IIDA Increases Nationwide Access to Design Education with Launch of Design Your World: Dallas and New Partners

CHICAGO—The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) will introduce a new market to its Design Your World (DYW) pathway education program: Dallas, Texas. In partnership with the IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter and new design firm partners, Corgan, Jacobs, and Stantec. Design Your World is supported nationally by presenting sponsor OFS and supporting sponsors 3form, Mannington Commercial, and Material Bank as well as Gensler and Perkins&Will, who continue their steadfast support for 2025. The DYW Dallas program will debut this summer as a two-week program set for June 9 – 20 with the classroom being hosted at Corgan’s Global Headquarters in downtown Dallas.

Design Your World continues providing instruction on interior design fundamentals to hundreds of students in its expanding markets, with programs previously implemented in Chicago in 2021, Miami in 2022, and St. Louis in 2023. The program’s goal is to bring education and awareness of commercial interior design as a profession to high schoolers who have interest but lack understanding of its potential. This expansion delivers on IIDA’s stated long-term goal to broaden the program’s footprint and reach high school students across the nation.

“We look to the numerous students actively pursuing degrees in design, to the parents nurturing their kids’ skills, and the team of dedicated and exceptional educators, partners, and volunteers to measure the potent success of this program. We are creating the future design community we set out to foster,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “We continue to give these bright, young minds a path forward, galvanize the industry’s value for inclusive education, and ensure what we’ve begun today will change our spaces and places tomorrow.”

The Dallas program will align with all other markets’ immersive, two-week curriculum for up to five hours per day for five days per week. The program sessions will be sequential with the Chicago session (June 23 – July 3) on the campus of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; the St. Louis session (July 7 – July 18) on the campus of Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts; and the Miami session (July 21 – August 1) on the campus of Florida International University’s School of Architecture. The application process for students interested in the program is now open on IIDA.org.

Corgan became a partner to provide students with access to design education and professional resources that advance the design profession. Corgan’s offices will serve as the classroom host during the Dallas program. During their two-week program, students will be able to meet a variety of team members and hear about their passion for design.

“Corgan’s support of Design Your World aligns with our mission to nurture curiosity about the limitless possibilities within the design sphere. We believe programs such as these provide hands on, practical learning experiences that engage the brain and body ignite passion and curiosity in young people. We are honored to bring this innovative, forward-thinking program to students here in Dallas,” said Halima McWilliams, Human Resources Director and Associate Principal at Corgan. “As a global architecture and design firm, we respond to change in the world. Therefore, we have a mission to positively impact the future workforce by promoting our industry and opening career pathways to those who may not otherwise get exposure to what we do and how we do it.”

Jacobs (NYSE: J), a global leader in design, engineering, and consulting services for the built environment, is proud to support DYW’s ongoing journey toward a more equitable professional landscape. Through this collaboration, students will have the opportunity to visit Jacobs’ offices and engage with employees, gaining insights into how creativity and design shape the spaces we live and work in.

"Through DYW 2025, our Interior and Architecture teams help welcome the next generation of design leaders," said Gary Lapera, Jacobs Global Solutions Director – Architecture. "Design plays a pivotal role in shaping the human experience, and we want to empower students to discover their place within our professional communities. More importantly, we hope to inspire them to see how their unique talents can help transform tomorrow’s built environment.”

Stantec (NYSE: STN), a global leader in interior design, architecture, and sustainability, is supporting DYW with a shared commitment to introducing underrepresented students to the possibilities of a career in interior design and fueling interest in design education. In Chicago, Miami, and Dallas, students will meet with leaders from Stantec to learn how design innovation drives their business and how embracing talent from various backgrounds creates transformative design solutions.

“We are delighted to partner with IIDA as a sponsor of “Design Your World” and open the door for the youth in our area to discover the possibilities of a vibrant interior design career. For some time, the demographic composition of our profession has been largely homogeneous,” said Gwen Morgan, interior design discipline leader for Stantec. “Through this program, we can extend the invitation to become an interior designer more broadly and make sure that all know they are both welcomed and needed. We live in and design for our local communities, and it is an honor to re-invest in the mentorship of the next generation of design talent.”

View here for more information on the Design Your World programming and partners.