Design Your World will return to Chicago, Dallas, Miami, and St. Louis in summer 2025! 2025 applications open March 17.

Mission

IIDA’s Design Your World (DYW) is an education pathway program created to build equity and diversity in the design industry by providing high school students with exposure to the possibilities of a career in design. By sharing the value of design education, we’re building a pipeline of design talent to support the future of our industry and advocating for the power of the built environment to promote positive change.

The two-week summer program introduces students to the fundamentals and practices of commercial interior design through classroom work, guest speakers, and field trips to local firms, design projects, and showrooms. Students will develop a basic understanding of the industry — and the possibilities within — while making connections with educators, local professionals, and other design-curious young people from their communities.

Design Your World currently has programs in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, and St. Louis. Students are provided supplies, complimentary lunch, and will receive a stipend. Learn more about each city’s program below.

Want to learn more about participating? Visit our Student, Parent/Educator, and Sponsorship pages for more information!

CHICAGO

Design Your World Chicago 2025 details:
When: June 23-July 3; Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m
Where: School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
Instructor 1: TBA
Instructor 2: Chelsea Jackson-Greene, interior designer at Perkins&Will

The 2025 Chicago program is made possible with generous support from:

Presenting Sponsor: OFS
Supporting Sponsors: 3form, Mannington Commercial, Corgan, Gensler, Perkins&Will, and Stantec

DALLAS

2025 Dallas Design Your World program details:
When: June 9-20; Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m
Where: Corgan Dallas
Instructor: TBA

The 2025 Dallas program is made possible with generous support from:

Presenting Sponsor: OFS
Supporting Sponsors: 3form, Mannington Commercial, Corgan, Gensler, Jacobs, Material Bank, and Stantec

MIAMI

2025 Miami Design Your World program details:

When: July 21-August 1; Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Florida International University (FIU)
Instructor: Kenzie Leon Perry, interior designer and adjunct professor at FIU

The 2025 Miami program is made possible with generous support from:

Presenting Sponsor: OFS
Supporting Sponsors: 3form, Mannington Commercial, Gensler, and Stantec

(Photo by DesignVox)

ST. LOUIS

2025 St. Louis Design Your World program details:

When: July 7-18; Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Washington University
Educator: Lindsey Buening, interior design instructor at Maryville University of Saint Louis

The 2025 St. Louis program is made possible with generous support from:

Presenting Sponsor: OFS
Supporting Sponsors: 3form, Mannington Commercial, and Jacobs

Don’t see your city or want to learn more? Contact DYW Program Coordinator, Sheena Lewis, at slewis@IIDA.org.