An accomplished designer and project manager discusses his journey to certification.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
Omar Zaater, designer and project director for k YODER design (kYd) in Philadelphia, quarterbacks some of the design firm’s most intense projects, drawing on his ability to understand and interpret client preferences and collaborate creatively to meet challenges.
He joined kYd in 2015 as a designer and has evolved to project director, combining design skills, space-planning prowess, and management expertise to integrate function and beauty. He is adept at 3D modeling, generating realistic renderings, and manipulating working models in real-time during design meetings to help clients visualize design concepts.
While earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the Art Institute of Philadelphia’s CIDA-accredited interior design program, his student work earned recognition in NKBA’s student awards program. Zaater began his career working with regional kitchen and bath design-build firms, informing his understanding of custom cabinetry, appreciation for fine craftsmanship, and ability to effectively budget and manage construction.
“Becoming certified was a way for me to not only sharpen those skills,” he said, “but also a way to let our clients know they were in good hands beyond interior design for aesthetic purposes.”
Besides holding his CKBD, Zaater is Allied ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), and a member of the Designer Society of America, through which he earned the Residential Interior Design Qualifying Certification (RIDQC). He recently spoke about his certification journey.
What was your primary reason for pursuing your NKBA certification? Would you do it again?
Pursuing the NKBA certification has been a goal of mine since my first kitchen and bath class in design school. As a residential interior designer, I recognized the importance of functionality in those spaces was critical in shaping the way we live our lives — from how we start our day, gathering with family around meals, taking care of our bodies, or even just crafting how we feel during our daily routines in those spaces.
What are the major benefits of becoming certified?
Gaining the knowledge and understanding required to become certified helped me become a better designer. It involves a level of technical understanding of everything from building mechanics and interior systems to life safety, and coordination across all involved trades that is well beyond what most think of when designing a kitchen or bathroom. It also has helped solidify my role as a professional in the industry, defining the level of expertise across other areas of the design trade.
How does it help you in your business and marketing endeavors?
The NKBA has an extremely wide network across several areas of the design industry. The CKBD certification presents opportunities for utilizing those resources and opportunities to get in front of potential clients, as well as staying up to date on the latest trends, products, and information.
What was the most challenging part of the process?
I started taking the exam and refining my portfolio after over 10 years in the industry. During that time, I adapted to other methods of design and documentation that the various companies executed in their processes, from design/build firms to architecture studios. It took a bit of time to revisit the specifics of the NKBA standards and procedures.
The NKBA had also recently revamped the exam process to be more thorough (thus a bit more difficult) as they paired it down to only the CKBD and CMKBD options to make it more exclusive, so there was less room for error and interpretation.
Besides the learning aspects, I was raising a newborn during this time, house hunting, and trying to be a great husband — so, needless to say, life was coming at me pretty fast. There were times I needed to put it on hold when life got in the way, or I simply felt discouraged, but I’m glad I persisted.
What advice would you give designers who are considering certification?
Take your time. As much as it’s best to focus on areas of weakness, you really do need to know everything, so make sure you do. Revisit the old things that you think you’ve been doing right for years. There’s a chance you haven’t been, or that things have changed.
Find ways to enjoy the process. Studying for written/multiple choice exams was never really one of my strengths — that’s why I went to art/design school! So, hitting the books was something I hadn’t done to that level in a long time. I enjoyed refining my portfolio for the drawing portion of the exam, so I would use that to break things up when I was feeling exhausted as a way to keep progressing. Lastly, keep your eye on the end goal. As someone finally on the other side, it’s well worth it!
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NKBA currently offers two levels of certification: The first is the CKBD, and the highest level is CMKBD (Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer). These prestigious appellations communicate expert knowledge, skills, training, and experience in kitchen and bath design. They help distinguish you as a professional and give you a competitive edge. To learn more about the Certification programs, click here.
