2025 Designer Dozen Awards: Ambriah Phillips

Ambriah Phillips
Designer, Environments, WD Partners / Age: 26
Favorite TV Show: “The Bear”
Favorite City to Visit: Chicago

WHY AMBRIAH

According to her colleagues, Ambriah is always asking, “What’s next?” With responsibilities spanning every phase of a design process – from ideation to implementation – Ambriah wears many hats in her role at WD Partners. She has worked with a variety of retailers like White Castle, HMS Host, Nestle, Purina, The Home Depot and Nike (and many more), and on a variety of concepts from retail to restaurants to big box stores to boutiques. She’s been a key component in many activations, including Walmart Canada’s Health Hub where she crafted a holistic health journey through simplifying the retailer’s many services into a streamlined customer journey. “Whether volunteering to organize holiday and team-building events, flexing her graphic design skills by creating internal communications or keeping everyone up to date on local happenings, she always has her finger on the pulse of both Columbus, Ohio, culture and the design world,” reads her nomination.

Ambriah was instrumental in this Walmart Health project. PHOTO: Walmart Canada

How did you get into retail design?

I’ve always had a passion for fine arts and after discovering interior architecture during a college tour, I realized that environmental design was the perfect path for me. Retail design excites me because it offers the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse range of clients. I’m also fascinated by understanding shopper behavior, which deeply influences the way I approach design.

What do you enjoy most about your current job?

I love how my portfolio and experience showcase such a diverse range of clientele and project scopes. From grocery stores to amusement parks, the variety keeps my work feeling fresh and exciting.

Describe some of your outside-of-work activities.

My passion for travel is key to inspiration! Visiting new places, experiencing different cultures and engaging with people from various backgrounds has greatly influenced my design choices. Each destination sparks new ideas, helping me approach my work with creativity and a deeper understanding of how design can connect with people on an emotional level.

If I had a completely unlimited budget for a project, I would…

…design a space that feels like stepping into a whimsical, larger-than-life world, so immersive and dreamlike, it almost feels unreal.

My dream project is…

…a pop-up retail project that honors one of my favorite brands, offering plenty of creative freedom and a strong emphasis on crafting a memorable experience.