2026 IA Interior Architects Diversity in Design Scholarship
IA Interior Architects established the IA Interior Architects Diversity in Design Scholarship in partnership with the IIDA Foundation to support and elevate students that represent diverse voices and perspectives in interior design, with the goal of enriching diversity of thought and practice across the industry.
A diverse design community drives innovation and inclusion by incorporating different experiences, voices, and ideas, and as the future of design, students are a major force pushing the industry towards more diverse and inclusive workplaces.
For questions on this award program, email foundation@iida.org.
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Submissions Open: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Submissions Close: Friday, December 4, 2026
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Submission Requirements:
The IA Interior Architects Diversity in Design scholarship program invites interior design and architecture students to write and submit a brief essay of up to 500 words on the outlined topic below.
For generations, the built environment has often been shaped around assumptions about how people move, think, work, connect, and experience space. But there is no single or “average” human experience. As our communities become increasingly diverse, designers have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to rethink those assumptions.
For this year’s scholarship essay, we are asking students to consider:
How can a deeper understanding of human differences shape more inclusive and meaningful environments? Drawing from your own perspective and lived experience, what would you challenge the design profession to reconsider, and how could doing so create environments where more people can thrive?