Philia
Magazine

Beth Diana Smith is the CEO and Principal Designer of Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, a full-service studio dedicated to creating curated homes defined by thoughtful detail and bold expression. Known for her eclectic yet intentional aesthetic, Smith approaches each project as a narrative—shaping spaces through renovation, bespoke elements, and carefully sourced pieces that reflect the individuality of her clients.

Before founding her firm, Smith spent over a decade in corporate accounting and finance at companies including Johnson & Johnson and Viacom before pursuing interior design full-time at the New York School of Interior Design. Her background in finance continues to inform her practice, bringing a strong foundation in budget management, strategic planning, and operational leadership to her creative work.

Smith has appeared on NBC and HGTV and has been featured in publications including House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Real Simple, Business of Home, and The Wall Street Journal. She is a Founding Member of the Black Artists + Designers Guild, an Associate of the American Society of Interior Designers, and a member of the Design Leadership Council. In 2025, she received the Rising Star Award from the New York School of Interior Design.

Tommy Zung is an architectural designer and curator with over three decades of experience, whose work spans architecture, fashion, and his own eponymous architecture and design studio. His practice reflects a seamless integration of technical mastery and a holistic, mindful approach to design, shaped by a lifelong dialogue between structure, nature, and human experience.

Deeply influenced by his upbringing within a family of renowned architects, Zung developed an early sensitivity to form, balance, and cultural perspective. His passion for surfing and close relationship with the ocean have further informed his understanding of nature’s raw power and unpredictability, elements that subtly resonate throughout his work.

The son of Thomas T.K. Zung — a partner of visionary thinker R. Buckminster Fuller who worked alongside figures such as Eero Saarinen and Edward Durell Stone — Tommy Zung inherits a rich intellectual and architectural legacy. This background has shaped his design philosophy into a nuanced balance between Eastern and Western sensibilities, where architecture becomes both a spatial and philosophical practice.

Brooke Mennen-Talsma is the founder of Brooke MT Interiors, established in 2023 after nearly a decade of experience across several design studios. Based in North Liberty, Iowa, she launched her independent practice with a desire to create a more intentional, flexible, and personal approach to interior design, balancing family life with her creative vision. Her studio quickly grew through referrals and social media, allowing her to carefully select projects that align with her aesthetic and values.

Brooke’s work is defined by a thoughtful balance between beauty and functionality. She focuses on high-quality materials, refined finishes, and durable solutions suited for everyday living. Known for her use of detailed 3D visualizations, she helps clients clearly envision their spaces from the earliest stages, creating cohesive, sophisticated interiors that feel both elevated and warmly livable.

Stephanie Barba Mendoza is the founder and creative director of a London-based interior design practice established in 2020. Known for a vibrant and opulent design language, the studio delivers high-end residential and commercial projects internationally, supported by a multidisciplinary team of designers. Its portfolio includes private residences in London, Antwerp, and Miami, as well as boutique hotels across Europe and members’ clubs in Hanoi and Mexico City.

Born and raised in Mexico, Barba Mendoza began her career in London before joining the internationally acclaimed Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, where she led a diverse range of hospitality, residential, and retail projects worldwide. Over nearly two decades in the industry, she has refined an adventurous aesthetic that now defines her independent practice.

Her work is distinguished by a confident use of colour and pattern, a respect for honest materials, and close collaboration with artisans and craftspeople globally. Balancing contemporary and classical references through thoughtful layering of materials, colours, and antiques, Barba Mendoza creates interiors that are expressive, playful, and deeply connected to both client vision and sense of place.

SUJONOHUN is a Singapore-based multi-disciplinary design studio founded by Sujono Lim and Molina Hun. Working across hospitality, luxury residential, and developer projects, the studio is known for creating immersive interiors defined by a refined interplay of space, material, and crafted detail.

Rooted in a spirit of exploration, SUJONOHUN approaches each project with a balance of clarity, curiosity, and contemporary sensibility. Their work combines thoughtful spatial composition with a quiet sophistication, resulting in interiors that feel both intentional and enduring.

AB Concept is an international, multi-disciplinary design studio founded in 1999 by interior designer Ed Ng and architect Terence Ngan. Headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices in Taipei, Kyoto, London, and Milan, the studio is known for its refined, narrative-driven approach to luxury hospitality, commercial, and residential environments worldwide.

Blending Ed Ng’s cultural fluency and material expertise with Terence Ngan’s architectural precision, AB Concept creates spaces that are emotionally resonant and meticulously crafted. Their work spans over 30 cities across 16 countries, with projects for leading brands including Four Seasons, Rosewood, Mandarin Oriental, and Ritz-Carlton.

Beyond spatial design, the studio also develops design products and collaborations with brands such as Tai Ping, Poltrona Frau, Lasvit, and Noritake Design Collection, guided by a singular belief: that design is about being.