Jacqueline Carmichael, ASID, CKD, NCIDQ, is an educator and program coordinator at Howard University who has over 20 years of experience in sustainable and holistic design practice.
Exploring innovations in kitchen and Universal Design, Carmichael investigates a human-centered needs-assessment instrument that allows designers to “see” the client and recognize impairments due to the aging process, be they visual or one of mobility.
Carmichael’s other research deals with affordable housing access for low-income families. She created a series, “Chocolate City to Chocolate Chip African American Housing,” addressing chronic displacement, affordability and housing historiographies utilizing flexible wall panels, cabinetry and storage alternatives for lifespan housing. She seeks to set precedence in public policy to design spaces to maintain cultural vibrancy for inclusion through interior design focused on these most vulnerable groups.
The educator inspires her students to be social change activists as they aspire to and master the traditional western canons of architecture and design while being sensitive to marginalized communities.
She is also principal and interior designer at Beauty for Ashes Interiors in Camp Springs, MD.
