about amy
​34 Years of Design - and Still Evolving
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As a solo practitioner, you have to be ready to wear many hats. Designer, project manager, problem solver, communicator, and client advocate are all part of the job.
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My path to Arroyo Design has been anything but straight.
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I moved from Puerto Rico to the mainland U.S. to study Interior Design at Iowa State University. At the time, I didn't speak English well, but I knew I wanted a career in design.
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After earning my BFA in Interior Design at Iowa State University, I continued my education at the University of Oregon, where I earned a Master's in Interior Architecture. A Graduate Teaching Fellowship helped fund my studies and allowed me to teach. This experience strengthened not only my design skills but also my ability to communicate ideas clearly.
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My career then took me to Portland, where I spent 13 years at architecture firms and built a strong foundation in interior architecture, documentation, coordination, and construction.
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I later moved to Los Angeles and spent seven years building and running my own design practice. From there, I went to Seattle, where I became Director of Interior Design for Mack Urban and worked on eight multifamily projects.
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Working on the ownership side changed the way I approach design. A successful project has to be beautiful, but it also has to work within budgets, schedules, construction realities, and long-term business goals.
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Then my husband and I did something completely different: we took two years off and sailed from Seattle to Zihuatanejo, Mexico. That experience reinforced something I still believe—sometimes stepping away gives you an entirely new perspective on where you want to go next.
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I eventually returned to the University of Oregon to earn a Master of Architecture while continuing to work in design and as an owner's representative.
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Today, I am building Arroyo Design in Tucson, bringing 30+ years of experience in interior architecture, design, project management, and construction to private residential, multifamily, senior housing, and boutique commercial projects in Arizona and beyond.
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My career has crossed architecture firms, private practice, development, construction, teaching, and project management. Those experiences let me see a project from more than one perspective—and guide clients from the first idea through the realities of building it.
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After 34 years, I still find design challenging, fresh, and deeply fulfilling.
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And I still believe the best spaces begin with curiosity, thoughtful problem-solving, and a willingness to see possibilities others may overlook.
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Let's create something meaningful together.
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I welcome opportunities to collaborate on private residential, multifamily, senior housing, and boutique commercial projects, as well as test fits and repositioning work. If you're looking for a thoughtful design partner who can guide your project from concept through construction, I'd love to hear from you.
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