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© 2024 Interior Design Educators Council
First Place
IDEC 2020 Competition Diversity
Team
Students: Aubrey Koontz, Samantha Cordell, and Rachel Eastman
Institution: Kansas State University
Narrative
In a world full of assumptions and stereotypes, the interior design profession is no stranger to the limitations these create. A key distinction in the quest for diversity is recognizing and appreciating diversity in all of its forms. Instead of focusing solely on race or sexuality, which can unintentionally create those barriers we are striving to tear down, a broader definition of diversity includes age, religion, life experiences, worldviews, and cultural backgrounds which differ from one another. There are countless different perspectives design is missing out on due to the lack of diversity found in education and the profession. Design is seen as limitless; why then should there be limitations set on who can design? There is a lack of understanding and exposure to the depths of what designers truly produce, which has led to misconceptions about the profession and a lack of diversity within the field. Open and civil conversation about interior design can bridge the gap between experiencing interior design and understanding what it is and who can be a designer. The first step is recognizing the need for diversity and inclusion. We see many organizations taking those first steps to develop a more inclusive future. An extremely productive way to expand the reach of interior design is simply broadening our own understanding of who can design and how to offer them the education they need. We are designing for the needs of users, and design is limitless with the help of diverse designers. We are diverse people, designing for diverse needs. It’s time to embrace differences and invite people into the process, igniting a passion for design.
Second Place
Diversity and Inclusion
Team
Students: Chinne Okoronkwo, Sydney Laselle, Kortni Osborn, Carley Roessler
Institution: Texas Tech University
Narrative
The world in 2019 is changing. It is becoming a more open place where inclusion and diversity are main topics of conversation. But however evolving the makeup of the world is and the amount of dialogue we have about the subjects, it still does not change the fact that certain disciplines are not keeping up with the times. And one profession in the top five least diverse fields is architecture and interior design. So we pose the question: in a world that is growing to be more diverse, and in a field that creates environments, buildings, and homes for all people, why are the ones creating these spaces lacking inclusivity and diversity? We would like to introduce you to subjects within the field of architecture and interior design to help reflect the lack of diversity and stress the importance of becoming a more inclusive field. This is Sydnee, and like her 92% of the students within interior design are females, and over 64% are white. Despite the staggering number of females pursuing a career in interior design only 25% of firm leaders are female. This leads us to Logan, he is part of the few males that pursue a career within interior design, however he is more likely go on to hold a job of higher status making a salary almost 20 thousand more than Sydnee who also pursued the same field. This is Chinne, 7% of architects are African American like her, and even lower than that only .03% account for architects that are African American females. We can see that interior design and architecture is far from being the model of diversity. We need to learn how to utilize our differences to make progress. It is shown that more diverse groups of people increase productivity and performance. So not only is it important for the effect it has on individuals to feel included and represented, it can also be beneficial to the work we produce. It is time to be consciously inclusive, speak up and add to the conversation of diversity and inclusion, we need to embrace all perspectives to spark the creativity our field depends upon.
Third Place
Diversity in Interior Design
Team
Students: Keyvie Troy
Institution: University of Oklahoma
Narrative
This video focuses on the student perspective of what diversity means in interior design. By demonstrating viewpoints from students with various majors and backgrounds, we can see that there is a clear understanding of the impact and necessity for diversity. Many people know about the value of being exposed to diversity, but there is a difference between diversity and inclusion. For example, with diversity, a person can be knowledgeable and aware about what it means to be diverse or be in a setting that is diverse. However, being aware is different from being active. With inclusion, personal engagement with people that are different from you can lead to new values and solutions through experience more than researching statistics.
For interior designers, we often think of diversity in design as the spaces we create should be accessible for all types of occupants. However, diversity can be implemented not just in spaces, but in the designers as well. Promoting a more diverse array of interior design professionals allows for more diverse thought and creativity being exchanged among designers. In a 2019 IIDA report, the majority of designers were white and female, with little diversity in our profession. If we increased diversity in our profession, it might allow for more creative solutions and designs that had not been thought of before. Also, a diverse representation in our professionals might help clients better connect with the designer if there is a common characteristic they can relate to in the designer. Lastly, this video positively promotes diversity and inclusion in student interior designers. Because students are the future leaders and designers, it is important that we engage students with as many components of diversity as we can to ensure spaces are mindfully being connected with the people they are designed for.
Competitions
IDEC members can integrate special projects like the Student Design Competition and the Interior Design Education Video Competition into their curriculum.
