For 25 years, the IIDA Texas/Oklahoma’s 2025 SHIFT Student Conference has been bringing students together to cultivate leadership skills, grow their network, and experience first-hand a conference aimed at preparing them for post-grad life. From across the U.S, students, educators, and design professionals gather together to lead, grow, inspire, and unite interior design students who are the future of the industry. SHIFT helps equip them for their future by offering them a multi-day professional enrichment experience. Students, educators and design professionals engage in a variety of events including presentations, firm tours, portfolio reviews and more. Each day is designed to enhance students' knowledge of the design profession — identifying different routes to take in this field, and providing them with tools to grow their network. Many students that attended last year returned with an eagerness to learn and offer insights of their own.

IIDA Texas/Oklahoma Board Student Representative, Haley Boyd, Student IIDA, Oklahoma State University (OSU), was a part of the SHIFT committee this year and had this to say about her experience, “IIDA is the reason I am who I am today, it's the reason I’ve grown so much in such a short period of time. Last year at SHIFT, I was shy and less involved. This year, I’m more confident and connected to the industry and I am leading the students that were in my shoes last year.” As a current senior at OSU and the president of her IIDA Campus Center, Boyd was able to use the knowledge she learned at last year’s SHIFT to support and guide students just like her.

From exploring firms and showrooms to CEU offerings, this year's SHIFT taught students the importance of building your network and showed design professionals how impactful SHIFT is to creating a pathway for the next generation of interior designers. Hear from two students who have experienced SHIFT for the first time this year:

“I wanted to come to SHIFT to be able to experience a new side of IIDA. I wanted to expose myself to a different market of representatives, potential future coworkers, and employers.”
Kelly Garoutte, Student IIDA, Appalachian State University, Past-President of IIDA Carolinas Campus Center

“My favorite part of SHIFT is gaining a new understanding of the interior design profession and all it encompasses. I’m taking home new knowledge and skills as I transition from college to my first job after graduation this year.”
Addie Johnson, Student IIDA, Winthrop University

Learn more about programs and opportunities for IIDA Student members here