Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqui Medina
Hi Jacqui, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been redesigning spaces since I was a kid—rearranging furniture, swapping out sheets, creating something new even when I couldn’t buy anything new. When I finally saved up for paint, I picked what I thought was a trendy grey. It dried into a muted, yet somehow still aggressively bright, blue. Lesson learned. (Thankfully, I got better at picking colors—just made an Instagram post about it: @StudioAkiDesign)
That instinct—to shape an environment that feels like you—is what led me to Studio Aki. Design, to me, isn’t just about making something look good. It’s about creating a space that gives you permission to be your most authentic self. The right environment can shift how you move, how you feel, how you exist. And it’s all about balance. Masculine meets feminine. Playful meets refined. Creative expression meets real functionality. Because high-end doesn’t have to be stiff, and playful doesn’t have to mean chaotic.
Then there’s Lotus Rising LA. After the 2025 wildfires, I saw firsthand how many families—especially those who had inherited their homes decades ago—were left with nothing. Insurance wasn’t enough, and rebuilding felt impossible. So, I started a nonprofit focused on getting them back home. We’re a grassroots organization, built by and for the community, working toward official nonprofit status—because the people who make LA what it is should have a future here, not be pushed out of it.
That sense of community runs deep for me. I train at Krav Maga Worldwide in Sherman Oaks, where I met my husband, and Jean Jacques Machado in Woodland Hills, where I practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These places aren’t just gyms—they’re tight-knit communities built on resilience, trust, and showing up for one another. In a way, it all connects. Whether it’s rebuilding homes, designing spaces, or training on the mats, it’s about the people—the lives we shape, the connections we build, and the communities we strengthen.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. But I don’t think any path worth taking ever is.
Studio Aki started with a little curious tickle—an idea that turned into a part-time gig, then a side hustle, then my full-time career. Fourteen years ago (2009), I decided to start over—I went back to school and pursued what made me happy. Twelve years ago (2011), I started Studio Aki as a part-time project. Ten years ago (2013), I turned down a six-figure salaried position, took a leap of faith, and quit my job to do this full-time. Four years ago (2019), I incorporated.
But if I’m being honest, Studio Aki also came with massive self-doubt. Imposter syndrome sat heavy on my shoulders. It wasn’t some unwavering confidence that kept me going—it was trusting that other people were right when they said I had something. Believing them more than I believed myself at times. I had to learn how to trust my instincts, own my talent, and step into the belief that I belonged here.
There isn’t a roadmap for Lotus Rising LA—just a need, and a commitment to do something about it.
I always joke that this is my first nonprofit—like I had a lineup of them planned or something. But really, families who had built their lives here, some for generations, were suddenly left with nothing after the 2025 wildfires. Insurance wasn’t enough. The cost of rebuilding felt impossible. So, I put the weight of it on my shoulders—one person trying to help thousands of families find a way home.
But real change takes more than just willpower and dreams of a better tomorrow. It takes resources. It takes people and organizations willing to stand up and say, “We’re not letting these families fall through the cracks.” It takes those who understand that rebuilding isn’t just about homes—it’s about keeping communities intact, about making sure LA doesn’t become a place where only the ultra-wealthy can recover from disaster.
I believe Lotus Rising LA can prove what’s possible when a community refuses to let its own be displaced. We’ve already seen how grassroots efforts can create real impact—but with the right partners, we can take this further. We can rebuild faster, help more families, and set a new standard for what recovery looks like.
And we’re just getting started. Our first round of funding launches at the end of this month (March), and this is where the real work begins. If you’ve ever wanted to be part of something from the ground up—something that directly shapes the future of LA—this is your moment. Whether it’s through partnerships, sponsorships, or major giving, the opportunity to make an impact starts now.
Join us at www.LotusRisingLA.org.
Through it all, Christian, my husband, and my pooch, Skully, have been my biggest support. The ones who keep me steady when things feel overwhelming. Who remind me why I started in the first place.
And then there’s the personal side of it all. It’s not about knowing every move in advance. It’s about showing up, stepping in, and figuring it out as you go. You train, you fail, you get back up. Some days you get tossed, some days you hold your ground. You take the hits, you learn, and you trust that the right people will be there when it matters. That applies in martial arts, in design, in life.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Studio Aki & Lotus Rising LA?
Studio Aki is my interior design firm, and Lotus Rising LA is my nonprofit. Both started from the same belief—that spaces shape us, and everyone deserves one that feels like home.
At Studio Aki, I specialize in high-end interiors that balance refinement with personality—luxury with a playful twist. Masculine meets feminine, bold meets understated, playful meets intentional. I’m known for designs that feel effortless yet deeply considered, always tailored to the people who live in them. My clients don’t come to me for something trendy; they come to me for something that feels like them.
Lotus Rising LA was born out of a different kind of need. After the 2025 wildfires, I saw families—especially those with generational homes—facing impossible choices. Rebuilding wasn’t just expensive; for many, it felt entirely out of reach. Lotus Rising LA exists to change that. We’re a grassroots organization ensuring that the families who built their lives here aren’t forced to leave because they can’t afford to rebuild.
What sets both apart? They’re personal. Studio Aki isn’t about following design rules, and Lotus Rising LA isn’t about waiting for permission to make a difference. Both are about creating something that truly belongs—to my clients, to this city, to the people who call it home.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I don’t think mentorship always looks the way we expect it to. We imagine finding one person who will guide us, open doors, and give us all the answers. But in my experience, mentorship has been more about trusting the people who see something in you before you see it in yourself.
That’s exactly how I met Victor Corona, AIA, my architecture professor at College of the Canyons. I wasn’t looking for a job—I just genuinely enjoyed learning what he was teaching. He saw something in me and approached me with an opportunity. Over the years, I’ve worked with him on homes, offices, and restaurants like Mendocino Farms, Urth Caffé, Café Gratitude, Catch LA, and Casa Madera. Eventually, my mentor became a trusted colleague—he’s now the architect consultant for Lotus Rising LA.
Victor has 30 years of experience in architecture, with a career that spans landmark projects like the Los Angeles Convention Center Expansion, Habitat for Humanity’s first multi-family project in LA, and major commercial developments. His expertise has been invaluable—not just in my growth as a designer, but in shaping how Lotus Rising LA is built. Having someone with his level of experience guiding the architectural aspects of our work reinforces what we’re doing: rebuilding homes in a way that is thoughtful, efficient, and truly lasting.
The photo attached is from 2017, at the Urth Caffé groundbreaking ceremony in Hawthorne, where Victor, his wife Myriam, and I celebrated the start of their 31,000 SF headquarters.
And then there are the people you don’t expect to meet but somehow become an integral part of your journey. That’s how I met Dr. Christina Holtz—not through design, not through nonprofit work, but on the mats. She’s an emergency medicine specialist, a brown belt under Jean Jacques Machado, and runs Valley Hot Yoga in Woodland Hills with her husband, Don. She’s the type of person who will choke you out one minute and resuscitate you the next—and somehow make you laugh while doing it. Over time, she’s become one of my biggest supporters, bringing that same grit, heart, and energy to everything she does—including Lotus Rising LA, where she now serves on the board.
As for networking? Show up where your people are. For me, that means being part of design communities, but also training in Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Some of the strongest connections I’ve made—both personally and professionally—have come from places that had nothing to do with work. When you find the right circles, you naturally start meeting the people who align with your values and vision.
So if you’re looking for a mentor? Stay open to the people already in your corner. If you’re looking to network? Go where your energy is pulled. The right people will find you there.
Pricing:
- Lotus Donations: Accepting end of March
Contact Info:
- Website: www.StudioAkiDesign.com & www.LotusRisingLA.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/StudioAkiDesign & instagram.com/LotusRisingLA
- Facebook: facebook.com/StudioAkiDesign & facebook.com/LotusRisingLA
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-medina
Image Credits
Don Holtz Photography
Doncel y Alcoba
Ryan Pepple, Calabasas Creative
Micky Obradovic
