For four years Dayna Kafantaris worked for Westfield in a multifunctional design role based out of the headquarters in the heart of Los Angeles.

Westfield Corporate is a publicly traded company who operates one of the world's largest retail real estate corporations. 

Responsibilities:

Created design presentations and/or design direction reviews for the following centers: 
 
Santa Anita
University Town Center (redevelopment - Phase 1 $600 million, Phase 2 $400 million)
North County
Plaza Bonita
Horton Plaza
Plaza Camino Real
Parkway
Palm Desert
Roseville
Vancouver
Southcenter
Mainplace
The Village
Fashion Square
Valley Fair                                                                                                   
Century City (One of the handful of designers on the $1 billion redevelopment of the center)

Conducted preliminary and final drawing reviews, and provided design direction to inline retail, restaurant, and kiosk tenants. 

Worked with employees from all levels of the organization in a cross-functional capacity for tenant coordination, design, leasing, development, and operations teams.

Designed, streamlined, managed the nationwide tenant criteria publications of Westfield's retailers, restaurants, and dining terraces.

Analyzed income gains and losses through potential adjustments to base building and or lease outline documents thru a retail storefront and base building study of Westfield centers.

Dayna Kafantaris moved to Los Angeles and immediately started consulting for Gensler. Gensler is a global, privately held architecture and interior design firm with over 41 locations. They are organized into separate practice areas, which focus on specific market sectors. Gensler sees design as a strategy in action, and are focused on results.

A little glimpse into her past responsibilities with this well-known firm:

Worked in a technical construction administration capacity for the four story beachfront boutique resort, The Shore Hotel. This eco-conscious, contemporary hotel overlooks the beach and is just blocks from the Santa Monica Pier. This $62 million hotel was the first hotel in the city to be awarded the Gold LEED Certification.

Performed in a design role on the renovation and an expansion of a private social club called Hillcrest Country Club located in the Cheviot Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Hillcrest was opened 95 years ago in 1920 and was the first country club for the city's Jewish Community.   

Created interior design concepts for six residential tower lobbies called the LiJing Lobbies, which are located in Hangzhou, China. Also, worked on schematic designs for the residential mansion on Little Saint James located in the Virgin Islands off the east end of St. Thomas.

Through the skill of visual design direction and creative innate talents, Dayna Kafantaris has consulted on a number of conceptual designs for inventions, paintings, and other items of an artisanal nature beyond the architectural and interior design realms. 

She created patent illustrative drawings for inventors and lawyers, such as Dickstein Shapiro LLP, Kafantaris Law Offices, Myers Bigel PA, and Dr. Eric Yan. Additionally, Kafantaris has helped guide clients on how to gain protection for their inventions and lead them to the right resources, whether it be local or international patents.

Dayna Kafantaris has designed custom paintings for the owner's of Foley Family Wines, as well as many other individuals across the U.S.

She created visually compelling artistic effects for a television series aired on NBC Universal's SyFy network.

With over 19 years of experience in the architectural and interior design field Dayna Kafantaris has an eclectic taste for interior design, from a love of traditional, antique, classical looks to a passion for mid-century modern, industrial modern, bohemian, and contemporary chic to transitional looks. 

Kafantaris has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and is a proud Wolverine alumnus.

She also has a Master's in Architecture from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

The U.S. Green Building Council has also recognized Dayna's Leadership in Energy and Environmental design with her Legacy Accredited Professional credentials for sustainable design. 

She is currently an Advisory Board Member for the University of California’s Executive Design Thinking Program. The program has strengthened her ability to serve as a facilitator, helping businesses uncover potential pain points and collaborate effectively to guide teams toward workable solutions using a human-centric approach. In the past, she has attended evening classes at UCLA, which guides her with marketing basics.

Dayna Kafantaris has worked with various architectural firms in Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, and Southern California. She currently resides in Ohio with her husband Theo and two lovable daughters.