the early years
Evelina Urbonaite hails from a quaint beach town in the small Baltic nation of Lithuania, where she attended one of the premiere Arts schools in the country. Her early childhood immersion in dance and the Arts left a profound mark. A dancer from age six, she is instinctively attuned to the structure of physical environments, especially how their configuration influences the way bodies move through space. As a painter, she learned to be aware of the profound influence of form and color upon the human psyche. From an early age, she instilled in herself the certainty that creative endeavors can only be midwifed by a lattice of patience, rigor, dedication, and discipline.
education
After completing a Bachelor of Management and Business Administration from Lithuania, Evelina ventured to Chicago to pursue her passion for Interior Design. She successfully completed a BFA in Interior Design at Harrington College of Design, with a focus tailored to the hospitality industry. She was recognized for her outstanding performance, included in the Dean's List and graduated with Highest Honors.
professional
In her initial job as an intern at Nate Berkus Associates, she gained valuable experience in client relations while deepening her knowledge of sophisticated residential design, including kitchen and bath design. After joining Slick+Design, she rediscovered her true passion for hospitality and restaurant design while working on multiple projects across the city. Given the small size of the firm, she was immersed in all project stages and developed a strong expertise in all aspects of hospitality design.
At Aria Group Architects, she has worked on large-scale projects as part of multifunctional teams – learning how to deliver high-quality, innovative designs in a high-paced studio environment. Often working with long-standing clients with multiple locations, she excels at delivering location-tailored designs that are both bespoke while also retaining the client’s distinct visual identity. In addition to technical skills, as a Senior Designer, she has significant experience in mentoring junior colleagues as well as overseeing major projects for large-scale national accounts.
drawing inspiration
As someone who grew up on two continents, she travels with a passion and always looks around the world for sources of inspiration. In Chicago, she draws upon the world-class portfolio of restaurants to stay current and remains connected to a broader network of artists and art collectives. As part of this network, she has proudly created and installed custom installations for events at various Chicago venues, including Concord Music Hall, Metro, and Smartbar. The world is waiting to be reshaped by thoughtful design – it’s an honor to be a part of it.
