Ya(Zoe) Gao

Ya (or Zoe) is a passionate designer with a focus on health and gender issues in space design. At EwingCole in New York, she has worked as a healthcare interior designer, contributing to a range of projects including cancer centers, healthcare institutes, and pediatric hospitals for prominent clients such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, NYU Langone, and Englewood. Her work, in collaboration with her team, emphasizes creating sustainable, welcoming, and timeless healthcare environments.

Ya initially studied Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before earning a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Pratt Institute. Her undergraduate research explored the physical and mental challenges faced by women, particularly those underrepresented in mainstream media before, during, and after pregnancy. Through her design of a monument for mothers, she aims to bring these critical issues to the forefront and encourage public reflection.