Robin Rigby Fisher
CMKBD, CLIPPS, CAPS |Â Interior Designer | Educator | Chief Architect Expert |Â
NKBA Educator of the Year
Robin Rigby Fisher is an interior designer, educator, and one of the most respected mentors in the kitchen and bath design industry.
With more than three decades of experience, Robin has worked across nearly every facet of the profession — including running her own design-build company, managing complex construction projects, and designing kitchens, baths, and interiors for residential clients.
Her career spans both hands-on practice and leadership in design education, giving her a rare perspective on how designers learn, grow, and build sustainable careers.
Today, Robin serves as Department Chair of Interior Design at Portland Community College, where she teaches design studio courses including lighting design, kitchen and bath design, Chief Architect, and professional practice. Through her teaching and mentoring, she has helped guide countless emerging designers into the profession.
A Leader in the Design Community
Robin’s influence extends far beyond the classroom.
 She was named National Educator of the Year by the National Kitchen & Bath Association, the first person to receive this honor, and was also recognized as one of KBDN’s Top 50 Innovators for her contributions to the industry.
Robin has contributed to national NKBA design guidelines and co-authored the book Sustainable Design for the Kitchen and Bath Designer, helping shape how sustainability is approached within the profession.
Throughout her career she has built award-winning design businesses, mentored design professionals across the country, and helped elevate the standards of kitchen and bath design education.
Within the design community, Robin is widely respected not only for her expertise, but for her generosity in helping others grow.
Many designers affectionately refer to her as the “Fairy Job Mother,” a reflection of the many careers she has helped launch, guide, and transform.
Why It Matters That Robin Is a Designer
Many software trainers understand the technical side of design programs but have never managed a real project.
Robin teaches differently.
Because she has spent decades designing kitchens and baths, running a design-build business, and managing construction projects, she understands exactly how drawings and documentation function in the real world.
Her Chief Architect training focuses not just on how the software works, but on how designers actually use it to communicate clearly with clients, contractors, and trades.
Designers who train with Robin don’t have to explain how their industry works.
 They’re learning from someone who has lived the same challenges — balancing creativity, technical documentation, client relationships, and construction realities.
That experience allows Robin to teach designers how to use technology and technical skills in ways that truly support successful projects.
 When you lead your projects with clarity, clients and contractors naturally follow.
You come first in your calendar
Your available time, energy, and focus determine how projects are scheduled — not the other way around.
Why This Work Matters
Great design ideas deserve to be clearly communicated and successfully built.
Robin’s work helps designers develop the technical confidence and practical skills needed to translate creativity into well-executed projects.
By strengthening both design education and professional mentorship, she continues to shape the future of the industry — one designer at a time.
