Meet Marie Aiello, the Alumni Council's New President
Marie Aiello ’04 (AAS), the new president of NYSID’s Alumni Council.
This summer Marie Aiello ’04 (AAS), owner and principal of Marie Aiello Design Studio, takes the helm of the New York School of Interior Design’s Alumni Council, succeeding outgoing president Lawrence Levy ’05 (BFA). Marie and Lawrence are close friends who have partnered on design projects, and Levy will continue to serve as a member of the Alumni Council and teach as a NYSID faculty member.
Marie has designed homes for a range of noted clients from Fortune 500 CEOs to three-star Michelin chefs. She recently finished a home on the island of Mustique that belongs to famed restaurateur Maguy Le Coze (co-owner of Le Bernardin). She’s in the final phase of designing the TSX Broadway Hotel, slated to open in Times Square in 2022. Despite her bustling design firm and an impressive roster of clients, Marie finds time to indulge in her passion of giving back to other designers. She began her design career as a mentee to French artist and designer Yves Mikaeloff who instilled in her the gift of giving back. A member of NYSID’s Alumni Council and Working Group for more than two years, Marie has been a steadfast supporter of NYSID’s Scholarship Fund. She has guided students as part of the Alumni Mentorship Program and frequently serves as a juror for student critiques.
Lawrence Levy, who served as Alumni Council President for the past five years, oversaw a period of innovation and increased cohesion amongst the alumni community. He says, “We wanted alumni to see that NYSID can still be part of their lives and a valuable tool. We came up with the idea of events hosted by alumni that would introduce them to vendors they might not know: Wolf Subzero, Resource Furniture, The Shade Store, Kravet, and SICIS, for example. We created a double incentive: reconnect with friends and find out about a professional resource.” He adds, “I believe Marie will bring us even further toward our goals of re-engaging alumni and fostering community.”
“This work is not just about connections to the school; it’s about the connectivity between alumni and student, designer and designer.”
Get to Know Marie
What’s been rewarding about serving on NYSID’s Alumni Council and why have you stepped up to lead it?
I have really appreciated going back and being part of the NYSID community. This work is not just about the connection to the school; it’s about the connectivity to new and upcoming designers, and the world of design in general. Fostering personal relationships with other interior designers feeds good thinking. Connectivity to students helps one stay relevant and honest. My mentor once told me, “Never get cocky and believe you know everything because once you do you will stop learning.” So I keep my eyes open. I am always looking for new knowledge.
What was your first career and how did you find your way to interior design?
I started as a script reader and assistant at a Hollywood production company, was promoted to a job in story development, and later became a producer of TV movies. This is how I learned my process in creating interiors: I take my clients’ stories and uniquely express them through the art of design. In the next chapter of my life, I wanted to go to a place that I did not know. That brought me to Paris, where I met Yves Mikaeloff, my eventual mentor. I was able to engage in my love of learning how other people live. Through interior design, I found a new way to tell a story. I moved to St. Barthélemy, where I was the owner of a lifestyle boutique, Jetlag, which specialized in curated fashion and objets de art for the home. I was also the English editor of the style magazine Magic St. Barth. Then, I wanted to formalize my knowledge of interior design, so I moved to New York to take a summer course at NYSID—Introduction to Interior Design. That course introduced me to the language of design; It really was like learning a new language and I loved it. What I valued about NYSID is that it was a place for people like me who already had a career, and who wanted to learn a new skill and get back out to work. After one year at NYSID, I was able to take on my first client and execute a project.
You’ve been a steadfast supporter of NYSID’s scholarship fund. Can you tell us why this is important to you?
Everyone deserves a chance to realize their talents. I grew up in a modest home with few opportunities. I believe it’s important to create opportunities for everyone who’s curious. It’s also why I participated in the mentorship program; it’s incredibly fulfilling and inspiring. My last mentee was Rose Darline Darbouze ’15 (BFA). Her raw talent was stimulating. (Email Samantha Fingleton to inquire about becoming a mentor or click here to give to the scholarship fund).
What’s your vision for NYSID’s Alumni Council?
Lawrence did a fantastic job, so the alumni community is already strong. For me, the big themes will be connectivity and relevance. I want to deepen alumni connections to the school and get people involved in initiatives that are meaningful to them. I want alumni to feel like this is their home in the design community. I’d like to start a program that allows alumni to mentor other alumni, because the first years after school are pivotal. I want to encourage more alumni to use the library for workspace and research. The COVID-19 pandemic will make in-person alumni events impossible in the short-term, so I would love to create a digital forum for alumni, a safe place to come to talk about design issues and get professional support. This is especially important for those of us who are entrepreneurs.
What haven’t I asked you that I should ask you?
Well, literature and storytelling have had a huge influence on my designs, so you might ask me what I’m reading?
Yes! Please tell us!
I am reading three books: The Complete Gardener's Guide, because my husband and I bought an 1890’s Victorian Farmhouse a year ago, and I want to turn the jungle out back into a French country garden; Always Home by Alice Waters’ daughter Fanny Singer, an intimate memoir about growing up in the home of a cook; and A House of My Own by Sandra Cisneros, a memoir of one of my favorite authors’ travels, and her struggle to piece together her idea of home, or rather, the fact that all of the places she has lived are her home.