Jennifer Graham

Managing Principal

Perkins&Will

40 years in the industry

What initially inspired you to pursue a career in architecture?

My path to interior architecture and design was shaped by three formative influences, beginning with my father, Dr. Albert Cecil Graham, Sir Cecil Graham (2008). Although he trained as a physician, his first passion was architecture, a love he never fully left behind. Tragically, his twin brother, who had been awarded a scholarship to Cambridge to study medicine, died unexpectedly of rheumatic fever, and his father redirected his career path to medicine. Throughout his distinguished medical career in Barbados, he played an active role in shaping healthcare and community buildings, contributing insight to projects ranging from hospitals to community and cultural institutions, as well as our family home, which is inspired by Le Corbusier. 

From an early age, I accompanied my father to construction sites, galleries and museums, absorbing his reverence for craft, art, and the built environment. Our home was filled with contemporary West Indian, Central American and South American Art which he collected with verve and passion, sharing details with guests, friends and family alike . Those early experiences embedded a deep appreciation for how design can serve communities and elevate daily life.

A pivotal moment came when I was 14, during an unexpected three-day stay in New York City amid the 1977 blackout. While visiting the recently completed World Trade Center, I pressed my hands to the glass and watched the towers sway; I was mesmerized by both the scale of the architecture and the vitality of the city. That evening, I announced that I would one day live and work in New York. I didn’t yet have a plan, but I knew I wanted to be in a creative and vibrant city and experience buildings and spaces that were inspiring and had meaning for the people who occupied them.

The third influence was exposure to the practice through summer work at Alleyne & Aguilar Real Estate.

How did early professional experiences shape your interest in interior architecture?

My interest crystallized through hands-on work at Alleyne and Aguilar Real Estate in Barbados, where I helped manage high-net-worth vacation properties. The role exposed me to daily operations, involved oversight of staff and daily operations, coordination of property maintenance and repairs, preparation of residences for guests, and general staff support, and most critically, design in practice.

While supporting a renovation of Springhead Plantation House, I had the opportunity to visit the site during construction and assist with interior accessory purchasing. I was fascinated by the transformation process and deeply respectful of the tradespeople, each bringing distinct expertise and pride to the work. That direct engagement with building and interiors revealed what I wanted my future to be: working at the intersection of design, craft, and human experience.

Can you share projects you’re especially proud of? 

One of the most meaningful projects of my career is also one of the smallest. As lead of the Perkins&Will New York Social Purpose Group, I had the opportunity to direct the design and interior fit-out of Gigi’s Playhouse’s relocation to 1834 Third Avenue in New York City, a community space dedicated to individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

The ribbon cutting, on January 22, 2026, coincides with my father’s birthday, making the moment deeply personal and a full-circle affirmation of the values he instilled in me: service, dignity, and the power of thoughtfully designed environments that can support and change lives. 

Also, as Co-Chair of the International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA NY) Catalyst committee, our group provides pro bono design services to community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs) that would not otherwise have access to professional interior designers of the caliber represented by IIDA members.

Over the past four years, we have expanded our Catalyst project offerings and completed relocation and renovation projects for CBOs in New York.

The Catalyst Group also collaborates with the IIDA NY Student Development Group, providing laptop grants to talented interior design students in need and partnering on community programs with CBOs that introduce youth to design as a profession.

These projects and initiatives embody the type of work I always aspired to do in my career: using professional success as a platform for meaningful community impact.

How do you see diversity and inclusion influencing better design outcomes today?

Diversity in design must be understood broadly, encompassing not only ethnicity and gender, but also age, cultural background, professional experience, and diversity of thought. When design teams reflect the complexity of the communities they serve, outcomes become more layered, more human, and ultimately more successful.

While alignment with client experience can be valuable, it is often the presence of contrasting perspectives that sparks innovation. Diverse teams are less inclined to default to precedent and more willing to challenge assumptions, resulting in solutions that are both inventive and deeply responsive to end users.

Have mentors or advocates played a role in your career growth?

Mentorship has been essential throughout my career. Early on, many of my mentors were men, reflecting the realities of the industry at the time. Particularly in project management and construction leadership. These individuals advocated for me at critical moments, including after I had children, helping me access new opportunities and continue progressing professionally.

As my career progressed, mentorship became more reciprocal. I’ve learned just as much from industry peers and younger professionals whose perspectives differ from my own. Mentorship is not gender-specific; it is essential for anyone entering the profession, particularly for ensuring equitable access to advancement, compensation, and leadership opportunities.

How do you balance creativity with technical and business demands?

I see myself as a designer first and a manager second. At its core, architecture and interior design, in particular is about problem-solving through creativity. Design is what elevates the human experience; technical, regulatory, and business constraints serve as the framework that supports it.

When design leads, constraints become catalysts rather than limitations, pushing teams toward smarter, more holistic solutions.

How do you see the conversation on sustainability going in our industry?

Sustainability is no longer a discretionary value in architecture and interior design. It is a professional obligation. While awareness has grown significantly, the industry continues to grapple with uneven leadership and inconsistent policy alignment. 

The AIA has articulated a clear and public policy framework around sustainability that extends logically to interior architects and commercial designers working within integrated practice models. Defined policy positions reduce the risk of sustainability goals remaining aspirational rather than truly integrated into design and operations.

Within IIDA, there is recognition that the profession must move beyond project-level best practices toward more explicit commitments that support education, accountability, and regulatory alignment. Through my leadership with IIDA NY, I’ve been actively engaged in advancing this shift. As Co-Vice President of Action, I lead the Catalyst Committee, which is focused on embedding sustainability, circularity, and community impact into the organization’s strategic agenda. In 2026, we are formally integrating the Sustainability Circle into Catalyst to create a more visible, policy-aligned platform for designers.

Our emphasis is on translating policy into practice, developing relevant research papers, partnering with external subject matter experts, continuing education programs, exploring and conducting research, and convening roundtables to clarify the role of interior design within broader climate goals, and convening dialogues that move beyond advocacy toward implementation. We are also advancing initiatives that support reuse and circularity in real terms, recognizing that material stewardship in interiors is both an environmental and regulatory imperative.

For the profession to remain credible and relevant, sustainability must be foundational. Interior architects and designers have a critical role to play, not at the margins of practice, but at its core.

What changes have you seen for women in architecture?

Over the course of my career, I’ve seen meaningful progress in pay equity awareness and access to advancement opportunities. One of the most significant shifts has been the recognition of maternity and caregiving needs, effected by policies such as the Family Leave Act and broader acceptance of flexible work structures. I am gratified by the number of women in the industry today who are raising families with meaningful professional support.

Where progress is still needed is in sustained leadership representation and in ensuring that flexibility does not come at the cost of opportunity or visibility.

What has been the most fulfilling moment of your career?

An early defining moment was joining Total Concept, where I found my professional footing. There, I earned my first design award, saw my work published, and contributed to significant domestic and international projects. Just as important, I was recognized early for my contributions with a meaningful raise. More than I would have asked for, which taught me a lasting lesson about articulating value through results rather than requests.

That experience shaped how I advocate for myself and others to this day.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in architecture?

Understand why you’re drawn to the profession. Interior architecture and design are demanding, but deeply rewarding when approached with purpose. Enter the field because you believe in the power of design to improve lives, and be prepared to work hard, remain curious, and commit fully to your growth.

Design matters. If that belief motivates you, the challenges are worth it.

During International Women’s Month, what does recognition like this mean to you?

Visibility matters. Recognition allows me to be a familiar face to women of color who are considering or already navigating this profession, and for all women, to demonstrate that it is possible to reach senior leadership while raising a family.

As my twin daughters are preparing to graduate from college this May, I’m reminded that representation isn’t abstract. It’s personal, generational, and deeply consequential.