The Design Center at the Merchandise Mart and Luxe Interiors + Design magazine will present the second annual Chicago Interior Designer of the Year award on Thursday, February 7, 2013. Once again, Mercedes-Benz will serve as Title Sponsor of this premier Chicago design event, which recognizes and honors interior designers who have made an impact on the city’s design community. Tracy Hickman, president of Hickman Design Associates, was the recipient of the first annual Chicago Interior Designer of the Year award and celebrated her achievement with hundreds of attendees in early February.

This year’s nominees include ten of Chicago’s most recognized design firms: Larry Boeder of Lawrence Boeder Interior Design, Darcy Bonner of Darcy Bonner and Associates LLC, John Cannon and Cary Frank of Cannon Frank, Susan Fredman of Susan Fredman Design Group, Jessica Lagrange of Jessica Lagrange Interiors LLC, Gary Lee of Gary Lee Partners, Kara Mann of Kara Mann Design, Carlos Martinez of Gensler, Frank Ponterio of Frank Ponterio Interior Design, and Eva Quateman of Eva Quateman Interiors.

The ten nominees have been selected by a jury of Design Center and Luxe Interiors + Design representatives. Voting will take place via online public ballot through December 15, 2012. The winner will be announced at the Awards Gala on February 7 by Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine’s VP, Editor-in-Chief, Pamela Jaccarino.

“We’re very excited to partner once again with Luxe and honor these wonderful designers who are each incredibly talented and have propelled Chicago’s design industry to the highest echelon,” said Julia Chappell, Managing Director of Marketing for the Design Center. “We look forward to continuing this tradition each year in Chicago and celebrating the design community who support the many resources available at The Merchandise Mart.”

"Luxe Interiors + Design celebrates the work of Chicago designers, and we are delighted to partner with the Merchandise Mart for this annual awards event," said Pamela Jaccarino. "With so many top talents, selecting just one designer of the year is no easy feat. Each of the designer's work is inspiring."