MILWAUKEE — JLA Architects is proud to announce that Genevieve (Gigi) Szeklinski has joined our team as a Senior Interior Designer. Gigi is an award-winning professional with over 25 years of combined experience as both an academic and a practitioner—she has worked across diverse project types, including higher education, office, K-12 schools, libraries, nonprofits, and entertainment. Her award-winning portfolio includes multiple ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) Design Awards and a 2025 Mayor’s Design Award in the City of Milwaukee. In her role at JLA, Gigi will provide design expertise to our clients on a variety of project types and sizes, as well as collaborating with our project and interior design teams.
In addition to her professional practice, Szeklinski has served as Department Chair and Associate Professor of Interior Architecture & Design at Mount Mary University, where she led a nationally accredited program. She is an active advocate for the profession, currently serving as Chair of the Interior Design Section of the State of Wisconsin A–E Board, and she has been a long-standing leader within the interior design community. Beyond her leadership roles, she’s also an experienced speaker, leading presentations for industry organizations like Women in Design MKE and ASID Wisconsin.
Vice President & Milwaukee Office Director, Steve Wagner, had this to say about the addition of Gigi:
“Gigi is a passionate and innovative design leader who promotes professional advocacy and interdisciplinary collaborations. Her commitment to developing client relationships and her passion for mentoring make her an invaluable addition to our interior design team.”
Gigi is a Certified Interior Designer (NCIDQ) and a Wisconsin Registered Interior Designer (WRID). She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, along with undergraduate degrees in architecture and interior design.
“I’m excited to join JLA because the firm embodies purpose-centered design in everything they do. From relationship-based development to individualized employee protocols to community outreach, JLA isn’t just in business to make great design (which they do) but make a difference,” said Szeklinski when asked what drew her to JLA.
Learn More About Gigi
What drew you to interior design as a career?
When I was a senior in high school, my parents built a house and let me participate in the design and material selections. I was hooked! To this day, I am amazed (and grateful) that I was given so much “design” freedom on the project. It allowed me to realize my passion.
Interior design is about the psychology of people within space. Most people think of interior design in relation to aesthetics (thank you, HGTV), but I have always found the functional side of interior design captivating. I love how a great design can positively impact people’s lives. A well-designed interior helps people heal faster, learn better, and feel more comfortable or empowered. The results of good design are tangible and quantifiable and not merely personal preference.
What’s your favorite (or most unique) project you’ve worked on and why?
That is a hard one. I have worked on so many wonderful projects each with unique characteristics and outcomes. More often, I recall the client or the design problem the project solved.
My favorite project story is from my daughter’s first day of high school. The first class of her first day was held in a classroom I designed 20 years before. The project was one of my first projects out of college. It was at my alma mater. The class was also taught by a teacher I had. I would never have imagined that one day my child would be starting high school in a space I designed.
What do you do for fun? Do you have any hobbies or special interests?
Spending time with my family is my ‘happy place’. I have been wonderfully blessed with an amazing husband and daughter, who are my heart. Any time with them is fun. Additionally, my parents, brothers and nieces provide me with ample enjoyable experiences.
Some of my hobbies are traveling, watching Brewers baseball, and learning more about horses to assist my daughter. I travel for leisure and exploration. Over the years, my family and I have visited over 20 MLB (Major League Baseball) stadiums and hope to visit the remaining ones.
Are you involved in the community? What causes mean the most to you?
I am on MATC’s Interior Design Advisory Board, a member of American Society of Interior Designers and the Interior Design Educators Council. Interior design advocacy is a cause I care deeply about and, as a profession, is often misunderstood. In everything I do, I try to bring a better awareness around the education, examination and experience needed to become a qualified interior designer.