About
Taj Hunter Waite is a designer and conscious living enthusiast best known for her design-savvy approach to combining global influences with modern luxury. Taj’s distinctive design sensibility is modern, with a fresh approach to incorporating texture, subtle pops of color and pattern with timeless pieces that result in a unique design aesthetic. Her practice also has an emphasis on the application of wellness design practices. This includes the idea that our personal spaces play a critical role in our well-being.
Taj began her career at The Architects Hall Designers, Inc. — an architecture and design firm in Miami, Florida. Throughout her 13 year tenure, she garnered a range of experience in the areas of interior design, business development, and project and operations management. In the latter years, she co-created a Business Outreach TV Program on Miami’s local WLRN Cable-Tap station titled “You and Your Architect” featuring local architects, significant projects throughout South Florida, and the design industries effects and value on everyday lives.
To date, Taj has completed design projects both internationally and within the United States. In 2005, her passion for sourcing unique objects led to her co-founding The Urban Collective — a lifestyle boutique that showcased limited edition crafts and objects d’art sourced globally with an emphasis on the continent of Africa, sustainability and social consciousness. She is also a former contributing writer for Success South Florida magazine with her featured column titled “Design Miami.”
In 2010, Taj was honored with the Success South Florida 40 Under 40 Leaders of Today and Tomorrow distinction. Her talents and work have also been featured in several publications such as Indulge Miami (the Miami Herald's luxury lifestyle magazine), WE Magazine for Women, Sun-Sentinel, Lioness Magazine, South Florida Caribbean News, Lonny Magazine, Domaine and many others.
In 2014, Taj launched her design blog which serves as a creative outlet. The site was also established to bring awareness to local and global initiatives that seek to uplift disadvantaged women – something Taj is extremely passionate about. In 2015, she was nominated for the internationally renowned Amara blog Awards.
Commencing in 2016, Taj achieved another goal in accepting the opportunity to serve as an Adjunct Professor in Interior Design. She accepted this role as a way to mentor and engage with young adults, as well as, mid-career changers searching for a similar face in an industry that is less than 10% women of color. She also uses the opportunity to teach entrepreneurship for creatives, essential business skills, how to responsibly brand yourself as a creative professional, as well as, fiscal responsibility.
Most recently, Taj was honored with the distinction of being a Top 30 Designer in South Florida by Housing Works and participated as one of their honorary designers in the 2019 Design On A Dime home decor benefit in the prestigious Miami Design District. Her vignette was one of almost thirty that helped to raise over $275,000 for charity towards the eradication of AIDS.
Currently based in Miami, Taj is a design graduate of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and earned her MBA from Nova Southeastern University. Her unique balance as a designer with strong business acumen not only serves her practice, she pays it forward with mentoring other creatives as well.