Meet Agnes Ipe | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Agnes Ipe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Agnes, what’s your definition for success?
To me as of right now, success means being in a place where I feel fulfilled and grateful for the life I am building, whether through my career, the relationships I value, or the communities I am part of. It also means having the freedom and confidence to keep evolving while becoming more intentional in who I am and the impact I make.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art exists at the intersection of interior design, storytelling, and human experience. I am especially drawn to spatial experiences that allow me to capture someone’s attention, create an emotional response and encourage engagement. I enjoy the “sky is the limit” mentality behind commercial spatial design projects, where fascination and imagination are treated as essential parts of the design process.

What sets me apart is the way I approach design through both creativity and an understanding of people. My work is rooted in spatial psychology, cultural awareness, and customer experience. I consider how geography, identity, behavior, and personal memories influence the way someone experiences a space. I am constantly interested in developing ideas that feel unexpected while still being purposeful and relevant to the people they are designed for.

My perspective has been shaped by my upbringing and education. I was born and raised in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, in an Indian household from Kerala, and later moved to the United States to pursue art and design. Growing up between cultures taught me early on that design, fashion, and visual expression can communicate identity even when words cannot. Before studying interior design, I spent about 12 years training in different forms of fine art. At SCAD, I earned my BFA in Interior Design and continued into a master’s program in Luxury and Brand Management, allowing me to combine spatial design with a deeper understanding of branding, consumer behavior, and the luxury industry.

Professionally, I reached this point by being willing to say yes to opportunities that challenged me, even when I did not feel completely prepared. That willingness has become one of my greatest strengths. My experiences have included working on luxury hospitality and food-and-beverage projects with Blue Lantern Studios in Atlanta, collaborating through SCADpro on a project for WWE, and helping lead the interior design of Azalea’s Market, a grocery concept developed with the City of Atlanta to address food access in downtown Atlanta. I am especially proud of that project because it showed me that design can be imaginative while also responding to a genuine community need.

I am also proud of the ways I have contributed to the communities that helped me grow. During college, I served as president of the Interior Design Organization at SCAD Atlanta and held additional leadership positions before becoming president. I also represented SCAD through AAPIDA and helped create opportunities for students to connect with professionals and feel more supported within the design industry. These experiences taught me that success is not only about the work I create but also about the people I can encourage, connect, and bring with me along the way.

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that growth rarely happens when everything feels comfortable or perfectly planned. I have learned to remain curious, to accept that I will not always have every answer, and to view challenges as opportunities to become more resourceful. I have also learned that talent alone is not enough. Being dependable, collaborative, open to criticism, and willing to support others has been just as important to my development as someone in the creative industry.

What I want the world to know about me is that I am a multidisciplinary designer who cares deeply about creating memorable spatial experiences. I want my work to inspire fascination, but I also want it to have intention. Whether I am designing a luxury retail environment, a hospitality space, an exhibition, or a community-focused project, my goal is to create something that makes people feel curious, and connected. My story is ultimately about remaining open, to people, cultures, opportunities, and unfamiliar experiences and allowing each of them to shape the designer and person I am becoming.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
After living in Midtown Atlanta for the past four years, I’ve found so many places that I would love to show my best friend.

For coffee and pastries, I would take them to Little Tart Bakeshop, specifically the Grant Park location, and Bar Premio along the BeltLine. Little Tart is one of my favorite places to start the day, while Bar Premio is worth visiting for both the coffee and the beautifully designed space.

For outdoor activities, I would walk the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, spend time at Piedmont Park, and plan a picnic if the weather was nice. I would also make time for the Atlanta Botanical Garden, which is about a 30-acre urban garden.

For art and design, I would visit the High Museum of Art and SCAD FASH. The High is worth visiting for the architecture alone, as its original white building was designed by Richard Meier and its later expansion was designed by Renzo Piano. If a designer showhouse happened to be open during their visit, I would definitely include it because it is a great opportunity to see the work of so many talented local interior designers in one space.

For food, I would recommend Le Bon Nosh, Bar Blanc, or Brasserie Margot for French-inspired cuisine. For Persian food, I would choose Delbar in Buckhead. Ruby Chow’s is a great option for Asian-inspired small plates, No. 246 in Decatur is one of my favorite choices for classic Italian food, and Fūm offers a more contemporary Italian dining experience. Luella would be my top choice for a classic steakhouse dinner. For cocktails, I would make a reservation at Tiger Sun for a beautifully crafted, multi-course experience.

Overall, I would want the trip to include a mix of great food, art, and time outdoors. Atlanta has so much to offer, and I think the best way to experience it is by exploring different neighborhoods while still leaving room to discover new places along the way.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this to my incredibly talented best friend, Lauren Garcia Quintana, whose support has played such an important role in helping me become who I am today. Over the past four years, she has been my greatest cheerleader and a constant source of encouragement in every area of my life. Through her, I have met so many wonderful people and experienced moments that I will forever cherish.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnesipe/

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/agnes-ipe

Image Credits
Sebastian Briones, Shuang Liu and Kassidy Butler