideas, do business, learn and socialize.

  • IIDA Illinois Chapter

    Professional Member | President-Elect

    -
  • IIDA Illinois Chapter

    Professional Member | Vice President of Professional Development

    -

View Deborah’s full profile

  • See who you know in common
  • Get introduced
  • Contact Deborah directly
Join to view full profile

People also viewed

Explore collaborative articles

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.

Explore More

Add new skills with these courses