Kate Handwerger is the principal designer of DESDIGN1618 Studio. She loves fine design and has been around it all her life. Her mother was a professional designer of modern sportswear and her grandfather was a traditional dressmaker in China. Kate completed formal training at an art school as a teenager and went on to obtain a degree in Fashion Design from the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. She received an Award for Excellence at the International Young Fashion Designers Contest sponsored by Japanese Brother Industries, Ltd. Her participation and creative process in the Brother competition was the subject of a nationally televised documentary. Kate held the position of Journalist and Editor at China Fashion Weekly in her early and mid 20’s.

 

Kate immigrated to the United States in 2000. After inspired by fine building and interior design, she quickly redirected her passion from fashion to interior design and she earned a degree in Interior Design from CCSF in San Francisco. She has worked at the world's #1 hospitality interior design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates Design Consultants and she has had the opportunity to work with developers on numerous new construction and major renovation projects. Design styles have ranged from Modern to French Renaissance. Kate designed and oversaw the contraction of a number of luxury hotels and the private residence of the Chairman of Huawei, one of China’s wealthiest individuals. In addition to her interior design work, Kate also enjoys creating sustainable textile artwork inspired by her many travels around the world.

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Kate holds a Certified Interior Designer (CID) accreditation in the State of California. Her extensive background and international exposure lends a unique perspective to her work and to serving the lifestyles of her clients. She enjoys providing her clients with creative and realistic solutions.