HiP Awards > People > Designer: HiP Commercial Leader

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Kelie Mayfield is a visionary interior designer and the Founder and Principal of MaRS Culture, a Houston-based multidisciplinary studio known for its bold, narrative-driven approach to design. With over two decades of experience, Kelie has built a reputation for weaving storytelling and cultural relevance into every project, creating spaces that resonate far beyond aesthetics. At the heart of Kelie’s practice is her unique talent for integrating artists and makers into her work—collaborations that infuse her projects with authenticity, texture, and emotional depth. Her commitment to craft and community has made MaRS Culture a platform where art, design, and innovation intersect in powerful ways. Since founding MaRS in 2010, Kelie has led high-profile projects across commercial, hospitality, residential, educational, and cultural sectors. Notable recent work includes Block 162, Brava, The Laura, The Center for Pursuit, and 2910 McKinney—MaRS Culture’s own creative headquarters in Houston’s EaDo district. Kelie’s influence is widely recognized in the design industry. Named a HiP Rising Star in 2015, she continues to earn accolades, including Interior Design’s Best of Year 2024 for Brava and the HiP Award for Workplace Furniture for Motile by Decca. Her work has been featured in Interior Design’s “100 Big Ideas,” “10 Questions with MaRS,” and in the books Best of Culture and Education, Best of Office, and Decade of Design. Kelie leads MaRS with a hands-on, mentorship-driven philosophy and a deep commitment to empowering her team. Her impact lives not only in the spaces she creates but also in the creative culture she cultivates and the stories she brings to life through bold, culturally resonant design.