October 3, 2025
Event Recap
We Heard You: Celebrating Partnership at the 2025 Patron VIP Luncheon
City Club, San Francisco
On October 3, 2025, members of the IIDA Northern California community gathered high above the city at the beautiful City Club of San Francisco for a celebration rooted in gratitude, connection, and shared purpose. The 2025 Patron VIP Luncheon honored the incredible partners whose support fuels IIDA NC’s mission—advancing design through advocacy, professional growth, and community.
This year marked a milestone: 45 patrons strong, the largest group in the chapter’s history! The event theme, “We Heard You,” captured the spirit of the afternoon — a recognition that patron feedback shaped the newly refreshed 2026 Patron Program, designed to be clearer, simpler, and more impactful.
Shared Purpose and Future Vision
From start to finish, the event radiated warmth and optimism. Attendees mingled and reconnected, sharing ideas about how to continue building community and advancing advocacy together. The energy in the room reflected genuine appreciation and pride — a shared acknowledgment that the design community is stronger when patrons, partners, and members unite around a common vision.
“The setting was stunning, the program inspiring, and the message clear — IIDA NorCal truly values its patrons,” shared one attendee.
As the afternoon wrapped, guests left not only full of gratitude, but also energized for what’s next — a future built on listening, collaboration, and purpose.
An Elegant Afternoon of Connection and Appreciation
The City Club’s art deco interiors and panoramic views set a stunning backdrop for the celebration. Over lunch, chapter leaders shared heartfelt words of thanks, reflecting on how deeply patron support sustains the chapter’s initiatives and community impact.
A highlight of the afternoon was a thought-provoking Advocacy presentation by Adam Newton and Laura [Last Name], who inspired attendees to consider the collective power of design professionals to influence policy and champion design excellence across Northern California. Their conversation sparked thoughtful dialogue and reminded everyone that advocacy isn’t just a responsibility — it’s a shared passion.
Turning Feedback Into Action
One of the most exciting moments came with the unveiling of the 2026 Patron Program, a direct result of feedback from the patron community. Guided by the message “We Heard You,” the new program emphasizes clarity, accessibility, and value — ensuring every patron understands how their partnership supports tangible, positive outcomes for the design profession.
“Hosting our patrons at the City Club was an absolute joy,” said Lisa Bieringer, IIDA NC Vice President of Sponsorship. “The space, the energy, and the people all reflected the heart of who we are as a community. We heard our patrons, and we turned that feedback into action — creating a Patron Program that’s clearer, simpler, and more meaningful than ever.”
A Record Year, A Bright Future
The 2025 Patron VIP Luncheon achieved everything it set out to do and more: celebrating patrons, unveiling an evolved program, and reaffirming advocacy as a cornerstone of IIDA Northern California’s mission. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, underscoring the event’s success in fostering both appreciation and momentum for the year ahead.
A heartfelt thank-you to all 45 patrons for your continued belief in our work, and to Lisa Bieringer and Dylan Phaneuf, our Sponsorship leaders, for guiding this program with vision, collaboration, and care.
Here’s to another year of creativity, partnership, and shared purpose — and to a future shaped by voices that are heard, valued, and celebrated.
If you’re interested in supporting our efforts in 2026, please take a look at our 2026 Annual Patron Program or contact our sponsorship team.