Vern Yip

Vern Yip, HGTV Design Star judge and designer for the annual HGTV Urban Oasis home, is an award-winning architectural and interior designer who gained national acclaim for his expertise in transforming homes and restaurants in his private design practice and on primetime television.

Vern runs his own design company in Atlanta, Vern Yip Designs, and vernyip.com, where design tips are dispensed with consumer value in mind. With a Bachelor of Arts in economics from The University of Virginia, a Master of Science degree in management and a master’s degree in architecture from The Georgia Institute of Technology, Vern has used his varied educational background to build a distinguished business. His creations and room transformations range in budget from frugal to eight-figure projects for high-end clients, including the design for a high-profile Oscar party in 2006. His eclectic style is influenced from his world travels, which include childhood trips to Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Vern, who describes himself as a classic overachiever, has garnered an impressive list of design awards, such as the 2003 Distinguished Southerner Award from Southern Living magazine, 2000 Southeast Designer of the Year, 1999 Best New Restaurant for Fusebox restaurant in Atlanta and 1999 Best New Night Club for DeuxPlex Bistro and Night Club in Atlanta. In addition, he has been prominently featured in various publications such as Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times and USA Today. He is frequently seen on such television shows as Today, The Early Show, Oprah, CNN and Live! With Regis and Kelly.

Vern continues to be involved in nonprofit efforts and has served as honorary chair for ‘Eleven – the Event,’ the 2009 fundraiser for The Ulman Cancer Fund, where he established the Vera Yip Memorial Scholarship in honor of his mother. He also works closely with UNICEF to help raise awareness of the needs of children around the world. Since 2009, Vern has designed the UNICEF snowflake ball in New York. In addition to the designing the organization’s 2011 ball, Vern also has been designated with the honor of lighting the UNICEF Snowflake that hangs above New York’s famed 5th Avenue.