Dorothy is the newly appointed CEO of the African Institute of Design Professions (IID).

As the Founder & Principal Designer of Dorothy van’t Riet Design & Décor Consultants (DVR), she has produced numerous award-winning, luxurious interiors for her hotel, corporate, and residential clients across Africa, Malaysia and the United Kingdom. She draws on her love of colour, lines, forms, shapes, texture and space to create soul-filled designs that speak to all five senses.

Hotel projects include the 240 bedroom Four Points by Sheraton in Lagos, Nigeria.

Dorothy has recently completed her term as a co-opted Executive Board Member of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI)

Dorothy is currently serving as Ambassador for Southern Africa for the IFI.

Dorothy is one of 5 Judges for the prestigious Caesarstone Students Design Competition which she has done for many years.

Dorothy has been a keynote speaker for design conferences in South Africa & across Africa.

For Dorothy, design changes lives, not only spaces.

She sees that design is a living profession that has the potential to revolutionize our future.

Dorothy is an advocate of the value of quality good design & firmly believes that good design is a major positive force and driver for social, cultural & economic growth on this continent as well as transforming and enriching societies and inspiring change.

The language of design is a universal language of structured creativity & unites us, even though we are from different cultures & backgrounds & she believes design builds bridges between cultures and breaks down boundaries as there are more commonalities than differences. As designers, Dorothy believes we need to be solution providers & understand the significance of design as breaking boundaries in design, innovation & sustainability, always designing in CONTEXT.

She has a heartbeat for the continent of Africa & her 30 years’ experience working in Africa has resulted in a deep understanding and insight into the continent’s creative energy as well as the potential, the opportunities & challenges we face on the continent.

Winning the World’s Best Interior Designer Award for both Classical and Contemporary interior Design at Royal Ascot, England, were two of the highlights of her career.

Dorothy has won numerous South African interior design awards and has featured on Top Billing over 20 times and was the Spotlight Designer at Decorex Johannesburg.

On the business front, Dorothy was one of 5 finalists in The South African Businesswomen of the Year and also received an award In Recognition of Achievement for South Africa’s Best Entrepreneurs.

Dorothy is actively involved in Interior Design Education having trained up over 2,000 students from all walks of life. She encourages design education & development across Africa. She is passionate about empowering others, and sharing her knowledge, and expertise to inspire a love for good design. As part of her vision for this area of the business, she is now offering online masterclasses as well as face to face design & décor workshops on Interior Design & Décor Basics.

Together with other Design professionals and professors worldwide, Dorothy contributed to the book “The Interior Design Professional Guide for Africa & The Middle East” which is being translated into different languages.

Dorothy is a long-standing member of WPO (Womens’ Presidents Organization).

DD Ascot, England, was one of the highlights of her career.

Hotel & Hospitality show:  19 – 21 May 2022

Dorothy will be part of the IID Panel Discussion discussing designing into the future for hotels, to ensure that guests’ experience is one of quality.