ID Studios is proud to announce the promotion of Kassandra Aguilar to Associate, recognizing her long standing contributions, leadership, and impact across the firm. Since joining ID Studios in June 2016, Kassandra has grown alongside the studio and has played an integral role in shaping both our work and our culture.
A San Diego native, Kassandra earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the Design Institute of San Diego in 2017. Even before graduation, her talent and drive stood out. While still a student, her team placed second in the 2015 IIDA Student Design Charette, and she was already making waves in the design community when we first met her at the Calibre Awards. Not long after, Kassandra joined ID Studios and quickly proved herself to be a thoughtful designer, creative problem solver, and trusted team member.
Over the years, Kassandra has contributed to impactful projects across multiple market sectors, consistently bringing a balance of creativity, technical rigor, and strategic thinking to her work. She is particularly known for her ability to approach complex challenges with clarity and care, turning constraints into opportunities and elevating the end user experience in the process. Her favorite part of the design process is the puzzle solving that comes with each project, whether that means refining design details or navigating demanding schedules, and it is that mindset that continues to drive her success.
One project that exemplifies Kassandra’s approach is the CR Insulation Headquarters. From the outset, the project was rooted in a shared set of values between client and studio, including mentorship, authenticity, and a genuine investment in people. The resulting space reflects a close-knit team culture and includes unique elements such as a barber nook and a golf simulator area, features that were not simply amenities but true expressions of how the client supports their employees. For Kassandra, the strength of the relationship, the collaborative process, and the final outcome made the project especially meaningful.
In addition to her project work, Kassandra has played an important role internally at ID Studios. She led the firm’s internship program for approximately three years, helping guide and support emerging designers as they entered the profession. She is an active member of the Wellness Committee, contributes to the K – 12 team, and serves as an ongoing mentor to designers throughout the firm. Her commitment to fostering growth, balance, and connection within the studio has had a lasting impact.
Kassandra also remains deeply engaged with the broader design and real estate communities. She has participated in organizations and events such as We Care, Tables for Tots, bkm’s (now Hyphn) charitable Bassline Table Design event benefiting the David’s Harp Foundation, NAIOP Developing Leaders, and ULI Partnership Forum Groups. Through these experiences, she continues to expand her network, stay connected to industry trends, and collaborate with peers who inspire her.
Reflecting on her journey, Kassandra traces her path to interior design back to a high school AP Art class, when a simple comment about her perspective sketches opened the door to a profession she had not previously considered. What ultimately drew her in was the intersection of creative expression and technical precision, and that balance continues to define her work today.
Kassandra’s promotion to Associate is a reflection of her design excellence, leadership, and dedication to ID Studios and our clients. We are grateful for her continued contributions and excited to see the impact she will make in this next chapter of her career.
Please join us in congratulating Kassandra on this well-deserved promotion.
