In an era dominated by mass production and social media aesthetics, one designer stands as a passionate advocate for returning to the values that created history's greatest artistic achievements.
Debby Gomulka's declaration that today's authentic designers are "modern day Michelangelo's" isn't hyperbole—it's a call to revolution. Her philosophy challenges an industry increasingly driven by convenience and conformity, advocating instead for the individual vision, cultural depth, and master craftsmanship that defined the Renaissance masters. This approach has positioned her as a leader in an international movement to elevate design standards and restore the profession's connection to its artistic heritage.
The Philosophy Behind the Renaissance Revival
Debby Gomulka's invocation of Renaissance masters as a model for contemporary designers stems from a fundamental belief about the role of creativity in human culture. "We're calling ourselves the modern day Michelangelo's, because back in the day, that's what they did. It was the Michelangelo's, the Da Vinci's, the painters, the ancient architects, Da Vinci. So, that's where it comes from. That's where the essence of my design philosophy comes from," she explains, drawing direct connections between today's design challenges and those faced by history's greatest artists.
The Renaissance comparison goes beyond romantic idealization to address practical realities about how creative work was valued and executed. Gomulka draws inspiration from an era when master artists were supported to create work of lasting cultural significance, contrasting this with today's tendency toward mass production and trend-following.
"Interior design has been around since the beginning of time going back to Egypt. When people were designing the pyramids, it was there," Gomulka notes, placing contemporary interior design within a continuum of human creative expression that spans millennia. This historical perspective challenges the modern tendency to view interior design as mere decoration rather than as a form of cultural expression worthy of serious artistic consideration.
The Renaissance model also emphasizes the importance of individual vision over mass appeal. Rather than creating work designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience, authentic design emerges from singular artistic vision supported by clients who value exceptional achievement. Similarly, Gomulka argues that today's most meaningful design work emerges when clients and designers commit to authentic creative expression rather than following predetermined formulas.
Her critique extends to what she calls "fast food design"—the industry's increasing reliance on mass-produced solutions that prioritize speed and cost over quality and individuality. This approach treats design as a commodity to be consumed rather than as a form of artistic expression capable of enriching human experience over decades or centuries.
….The budgets are a little bit bigger because you have more handmade products, commissioned art becomes hand-crafted products, compared to everything being so mass-produced….
. You can get it online these days. You can go to Amazon and find anything, but that's the opposite of what we do. It's very custom," she acknowledges. This commitment to custom work requires clients who understand that exceptional quality demands exceptional investment, much like the Renaissance patrons who supported master artists.
The Renaissance revival philosophy also emphasizes the integration of multiple disciplines within individual practice. Just as Leonardo da Vinci combined engineering, painting, and scientific observation, Gomulka's approach integrates historic preservation, textile design, education, and community advocacy within a unified creative vision. This interdisciplinary approach produces work that operates on multiple levels simultaneously, creating spaces that serve functional needs while contributing to cultural dialogue.
Her involvement with the Forum of Innovative Design Association (F-IND) connects her to designers who share this philosophy. The organization provides a platform for professionals committed to authentic creative expression, creating a contemporary network focused on elevating design standards.
Debby Gomulka's Mission: Elevating Design Standards in the Digital Age
The challenge of maintaining Renaissance values in the digital age requires active resistance to forces that prioritize viral appeal over lasting quality. Gomulka's critique of contemporary design culture focuses particularly on the influence of social media platforms that reward visually striking but ultimately superficial approaches to interior design.
"Just exactly what I teach my students today, my interns, don't be afraid to push your creativity. Go for it. You've got a creative idea, you've got a vision. Don't try to fit in. It's creative. Creative is abstract. It's not what everybody else is doing," she advises, encouraging emerging designers to resist the pressure toward homogenization that characterizes much of today's design landscape.
Her concern about "Instagram designers who have no formal education" reflects broader questions about professional standards and the value of comprehensive design education. While social media platforms have democratized access to design inspiration and marketing, they have also created environments where visual appeal often matters more than technical competence, historical knowledge, or understanding of how spaces actually function for daily living.
The proliferation of what she terms "cookie cutter" design approaches represents a fundamental threat to the profession's artistic integrity. When design solutions become standardized and mass-produced, the field loses its capacity to respond to individual client needs and cultural contexts—the very qualities that distinguish authentic design work from mere decoration.
"It goes beyond custom. It's definitely tailor-made just for that specific client project," she emphasizes, describing an approach that treats each commission as a unique creative challenge rather than an opportunity to apply predetermined solutions. This level of customization requires both technical skill and cultural sophistication that can't be acquired through social media tutorials or quick online courses.
Her advocacy for elevated standards extends beyond individual projects to encompass broader questions about how the design profession positions itself within contemporary culture. By connecting today's authentic designers to Renaissance masters, she argues for recognition of interior design as a form of cultural expression worthy of serious support and investment.
The international scope of this mission reflects her understanding that design standards are global concerns. Through her work with F-IND and other professional organizations, she contributes to conversations about design education, professional ethics, and the relationship between creativity and commerce that span multiple continents.
Her approach to education, developed through her teaching experience at Cape Fear Community College and continued through mentorship of emerging designers, emphasizes pushing creative boundaries alongside developing technical skills. "This is where we have so much on the internet that all looks the same. Anybody can be a designer," she observes, highlighting the distinction between genuine expertise and superficial familiarity with current trends.
The Renaissance revival mission also encompasses advocacy for traditional craftsmanship and building techniques that produce superior results despite higher initial costs. This commitment to quality over convenience requires ongoing education of both clients and fellow professionals about the long-term value of authentic materials and construction methods.
Her business evolution from local practice to international influence demonstrates how individual commitment to excellence can create broader cultural impact. Rather than adapting her standards to market pressures, she has consistently advocated for approaches that honor both historical precedent and contemporary innovation.
The ultimate goal of this mission extends beyond the design profession to encompass broader questions about how contemporary culture values creativity, craftsmanship, and individual expression. By positioning authentic designers as "modern day Michelangelo's," Gomulka argues for a cultural shift that recognizes exceptional creative work as essential to human flourishing rather than as luxury indulgence.
As she prepares for her role with the White House Historical Association and continues her work with the international design movement, her advocacy for Renaissance values offers a vision of how contemporary design can achieve the cultural significance and lasting influence that characterized history's greatest artistic achievements. Her community of fellow professionals represents the beginning of a movement that could reshape how society understands and supports authentic creative expression in the digital age.