Maya Romanoff, the director of the Chicago-based Maya Romanoff Corporation, passed away last night at the age of 72.

Romanoff delved into the world of design at the University of California in Berkley in the 1960s. Through traveling extensively throughout his postgraduate years, Romanoff became intrigued in textile design and particularly tie-dye. By pushing technological boundaries, Romanoff turned his affinity for organic materials into the surface covering products seen today. 

In 1969, the Maya Romanoff Corporation was established and has since grown to more than 50 employees. The company’s projects include the Green Room at the Kodak Theater for the 2007 Academy Awards, Tiffany, the new Playboy Club in Los Angeles, Phantom of the Opera Theater in Los Angeles, the palace of the Crown Prince of Dubai, and Harrod’s.

Maya Romanoff was the recipient of countless awards, including the ICON of Industry Scholarship Award, presented in honor of his lifetime achievements in November 2006 by NEWH, Inc., the Hospitality Industry Network. Other awards include House & Garden’s Designers’ Best, Hospitality Design‘s Best of Show in Hong Kong, Las Vegas, and Miami, and NEOCON’s Best of Show, and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair’s Editor’s Award.
