Washington, D.C. - The American Society of Interior Designers announces its 2014 ASID Class of Fellows: Patricia Kluetz, Jane Garland Lucas and Shashi Caan. The title of Fellow is awarded annually to individuals who demonstrate outstanding service and contributions to the Society, the profession and the interior design industry. The highest distinction a member can receive from ASID, these Fellows will be inducted on June 21, 2014, at Celebration: The ASID Awards Gala at Paramount Picture Studios in Los Angeles.

“This year’s inductees have been instrumental in advancing our industry, using their vision, leadership and expertise to elevate all areas of design and its impact on the global community,” said Randy Fiser, executive vice president and CEO, ASID. “Their passion and dedication to the industry make a distinct impact on the way we live and work today.”

Patricia Kluetz, FASID

“Bringing design to life” is one of the key messages Patricia Kluetz instills in her design students at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. A professor of Interior Architecture at the university, Kluetz has spent much of her career educating and nurturing design students. For nearly two decades, she served as the faculty advisor of the university’s student chapter, which under her guidance won numerous awards, including

Outstanding Student Chapter of the Year in 2006. Kluetz, a practicing designer, also is extremely active in ASID leadership roles both nationally and with her local chapter. As a result of her dedication, she has been awarded four Wisconsin Chapter Presidential Citations and a Chapter Educator Medalist Award.

“Pat’s ideas were bold and backed up by pragmatism; she was warm, funny, inclusive and decisive; and we were always eager to get her feedback and insight … my respect for her has only grown through the years as I have met her former students and seen the impact she has on them professionally and personally,” said Charrisse Johnston, ASID.

Jane Garland Lucas, FASID

A “design leader” in every sense of the phrase, Jane Garland Lucas leads by example. In addition to her design work, she is as an author, legislative advocate, volunteer and mentor. Throughout her career she has given tirelessly to the Society serving in various leadership positions in both the New England and Texas ASID chapters. Lucas also has been a staunch supporter of the profession on various legislative initiatives, spending 12 years spearheading a Massachusetts coalition for interior design legislation. A lifelong educator, she currently serves on the faculty or board of colleges and universities in three states and is a frequent guest lecturer. An award-winning designer with more than 30 years of experience, Lucas is the principal of JGL Interiors, based in Austin, Texas.

“Jane’s work has touched every aspect of our Society – legislative, chapter support, development, strategic planning, and student services. She has taught and lectured on the importance of excellence in professional interior design practice at design colleges and universities, in the halls of government, at annual meetings of design organizations, and as a guest speaker at conventions locally, regionally and in multiple locations nationally,” said Lisa C. Bonneville, FASID.

Shashi Caan, Honorary FASID

Thought leader, design advocate and visionary are just some of the words often used to describe Shashi Caan. Considered one of the foremost educators and practitioners in the design industry, she has garnered international critical acclaim for her progressive thinking on the impact of design in society and for her work on the unification of the global design community. She is the founder and principal of the Shashi Caan Collective, a firm globally recognized for its groundbreaking collaborative ideology and design projects that improve social conditions and quality of life. Throughout her career Caan has received numerous industry accolades and awards for her service and designs, which include her recognition as Contract magazine’s 25th Anniversary Designer of the Year in 2004. She is the current president of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI).

“Shashi has produced many projects, all with a keen eye on sustainability, comfort and beautiful, clean lines, resulting in magnificent works of art, as she uses the business of design to improve life quality for people, showing that the fundamentals of human needs are essential to her designs,” said Ruth Lynford, ASID.

About the American Society of Interior Designers

The American Society of Interior Designers believes that design transforms lives. ASID serves the full range of the interior design profession and practice through the Society’s programs, networks and advocacy. We thrive on the strength of cross-functional and interdisciplinary relationships among designers of all specialties, including workplace, healthcare, retail and hospitality, education, institutional and residential. We lead interior designers in shared conversations around topics that matter: from evidenced-based and human-centric design to social responsibility, well-being and sustainability. We showcase the impact of design on the human experience and the value interior designers provide. ASID was founded nearly 40 years ago when two organizations became one — an anniversary we will recognize in 2015 — but its legacy dates back to the early 1930s. As we celebrate nearly 85 years of industry leadership, we are poised to lead the future of interior design, continuing to integrate the advantages of local connections with national reach, of small firms with big and of the places we live with the places we work, play and heal. Learn more at asid.org.