As an educator with 19 years of teaching experience, Martha Siegel focuses on instilling in her students drive, design, passion, and professionalism. She teaches a studio that has a strong focus on universal design (UD) principals, and designing spaces to support the independence of the users. For over ten years, this studio has been cross-discipline in construct, engaging interior design, occupational therapy, mental health counseling, and health science students working in teams, discovering cross-professional solutions.
She has served as the department chair for much of her time at New York Tech, directing the program through three successful Council for Interior Design (CIDA) accreditations, and guiding curriculum development to continually reflect the growth of the profession. She is committed to engaging the Department of Interior Design at New York Tech with the broader world, which provides enriching opportunity for students. As such, Siegel oversaw a student exhibition at the UN, in conjunction of the International Year of the Older Person (1999, 2000, 2001), became a founding school in the NY11+ (New York Eleven Plus) which annually takes student work to Albany and New York City for public viewings , was a co-investigator for New York Tech’s two award-winning entries into the International Solar Decathlons (2005 and 2007), and oversaw the department’s acceptance into the 2012 Milan Saloni, where New York Tech was one of 20 schools from around the world given a booth to showcase student work. In New York Tech’s efforts to support global education, she has overseen the development of its Interior Design Program in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Martha received her graduate degree in Interior Design from Pratt Institute, and bachelor’s degree in Anthropology at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY. She is a Certified Interior Designer (CID) in the State of New York, and works on private design related projects. She is a past member of the board of Interior Designers for Legislation in New York (IDLNY).
Recent Projects/Research
- Sate Society on Aging of New York, 42nd Annual Conference, New York, NY. Interdisciplinary collaboration presentation titled: “The good, the bad, & the ugly.” with Dr. Tobi Abramson.
- In conjunction with Dr. Tobi Abramson engage students of Interior Design and Health Sciences in cross-discipline projects exploring issues of aging and environment. Project titles include Stories Construct Design, Nurturing Environments and Paradigms for Aging.
- Hans Schroeder, biographical research, ongoing.
Honors and Awards
- Invited delegate to HOST2015 Milan, Italy
- DSGN 222: Materials I
- DSGN 223: Materials II
- DSGN 301: Interior Design Problems I
- DSGN 402: Senior Project in Interior Design