Women's History Month Profile: Amber Lewis, RID
Amber Lewis is a Registered Interior Designer (RID) in Texas and a Senior Associate in Rottet Studio's Houston office. Over the past 15 years, Amber's love for interior design has taken her from Houston to Dallas and back as she's worked on a range of hospitality, restaurant, commercial and residential projects. In 2010, Amber was recognized as one of Dallas' Top Designers by Modern Luxury Magazine.Tell me about your path to a career in design and architecture.I initially went to college with a focus on communications - I thought I wanted to be a news anchor on the Today Show. I quickly realized I should stick to what I was naturally good at and that was being creative and designing interiors.I grew up early childhood in Huntington, West Virginia and remember making life-size Barbie houses outside in a fort. It was a beautiful natural environment for inspiration. I loved using my imagination and decorating my bedroom with collages I would create from magazine clippings. Instant Art! My mother was my first source of inspiration because although we lived in an apartment and didn’t have a lot, she always had a way with jazzing up our space with an accent wall of wallpaper or paint and she regularly rearranged our furniture to change the space. I learned early on that a well-designed and organized interior can influence your subconscious. 
What is your favorite part of your job?That it’s a really cool job! It’s hard work but it’s creative, multi-faceted, ever-changing, challenging, and each month, year and project is different. It’s such a cool feeling to sit in a space you’ve designed and watch the people around you enjoying the environment.What are potential pinch points that affect talent retention in the design industry, particularly for women? Why do people leave?I believe salary is a challenge, as many feel the investment between time required and salary received is imbalanced. This is often why several designers transition to product sales or ultimately get burned out and leave the profession. Stick with it and the sky’s the limit.
Describe the professional moment, accomplishment, or realization that you are most proud of to date.The professional realization I am most proud of to date is that I have found success doing what I love.What’s the best career advice you’ve received?The best piece of career advice I received was from the late, great Turner Duncan who taught me to have conviction and defend my design!What sacrifices have you had to make, personal or otherwise, to succeed professionally?Weekends and evenings at the office mostly, but I find ways to make the time fun and enjoyable. Usually music and a glass of wine or two helps!