An IIDA student membership keeps you connected to the design community—locally and nationally—and gives you access to opportunities that help you learn, grow, and launch your career with confidence.
STUDENTS
Student Membership & Benefits
IIDA is the professional home for people who shape commercial interior design—and that includes students who are ready to get involved early.
A student membership connects you to the design community, gives you access to real-world opportunities, and helps you build the network, knowledge, and confidence you’ll carry into your career.
Compete
IIDA student members get the chance to put their skills on display. Here are just a few competitions designed to help you stand out and shine.
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The IIDA Student of the Year Sponsored by OFS award recognizes an IIDA Student Member who has significantly impacted their school’s interior design program through outstanding leadership, insight, and involvement.
For more information, contact Cody Czmyr, Director of Member Services, at cczmyr@iida.org.
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The Wilsonart Student Essay Competition awards IIDA Student members that participate in the IIDA Student Mentorship program. Student participants gain invaluable professional development and mentorship from professionals in the interior design industry.
The Wilsonart Student Education Fund created this scholarship to offer students the opportunity and incentive to further reflect on the value of their experience. One winner of the competition receives $1,000 courtesy of the Wilsonart Student Education Fund, will be recognized on IIDA.org, and Wilsonart will also provide the winner with roundtrip airfare and a two-night hotel stay in Chicago during NeoCon.
Eligibility
IIDA Students that participate in the IIDA Student Mentoring program are encouraged to apply.
Submissions
Submissions Open: March 2025
For questions or more information, contact the IIDA Foundation at foundation@iida.org.
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By participating in Instagram Competitions advertised by the @iidamidamerica Instagram page, students can compete and win items from sponsors. Additionally, some competitions offer the chance to be featured on the IIDA Midamerica Instagram feed.
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During the Mid America Design Awards (MADA), a biennial event that recognizes Interior Design work within the Kansas City and Wichita Centers, students may submit a school studio project that meets the competition criteria for a chance to win the MADA Student Award.
Please contact the VP of Campus Relations by email at campusrelations.iidama@gmail.com.
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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.
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 2026 IIDA Student Design Competition will be open for submissions January 6, 2026. Read about guidelines & pricing here.To be notified directly when this competition opens, contact IIDA Design Competitions Manager Veronica Whitaker at competitions@iida.org.
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By signing up and participating in Portfolios and Professionals, students can receive portfolio critiques from a wide range of professionals from a multitude of local and national firms. This event also offers Q&A sessions, opportunities to meet and connect with design professionals and product representatives, and chances to meet students from other Midamerica Campus Centers.
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At the yearly SHIFT Conference, students may receive an invitation to participate in the Student Design Charrette. This competition pairs students in small teams to respond efficiently to a unique design prompt. This event connects students from IIDA Campus Centers from across the nation.
For more information, please contact the IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter VP of Campus Centers, Emma Smith.
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Participation in Campus Center and Regional IIDA events provides students opportunities to advance skills in professional networking, personal confidence, and industry knowledge that gives them a head start when they enter the design force post college.
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Every year, IIDA pairs more than 500 students across the U.S. with mentors that work in the interior design industry, taking students out of the classroom and into the real world of interior design.
Connect
Here are just a few highlights of the avenues available to student members to create lasting connections in the industry.
Find Your Campus
Interested in becoming an IIDA student member? Check out our Campus Outreach page to find your school and get started.
Hosted by the Texas Oklahoma Chapter each year, the SHIFT conference brings together an array of top students, educators, and design industry professionals for a multi-day professional enrichment experience. The annual conference includes: project and firm tours, portfolio reviews and mock interviews conducted by working professionals, an industry expo, continuing education for professionals, and a variety of networking opportunities. For 2025, we’ll come together in person at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Dallas
In line with the IIDA mission, SHIFT is designed to elevate the profession of interior design and lead the way for the next generation of interior designers. Participants are involved in a variety of events that are designed to enhance their knowledge of the practice and influence of Interior Design through presentations and conversations with practicing professionals.
Shift Conference
Lead. Inspire. Grow. Unite.
