South Florida and Chicago High School Students Benefit from Access to Education Pipeline Program

CHICAGO — Following a successful Chicago launch in 2021, IIDA, the International Interior Design Association, announced today the expansion of its Design Your World (DYW) education pipeline program. With support from Black Architects in the Making (BAM) and the IIDA South Florida chapter (IIDA SFC), the program will debut in Miami on June 14 and run through July 8, 2022. In conjunction, the Chicago DYW program will return for its second session, which will run during the summer of 2022.

This launch, as well as the return to Chicago for the second year, supports the program’s nationwide trajectory and goal to support individual chapters and regions with unique resources. It also positions design as a viable career option for a diverse group of high school students and emerging professionals through its curriculum. Program supporters include presenting sponsor OFS as well as additional sponsors 3form, DIRTT, Mannington Commercial, Material Bank, Sherwin-Williams, Configura, and Dick Blick with interiors+sources serving as the media partner.

“The vibrancy of a multi-cultural city, its energy as a design capital, and a serious dedication to the power of education, all contribute to making Miami the ideal location for the next iteration of this program, and we are honored to join forces with BAM and IIDA SFC to expand the scope and reach of Design Your World,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “Design is such a powerful catalyst for change and for demonstrating human potential. Through DYW, a diverse group of students will be empowered to fully realize that careers in design and the creative arts offer unlimited potential. Perhaps most importantly, they will realize—through a curriculum and instructors that represent them—that design is truly ‘accessible’, meaningful and relevant in their lives.”

BAM’s acclaimed Florida program introduces architecture as a valuable and achievable career option through mentorships, internships, scholarships, and employment opportunities for prospective architecture students of color.

“If we are not satisfied with the present and we’re not willing to endure what is to come, we must act intentionally today to design the future we would like to see tomorrow,” said Craig Aquart, BAM Founder and MC Harry & Associates Principal, AIA, NOMA. “The BAM program does just that, it invests in K-12 students today, equipping them to become conscientious designers of tomorrow, and the DYW program shares that vision.”

Under the instruction of Ze Haus Interior Design Studio Creative Director, Kenzie Leon Perry, 15-20 high school students based in South Florida will be selected to participate in the four-week Design Your World Miami program, where they will gain insight into design and architecture as a profession through initiatives such as material selection, color theory, and space plan creation, while also working with various types of design firms and industry sectors.

“It is a privilege to be a part of a program that makes a direct impact on how emerging youth and professionals view design and architecture,” said Leon Perry. “I’m looking forward to gaining as much knowledge from the students and their journeys as I impart on them and broadening their outlook of what’s possible for a future career in this profession.”

View here for more information and quotes from all supporting Design Your World sponsors.

Design Your World Miami will officially launch June 14 and run through July 8, 2022. Design Your World Chicago will return for its second year in partnership with After School Matters (ASM) in the summer of 2022.

"After School Matters is excited to partner with IIDA again this summer on commercial design programming for our teens, helping them to learn how an environment can affect the way we interact, work, and thrive with each other,” said ASM Chief Programs Officer, Melissa Mister. “Last summer was so successful, we will be expanding our curriculum to include more program hours in 2022.”
 
ABOUT AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS
After School Matters is a nonprofit organization that provides world class, after-school, and summer opportunities to Chicago public high school teens to explore their passions and develop their talents, while gaining critical skills for work, college, and beyond. After School Matters programs are project-based, led by industry experts, and provide a pathway to progress in skills development and independence. Teens earn a stipend while participating in programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Over the span of three decades, After School Matters has engaged more than 350,000 teens throughout the city of Chicago. www.afterschoolmatters.org

ABOUT BAM
The Black Architects in the Making (BAM) program enhances students’ knowledge about the architecture profession. BAM was started in Miami and has since planted a program in Orlando and is working on planting other programs in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville. BAM informs, mentors, interns, provide scholarships, and opportunities for employment to students of color who are interested in pursuing an architecture career. www.bammiami.org