IIDA Announces Winners of the 12th Annual Student Design Competition

CHICAGO —The International Interior Design Association
(IIDA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Student Design Competition, sponsored by OFS and Carolina. The annual competition allows design students to highlight their creativity and vision while also gathering insights and experience with leaders of the industry. This year’s design challenge asked entrants to design an innovative pediatric primary care clinic focusing on behavioral health.

“These students showcased amazing creativity and professional skills they should all be proud of,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “Thanks to the enduring support of the industry and our educators, this competition shows the importance of a strong design education and creative problem solving skills to make challenges like these valuable for the future talent of our profession.”

Entries were juried by a panel of design professionals including Page Principal and Interior Design Director Amy Burmaster Hicks, IIDA; HDR Senior Interior Designer, Patricia Paulson; Gresham Smith Interior Designer, Healthcare, Lakiesha Stanley, IIDA; OFS Director of Design Strategy, Maria VanDeman, Ind. IIDA; and HGA Vice President and Principal, Paul Widlarz, AIA.

“The winning projects demonstrated a thoughtful balance of the essence of the space and technicality, a crucial approach when designing for the behavioral health environment,” said Stanley on behalf of the jury. “We were particularly impressed by the first-place design’s careful consideration, resulting in a space that is both visually compelling and emotionally nurturing.”

The 2025 Student Design Competition winners are:

First Place

LeAnne Hlavka
Interior Designers Institute, Newport Beach, Calif.
Project: Sunshine: Day 1 Behavioral Health Clinic

Second Place

Leah Ferry
Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Project: Path to Balance: A Healing Environment for Behavioral Health

Third Place

Katie Becher
Samantha Crown
Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.
Project: Vantage Point Behavioral Clinic

Honorable Mention

Michael Hernandez Reyes
Hailey Reicks
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Project: Healing Through Connection Center

OFS and Carolina provide the first, second, and third place winners with a financial prize of $2,500, $1,500, and $750 respectively. All Student Design Competition winning projects can be viewed here.

For more information or questions in regard to this or other IIDA design competitions, please contact competitions@IIDA.org.