As part of an ongoing effort to create a more inclusive and equitable industry, the International Association of Interior Design unveiled its Design Your World pilot program today – a six-week summer internship in Chicago that will provide BIPOC high school students interested in design with the tools of the trade.
Created in partnership with After School Matters, a Chicago-based nonprofit that offers arts programs to underserved teens, as well as OFS, 3form, Configura, and Mannington Commercial, Design Your World will welcome its first class of students on July 6. Correcting barriers in design education, the program will provide students with opportunities for mentorship and hands-on learning experience, setting them up for success.
For BIPOC students, knowing they have a place in the industry is crucial, notes Cheryl S. Durst, IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, adding that fostering participation at an early age often leads to enduring exploration. “This is an opportunity for these students to see themselves in design – understanding the ways in which they can bring their whole life experiences and identity into the world of design,” she continues.
Led by Ciera C. Payton, educator and chief interior designer at Desa Design Studio, the curriculum will focus on commercial design principles, such as crafting space plans, perfecting color palettes, and choosing materials, along with sessions on business practices, functional disciplines and pressing issues such as sustainability. Students will also gain an understanding of the importance of collaborating while expanding their professional networks via virtual sessions with BIPOC designers and two in-person field trips.
“Design, as I often say, is an act of sheer optimism. It creates new worlds and opens up worlds of possibilities,” adds Durst, who will be guest speaker alongside leaders from Mannington Commercial, Savannah College of Art and Design, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill to name a few.
Looking to the future, IIDA plans to establish Design Your World as a long-term program, expanding its reach into different regions while working closely with local affiliates. The pilot program will enable the group to develop a how-to guide this summer that will serve as a model for future iterations of the course. For more information on Design Your World, go here.