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IIDA Student Design Competition

03 SDC Hero

Sponsored by OFS and Carolina, the IIDA Student Design Competitions honors design concepts from students throughout the world who are currently enrolled in an interior design or interior architecture program or institution. Established in 2013, this competition has become an essential part of interior design curriculum for college or university professors worldwide, as they include the project in their courses, or encourage their students to apply as independent study.

Who Should Submit?
This competition is open to current interior design and architecture students.

Why Should I Submit?

Enter for the chance to have your work evaluated by world-renowned interior designers and architects like Lilliana Alvarado, IIDA, Alexander Bonner, IIDA, and Corey Cappello. Projects are judged on excellence in aesthetics, design, creativity, and function as well as the suitability of the design solution to the project challenge and the successful integration of the elements of design.

Winners are featured on IIDA.org, recognized in the spring issues of the QUAD and Design Matters newsletters, and in an official press release distributed to leading industry outlets and media partners. OFS provides the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners with a financial prize of $2,500, $1,500, and $750 respectively.

When

This competition is open annually, January through February—The 2025 IIDA Student Design Competition design brief is now available here

To be notified directly when this competition opens, contact IIDA Design Competitions Manager Veronica Whitaker at competitions@iida.org.

2025 First Place Winner

2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 2
2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 1
2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 3
2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 10
2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 11
2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 12
2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 4
2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 5
2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 6
2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 7
2025 IIDA SDC FIRSTPLACE Sunshine 8
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2025 Jurors

Aimee Burmaster Hicks-HS SDC evergreen
Aimee Burmaster Hicks, IIDA
Principal, Interior Design Director
HAD
Maria Van Deman Headshot 2025- SDC evergreen page
Maria VanDeman, Ind. IIDA
Director of Design Strategy
OFS
Patricia Paulson-HS SDC evergreen page
Patricia Paulson
Senior Interior Designer
HDR
Lakiesha Stanley-HS SDC-evergreen page
Lakiesha Stanley, IIDA
Interior Designer, Healthcare
Gresham Smith
Paul Widlarz HGA-HS SDC evergreen page
Paul Wildraz, AIA
Vice President and Principal
HGA Architects and Engineers

Sign up for Designed for Excellence, the bi-weekly newsletter dedicated to IIDA competitions and awards updates, plus news on events, celebrations, and award-winning design projects.

For questions and more information regarding IIDA Design Awards and Competitions, please contact competitions@iida.org.

With 11 annual and one biennial competitions, IIDA awards projects spanning global regions, firm size, categories/types, student work, and product and showroom design. Interior design and architecture firms of all sizes, including women and minority-owned businesses are welcome to apply.