Director, MPS in Digital Practice Management

Anthony Samaha is the director of the Master of Professional Studies in Digital Practice Management at the New York School of Interior Design. 

Samaha has an MS in Architectural Technologies from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and a BA in Architecture from New Jersey Institute of Technology. On teams with peers, he has won important innovation grants, such as the Google Artist + Machine Intelligence Grant with a team led by Casey Rehm, and two Perkins &Will Innovation Incubator Awards, which have allowed him to conduct research on everything from how robots can decrease the number of site visits architects must make, to the embodied carbon use of different software workflows and practices. He was the winner of the AECTech+ Boston Hackathon.

He has worked as both an architectural designer (at Hill West Architects and Curtis + Ginsberg Architects) and as a digital practice manager/lead (at Perkins&Will and Curtis + Ginsberg Architects), and he understands the day-to-day demands on architects and interior designers from multiple perspectives. Samaha is also an experienced educator, having taught design technology at the university level.

With over 8 years of experience as a BIM and VDC manager for construction management companies, coupled with 3 years as a design professional, Andres has witnessed the transformative power of digital practice management in the construction industry. By integrating cutting-edge technology and software programs, he has successfully enhanced project planning and execution across various construction phases. As the AEC industry continues to evolve, it is crucial for designers and builders to embrace and master the use of different software programs. This will enable them to effectively implement digital practice management in design and construction workflows, ultimately leading to improved collaboration, proactive issue resolution, and efficient planning. By leveraging these advancements, we can exceed project and client expectations, while staying within budgets and schedules, and pave the way for a smarter and faster future in construction.

Joung Taek Yi is a registered architect in the State of New York and a member of the AIA.

His background in digital practice management involves overseeing BIM at BKSK for 3 years, participating as a BIM committee member at Magnusson Architecture and Planning for 3 years, and providing guidance on the initial significant BIM project at Gluckman Tang.

Some of his notable projects and achievements include: multifamily housing developments in New York City and New Jersey with BKSK Architects; the three-phase Linden Terrace project in Brooklyn, NY and the Andrews Avenue Senior Housing development with Magnusson Architecture and Planning; Hongshan 6979 and K11 Select projects with Laguarda Low Architects; and the Exhibition Facility and Headquarters in Fort Worth, TX and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum New Exhibition Building Expansion with Gluckman Tang.

Associate Dean Daniel Harper has primary oversight of the undergraduate programs. His responsibilities will extend into aspects of every degree program. Harper brings a wealth of experience as a designer, an academic administrator, a researcher, a professor, and an expert in evidence-based design. He has a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from Ohio University, and a Master of Interior Design from Harrington College of Design. A design educator since 2006, he served as assistant dean for the College of Fine Arts at Ohio University, and most recently, was the professor who chaired the interior architecture programs there. He has published extensive research, including a co-authored book on makerspaces in academic libraries called Academic Library Makerspaces: A Practical Guide to Planning, Collaborating, and Supporting Campus Innovation. His current research is focused on interior designers as leaders. He has presented his research at conferences all over the world. He began his career as a design practitioner for 14 years in commercial and healthcare design. He’s also an award-winning textile artist who creates art quilts. “I believe in leadership as service,” says Harper. “I’m here to support our students and the faculty through the rollout of a new curriculum, initiatives to increase and strengthen diversity and inclusion, program accreditation/reaccreditation, new program development, expanding study abroad…just to name a few priorities.” 

Tim Chogovadze works as an architectural designer specializing in exterior facade design for multi-family residential buildings. He utilizes digital tools to create presentations and documentation for his projects, from initial concepts to construction stages. Additionally, he has experience in landscape architecture and has collaborated on cultural projects with an international architecture firm in Italy and The Caribbean.

Tim strongly believes in using an array of techniques, ranging from sketching, drawing, Photoshop, 3D modeling, rendering and animation to create cohesive, strong and clean presentations as well as help develop a consistent and clear design language.

At NYSID, Tim teaches intro-level software courses for Photoshop, InDesign, and Presentation Techniques III, which focuses on advanced 3D modeling and rendering.

Importance of Digital Practice Management:

We have the ability to design using traditional tools like paper, lead, and colored pencils. Our medium could be anything from mylar and bond paper to something as simple as a napkin. Alternatively, our medium could also be digital, utilizing software and mouse clicks. Technology doesn’t hinder the creative thinking process, but rather amplifies it, provided we have a good understanding of how to use the tool effectively.