Interior Race Theory

Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah created Interior Race Theory in 2022. Interior Race Theory highlights that what we interact with in our interior environments can cause Black, brown, and other racialized people to have positive or negative racialized experiences. While the theory initially centered on objects and the home, Iyamah has since expanded it include interior components such as style, space, structure, and infrastructure and interior spaces such as workplaces, schools, restaurants, hotels, and retail. The expanded version of the theory has been used to develop the RED Building Standards™. These standards highlight comprehensive racial equity criteria to adhere to when designing interior spaces.

Learn about Interior Race Theory in the Journal of Interior Design