Dedicated, driven, innovative, professional. These are just a few words to describe IIDA’s 2025 Student of the Year, Nitya Reddy Cheruku, Student IIDA of the California College of the Arts (CCA) Campus Center. She is recognized for her passion, energy, and love of design seen throughout both her academic and leadership journey. She is someone who continuously looks for new innovative ways to approach design and serves as a resource to students just like her. In Cheruku’s eyes, design represents beauty and thoughtfulness — it’s everywhere all at once. “Design translates thought into form, crafting everything we consume, use, and move through, from the layout of a street to the texture of a doorknob.” She explains, “Though often unnoticed, it deeply influences how we feel, behave, and connect with our surroundings.” For Cheruku. design isn't just about aesthetics, it's about solving problems, telling stories, and making thoughtful decisions.

The recent grad looks back at her achievements as a student — every goal she set, she reached, making a mark on her professors and fellow students.

Served as Vice President of IIDA Campus Center

Cheruku was the Vice President of the CCA IIDA Campus Center, she advanced student engagement through facilitating the IIDA Skillshare Workshop. She developed tutorials for this workshop making a huge impact on students on all academic levels. Her unique ideas and efforts impressed many of her professors, pushing them to nominate her for IIDA Student of the Year. “As the interior design program assistant and interior design material studio monitor, Nitya has proven to be an invaluable asset to the program. Whether mentoring her peers or organizing events as the IIDA campus center vice president, her professionalism, organizational skills, and commitment to her peers are evident in everything she does,” said Margaux Schindler, assistant professor and chair of the interior design program at CCA | Co-Founder and Director, SIZL Studio.

Interned for Gensler

Cheruku was one of the only students from her program nominated and chosen for Gensler’s summer internship program. Her professors recognized her as an invaluable asset for the program through her innovative ideas as seen in her portfolio, and “Amidst Air” project which explored the use of air, light, and sound in design and was showcased at the 2023 Intersect Art and Design Fair in Palm Springs. Along with the project her portfolio review cleared the way for her nomination with her professors seeing how invaluable her thoughts and ideas would be to such a program.

Earned a prestigious scholarship

More recently, she was awarded the 2024 Angelo Donghia Foundation Senior Student National Scholarship, given to students entering their senior year to help to cover the cost of their final year of studies. Her project, “Woven Studio: Fashion Store & Makerspace,” which won her the award, was a concept developed for a fashion house for designer Prabal Gurung incorporating aspects of his life journey with design influences from Kathmandu (capital of Nepal) and New York City.

Made an impact outside of the classroom

A resource to students and faculty alike, her passion for creating inclusive environments and building connections made a big difference on campus. CCA Associate Professor and Co-Director at Digital Craft Lab Negar Kalantar, Ph.D says, “Beyond the classroom, Nitya's leadership and initiative have been instrumental in fostering a collaborative learning environment. She has actively engaged with her peers, providing mentorship and promoting a culture of shared growth and innovation. I am confident that Nitya's dedication, talent, and vision will continue to leave an indelible mark on the field of interior design.”

What's Next?

Winning the IIDA Student of the Year Award is an incredible honor for Cheruku. Devoting herself to her design work and the community around her has given her opportunities she will cherish always. “This award is more than a personal milestone, it’s a celebration of collaboration, mentorship, and the collective spirit of growth I’ve shared with peers, faculty, and the design industry,” she explains. “This recognition strengthens my belief that even small contributions can create real impact. I carry this honor with immense gratitude and as encouragement to continue designing with intention, curiosity, and a deep sense of responsibility.”

Looking towards the future, she says that she hopes to craft spaces that are visually compelling and rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and cultural resonance. Fostering environments that bring connection, healing, and belonging to its users. “I see myself not only as a designer, but as a listener, collaborator, and advocate — someone who contributes to a more thoughtful and empathetic built environment,” says Cheruku. “Ultimately, I hope to create work that is meaningful, responsive, and transformative, spaces that reflect who we are, where we’ve been, and what we dream of becoming.”

Learn more about the IIDA Student of the Year Award here