Designing with Intention: Mariana Burgos Promoted to Associate

Wilmot Sanz is proud to announce the promotion of Mariana Burgos to Associate. Over her 11 years with the firm, Mariana has become a driving force within the healthcare interiors team—known for her thoughtful creativity, commitment to intentional design, and passion for pushing projects beyond the expected.

For Mariana, the promotion represents both an exciting milestone and a meaningful expansion of responsibility

“I’m excited to expand my role within the interior design team and operate at a higher level,” she says. “In this role, there’s more responsibility—not just to our clients, but to anyone in the firm who’s trying to grow.

Designing with Intention

Mariana’s work has consistently challenged the idea that healthcare interiors must be purely functional or formulaic. Instead, she sees opportunity—within standards and constraints—to create environments that are both artistic and deeply personal to each client.

Healthcare interiors, she believes, are entering a new era.

She is energized by the chance to push the limits of design while still honoring the simplicity and clarity that healthcare spaces require. For Mariana, it’s about testing the firm’s capabilities—rethinking how interiors are conceptualized and ensuring each project speaks directly to a client’s brand and mission, rather than feeling like a formulaic solution.

That approach includes incorporating more curves and organic shapes, exploring ceilings as playful and interactive design elements, and embracing richer material palettes.

She envisions more diverse materiality and vibrant color—particularly in waiting spaces. While often associated with pediatric environments, Mariana believes color can play a powerful psychological role across all healthcare settings.

“More cheerful, healing environments can help people process big emotions—whether they’re patients or caregivers,” she explains.

Material choices are evolving as well. Mariana is interested in contemporary woods—lighter tones or even deeper, moodier finishes—moving away from more traditional selections like cherry. It’s part of a broader effort to establish new design standards that feel fresh, relevant, and timeless.

From Execution to Storytelling

A defining shift in Mariana’s recent work has been earlier involvement in projects—taking on more responsibility from the very beginning of the design process. Instead of stepping in later, she is helping shape concepts from day one, developing schematic drawings and sketches that frame a cohesive narrative.

“We want to always be intentionally designing,” she says. “Creating a concept from the beginning allows us to tell a story.”

That storytelling mindset has strengthened the team’s ability to understand a client’s history, mission, and aspirations before putting pen to paper. It ensures that each project is grounded in purpose and shaped by insight—not simply by programmatic requirements.

Growing the Team, Growing the Firm

As Associate, Mariana is also eager to mentor and support emerging talent within Wilmot Sanz. She sees this new role as a chance to pass along knowledge, share lessons learned, and help cultivate the next generation of designers.

She is equally enthusiastic about the growth of the interiors team itself—ensuring new ideas are welcomed, and design excellence remains the priority.

With over a decade of experience at Wilmot Sanz, Mariana’s promotion reflects both her creative leadership and her commitment to the firm’s future. As she steps into this expanded role, clients and colleagues alike can expect continued innovation in healthcare interiors—designs that are intentional, expressive, and rooted in story.

Mariana’s journey is a testament to the power of evolving responsibility, collaborative growth, and a belief that even in healthcare, design can be both healing and inspiring.