Successful young designer advocates for positive change
When Ebony Stephenson, CAPS graduated from Virginia Tech 11 years ago, she hit the ground running. She started out working for design-build firms in Virginia, but soon found herself frustrated by discriminatory practices within the industry. Far from being deterred from her lifelong design aspirations, Stephenson channeled her energy into starting her own design firm in 2015, Designs by Ebony, LLC. She has since built a reputation as not only an award-winning, style-savvy and dependable designer, but also as an advocate for marginalized people in the design industry.
As a young designer, Stephenson has already emerged as a leader in the industry and has been recognized by the NKBA’s Thirty Under 30 and Professional Remodeler’s 40 Under 40. She is an NKBA VA State Chapter volunteer and is also a member on the Virginia Tech Residential Environments and Design Industry Board. Her work has been featured in a host of trade publications as well as The New York Times.
Stephenson has used her position as a successful business owner as a platform to start what she calls the “uncomfortable but oh-so-necessary conversations” – honest and open discussions of discrimination on the basis of race, gender and ability within the industry. She speaks about her experiences at events such as KBIS, as well as at Virginia Tech and with local youth.
