Rafael de Cárdenas received his B.A. from The Rhode Island School of Design and, following graduation, took a job at Calvin Klein, working for three years as a designer for the men’s collection. In 1999, he began pursuing an architecture degree at Columbia University, later transferring to UCLA where he received his Masters in architecture in 2002. His first project following graduation was working with the architect Greg Lynn on the redesign of the World Trade Center site. Their submission, a series of five buildings interconnected to create a cathedral-like space, was one of the six final entries. De Cárdenas then began work in the New York offices of special effects production house Imaginary Forces. As a creative director working on experience design projects, he oversaw a range of innovative concepts including the BMW Experience at their headquarters in Munich, and the HBO store in New York. In 2005, de Cárdenas opened his own design firm out of an office in New York’s Chinatown. His interest in creating environments with moods, as opposed to any specific style, has allowed him to work with an array of clients. Using color, light, and pattern, de Cárdenas has created artful, imaginative interiors for boutiques, restaurants and private residences in London, Rome, Athens, Chicago, Miami, New York, and The Hamptons. His work has been featured in Elle Décor, Vogue Paris, The New York Times, Surface and Metropolis in addition to others.