Our Designers

Susan Hoffman, ASID

Our studio owner and lead designer is an honors graduate of Iowa State University with a B.S. degree in interior design. In 1978, Susan passed the rigorous NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) exam to become a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). She became an active member of ASID, sitting on numerous committees and offices; ultimately serving as regional president from 1998-1999.

Susan is well recognized as an established designer of high acclaim. Her varied repertoire of projects crosses the United States from California to New York as well as the Caribbean. Her projects have often been photographed for publication and her opinions sought by those who keep the pulse of the design industry.

New home construction has become a focus for Susan's work as more and more clients appreciate the value of bringing an interior designer into a building project early. Building a new home is exciting, but Susan also thrills at the challenge of giving a new face to that which is old. Susan defines home remodeling and renovation as "seeing possibilities where others see problems." She and her staff have teamed with many different homebuilders to create unique and interesting homes personalized to the client's needs and desires. Home building, remodeling and renovation are highly detailed and complicated endeavors requiring patience and experience. To accommodate these specialized needs, DESIGNS! has established a studio resource library to streamline the building selection and specifying process. The DESIGNS! staff understands the need for timely decisions and "speak the language" of your builder and subcontractors.

Susan served on the interior design advisory board for 3 years at Iowa State. Currently, she is serving on the Advancement Council for the College of Design. The college consists of architecture, landscape architecture, graphic design, industrial design, urban planning, art and design, and interior design.

Leah Fasching, ASID

For nearly two decades, Leah has worked as a designer and project manager at DESIGNS!. Her forte is coordinating all aspects of the design process and works both locally and coast to coast. Leah strives to make every project a pleasure for clients, and those who have worked with her can attest to her unbridled enthusiasm and positivity.

Leah is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design. Since passing the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) in 2001, she has been a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). As an active member, Leah has held the position of Secretary of the Board of ASID and has worked on several committees supporting the society.

About ASID

ASID identifies the interior designer as having met the highest professional standards achieved in the profession. ASID members have met stringent requirements with a combination of education and experience and must pass a rigorous NCIDQ two-day exam. These qualifications far exceed what you might expect from a "decorator" or from someone who has "decorating flair" into the arena of a highly-qualified professional interior designer.