Where Luxury Meets JOI

Kimberly JOI McDonald

National Award-Winning and Published Interior Designer, Leader & Trailblazer

Kimberly JOI McDonald is the Founder and CEO of Designing JOI, LLC, an award-winning and published professional residential and hospitality interior design consultation firm in Las Vegas, Nevada.  She was recently awarded to be an Interior Design Society (IDS) Fellow (2022), the highest honor of the Society, and is a Past National President of IDS [2018-19]. As IDS National President, she was the first to serve on the International Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC) [2018-19]. She also chaired the IDS Legislative and Education committees, served on the Conference Committee, and was the inaugural chair of the first Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2021). She is the first black IDS National President. She is the Founder and Charter President of the IDS Las Vegas Chapter (2011-12), and a brief Past Finance Director of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) California Central / Nevada Chapter (2011).  She was awarded an inaugural 2021 Stylus Changemaker Award (inaugural class).  She was selected to be a Real Vegas Magazine’s 2020 Women Who Wow:  Women of Substance Honor (2020). She was selected to be MyVegas Magazine’s 2017 Top 100 Influential Women of Las Vegas, and a Past Distinguished Woman of Southern Nevada for years 1997, 1999 and 2015.  She is a show house producer and co-interior designer of the 2020 Las Vegas Armoniosa Showhouse, filmed as part of Best of Show reality TV show.  She also  served as relationship and resource development manager for this project, interfacing with key decision-makers. She is one of several designers featured in celebrity designer Donna Moss’s book, Best of Show. Her first career was a lead lobbyist and government executive for the City of North Las Vegas (1996-2008). She is a member of the Black Interior Designers Network and the Ethos Design Collective.com.

Her second career is as a professional interior designer, small businesswoman and entrepreneur. Her third career, was as a caregiver to her deceased lovely parents for fifteen years, while simultaneously running her design firm.

Kimberly Joi holds a Masters in Public Administration (Summa Cum Laude), a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design (High Honors).  Kimberly Joi enjoys leadership, design, community service, charitable endeavors, life-long learning, writing, travel, creative and entrepreneurial pursuits.   

OTHER NOTABLE NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEADERSHIP & ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Interior Design Society Fellow (2022)

• Honoree, 2020 Women Who WOW: Real Women of Substance by Real Vegas Magazine

• Inaugural Class, 2021 Stylus Changemaker Award (Global Intelligence Trends)

• Show House Co-Producer & Co-Interior Designer, Las Vegas Armoniosa Show House (2020)

• Board of Directors, International Interior Design Continuing Education Council (2018-19)

• National President, Board of Directors, Interior Design Society (2018-19)

• National Vice President & National Secretary Treasurer, Interior Design Society (2013-17)

• Founder & Charter President, Interior Design Society Las Vegas Chapter (2011-12)

• Chair, Education Committee, Interior Design Society (2015-18)

• Chair, Legislative Committee, Interior Design Society (2018-19)

• Member, Conference Committee, Interior Design Society (2018-19)

• Member, Awards Committee, Interior Design Society (2013-17)

• Finance Director, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) California Central/Nevada Chapter (2011)

• Black Interior Designers Network (BID)

• President, Board of Directors, The Foundation for Positively Kids (2015-17); also provided pro bono strategic planning and legislative consultation

• Founding Board of Directors Member, Nevada Rise Academy (public charter school) [2016-2018]

• President's Excellence Award, Interior Design Society Las Vegas Chapter Recognition as Founder & Past President (2014)

• Governor Appointee (Governor Kenny C. Guinn), Inaugural Nevada Commission on Homeland Security & Lead Co-Chair, By-Laws & Legislative Subcommittee (2003 –05)

• 1998 Top Ten Women of America of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) [ 1 of 10]

• National Secretary-Treasurer, American Business Women’s Association (1999-2000)

• District VI, Vice President (Western Region), American Business Women’s Association (1988-99)

• General Chairman, National Conference (Las Vegas), American Business Women’s Association (2003)

• President, Southern Nevada Area Council of Presidents, American Business Women’s Association (1996 & 2003)

• Chair, Spring Conference Promotion, American Business Women’s Association (1996)

• Founder & Charter President, American Business Women’s Association Las Vegas Express Network (2002-05)

• Founder & Charter President, Pi Alpha Alpha, National Honor Society for Public Administration & Public Affairs, University of Nevada Las Vegas [105th Chapter Masters Honor Society Program] (1995-96)

• Freelance Columnist “Legislative Watch,” of former black business /entrepreneur publication (2006)

• Honoree - Las Vegas In Business Magazine “Rising Stars Under 40" [1 of 25 selected from 100 nominations] (2004)

• Woman of the Year, Drifting Dunes Chapter, American Business Women’s Association (2000)

• 3CMA Savvy Award - City/County Communications & Marketing Association – Creative Marketing & Communications Best Citizen Participation (1999)

• Public Information Officer, City of North Las Vegas (1998-99)

• Secretary-Treasurer, Local Government Managers’ Association of Nevada (1997-98)

• Business Associate of the Year, Pinon Pines Chapter, American Business Women’s Association (1997)

• President, Drifting Dunes Chapter, American Business Women’s Association (1995-97)

• Business Associate of the Year, Pinon Pines Chapter, American Business Women’s Association (1996)

• Inaugural State of Nevada Attorney General’s Role Model Award (Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Pappa (1995)

• Co-Creator, Expansions Training Seminar, Southern Nevada Area Council, American Business Women’s Association (1995)

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Pledged at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1988)