International Interior Designer speaks to USU students about new book

By: Kristen Steiner

Noriega-Ortiz lecturing
USU student while showing them
past designs

Utah State University interior design students, faculty and staff gathered into the Caine Performance Hall this afternoon at 4:30 to hear internationally acclaimed interior designer, Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, lecture on his recently released book, “Suspending Reality: Interiors by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz.”

Thanks to Darrin Brooks, USU’s interior design associate professor, Noriega-Ortiz was the 21st designer to visit USU for the annual interior design lecture series in which he was warmly welcomed.

Noriega-Ortiz entered the stage wearing a very stylish navy suit and bow tie accompanied by his iconic shiny, copper shoes only to then make a lighthearted joke and begin his lecture on his newly released book.

 “I find that reality is a little hard and the work we do as designers should suspend that reality and should take you to a better place,” Noriega-Ortiz said in regards to the title of his new book.

“Making an Entrance,” “Opening Acts,” “Theatrical Magic,” “Staying on Script,” “Mis-en-scene,” “Playing with Illusions” and “Colorful Characters” are the seven-featured topics in his new book that he explained in detail to those in attendance at today’s lecture.

Noriega-Ortiz lecturing
USU students

“There are seven different ideas that have carried my projects for the past 20 years,” Noriega-Ortiz said, so naturally those were made into the book’s chapters.  

The designer spent the remainder of his lecture flipping through slides of pictures of past projects to explain to students the different topics he had come up with for his book.

“His idea of creating a story is inspiration to go forth,” said Becky Harmon, a USU sophomore studying interior design. “He makes you remember why you’re doing what you are doing.”

Noriega-Ortiz grew up in Puerto Rico, but began his career in New York City in 1983 working for the world-renowned interior and product design studio of John F. Saladino, Inc. where he spent nine years of his career, six of which were spent as head interior designer.

Later, in 1992, Noriega-Ortiz opened his own firm and proceeded to travel throughout the world working for high clientele such as Lenny Kravitz and Sean Combs.

Noriega-Ortiz, a trained architect, yet career driven interior designer, is known for his sense of openness and light through the use of color, materials, architecture and integration of fashion.

Highly influenced by the design aspects of Valentino, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Alexander McQueen, Noriega-Ortiz has created countless projects based of their designs.

“Their designs are just spectacular in detailing,” Noriega-Ortiz said.

He is also known and recognized for his signature draping, saturated color rooms and feather décor. Beyond his design, Noriega-Ortiz, with artist husband Steven Wine, created a lighting line in 2007 that has done nothing but enhance his company.

For more information on the designer and his work, visit http://www.bnodesign.com/