Emily Kreber
AKBD
Design Director – City Design
Emily Kreber is the Design Director at City Design in West Des Moines, a division of Drury Design. She is a vital part of the Drury Design Leadership Team, where she is actively involved in planning the business’s growth, developing company policy, and training designers, in addition to offering design assistance across the organization.
Emily’s passion is creating beautiful, functional spaces that assist in making lifelong memories. She leads City Design clients through the entire design/build process for their full kitchen, bath, and whole-house remodeling projects across the greater Des Moines area and beyond. She also assists showroom clients with the selection of crucial finishing elements, including lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, tubs, tile, and vanities.
A Passion Rooted in Family and Art
Emily’s love for design is rooted in her family history and lifelong interests. Her father, a tool and die drafter, introduced her early to AutoCAD and the technical side of design. Simultaneously, her grandparents, who were antique dealers with a shop full of unique pieces, sparked her appreciation for character, craftsmanship, and storytelling through interiors.
Initially drawn to engineering for its precision, Emily discovered her true calling when a high school project revealed she could combine her love of CAD and interiors through drafting floor plans. She pursued this vision at Iowa State University, earning her BFA in Interior Design. During her studies, she spent a semester abroad in Italy, where she participated in the prestigious Venice Biennale art exhibition – an experience that deepened her understanding of design as both an art form and a cultural connector. Today, Emily remains connected to her alma mater, Iowa State University, occasionally returning as a design student alum to review student projects.
Recent Projects By
Emily Kreber, AKBD
