(L to R) Krista Easterly, IIDA New England Chapter, President, Autumn Thompson, Somerville resident and IIDA Advocacy Committee, State Representative Christine Barber, Heather Gaidjunas, IIDA Advocacy Committee, Kalyn Pavlinic, Somerville resident and IIDA New England President-Elect, and Betty Chen, IIDA Advocacy Committee

Rep. Christine Barber, representing the 34^th Middlesex District, has been honored as the 2025 Legislator of the Year by the International Interior Design Association’s New England Chapter (IIDA New England). The award, presented at IIDA’s Annual Advocacy Day at the Massachusetts State House, recognizes Rep. Barber’s advancement of women’s rights and social equity in the Commonwealth.

Rep. Barber’s specific policy contributions include spearheading legislation, H. 4354 An Act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design, as well as for her leadership in Massachusetts which has centered on equity of access to healthcare, housing and climate justice.

Existing laws in Massachusetts prevent interior designers from being able to practice to the fullest potential of their education and training.  The passage of H. 4354 and its companion bill, S. 2620, An Act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design, is crucial to the industry and would help create jobs and career paths in this primarily women-led field. The legislation also grants hundreds of interior designers and countless students in the five accredited interior design degree programs at Massachusetts colleges the recognition and opportunity to grow in this creative and skilled workforce.

“We are thrilled to present Rep. Barber with this award. Her leadership has resulted in meaningful action that empowers our members and the broader interior design community. We are deeply grateful for her partnership,” said Krista Easterly, President of IIDA New England Chapter.

“I’m deeply honored to receive this award from IIDA, and proud to work with and support an industry that celebrates creativity, leadership, and professional development for women at many stages of their careers,” said Rep. Barber.

The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) is the commercial design association that works to advance the value of interior design and its practitioners as well as to cultivate leadership within the profession. IIDA has more than 12,000 Members in nine specialty Forums in 30 Chapters around the world committed to enhancing the quality of life through excellence in interior design and advancing interior design through knowledge. Their members design interiors of corporate offices such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, hospitals, assisted living residences, schools, universities, hotels, airports and retail. IIDA empowers women while promoting economic development. The IIDA New England Chapter (IIDA NE) was incorporated in 1972 and serves the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

–IIDA New England Chapter