Design Direction
FARGO, ND - Sylvia Lunski is the founder and President of Design Direction Inc., an interior design firm specializing in interior design services and products for residential and commercial clients. '
Sylvia started Design Direction in 2005 as a home-based business, when a local home builder recruited her to provide design service and products for his clients. As demand grew, she opened a small retail showroom with additional products. Today, the business employs multiple designers, offers full interior-design services, and occupies a large retail showroom.
Over the years, Sylvia has overcome adversity including a 2008 downturn in the economy. She met the challenge by offering design seminars and joining the Realtors Association to get in front of as many potential clients as possible. In 2018, smoke from a nearby fire destroyed her inventory. Other business owners, with whom she had developed relationships, stepped up to offer warehouse space until she could repair her building. As with all businesses, the pandemic brought many challenges. Sylvia guided her team with safety first while maintaining quality service to clients.
Sylvia graduated from the SBA’s Emerging Leaders program in 2017. “The Emerging Leaders program is by far the best training I have taken,” Sylvia says. “Learning from peers on what they have encountered and how challenges were handled, has been huge for me. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about how to set goals, work on their business, taking it to the next level.”
Giving back to the community is something Sylvia is passionate about. She regularly volunteers her time, financial support, and interior design talent to multiple community organizations.
After a statewide competition, Sylvia was selected as SBA’s 2022 North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year. This annual award recognizes established small business owners who demonstrate staying power. Winners must also show growth in net worth and business expansion, increase in jobs and sales, response to adversity and contributions to community-oriented projects.