Miami, Fla.—Following a successful Chicago launch in 2021, Mannington Commercial said it will serve as a sponsor for IIDA’s 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 here June 14 and run through July 8, 2022, according to the company.
In conjunction, the Chicago DYW program will return for its second session, which will run during the summer of 2022. Mannington Commercial joins an esteemed list of program supporters, including presenting sponsor OFS as well as additional sponsors 3form, DIRTT, Material Bank, Sherwin-Williams, Configura and Dick Blick, with interiors+sources serving as the media partner.
This launch supports the program’s nationwide trajectory and goal to support individual chapters and regions with unique resources, according to the company. Mannington Commercial also said it positions design as a viable career option for a diverse group of high school students and emerging professionals through its curriculum.
“It’s exciting to see the success of Design Your World open doors for the next generation of designers and creatives,” said Roby Isaac, vice president of commercial design, Mannington. “I was given a similar opportunity growing up in Philadelphia and understand the value of a program like this firsthand. As Design Your World continues to expand and evolve, it’s my hope that the kids will bring perspectives that challenge the way we think and design.”
According to Cheryl S. Durst, executive vice president and CEO, IIDA, design is a powerful catalyst for change. “We are honored to join forces with BAM and IIDA SFC to expand the scope and reach of Design Your World,” Durst said. “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, according to the company.
“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—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 Kenzie Leon Perry, creative director, Ze Haus Interior Design Studio, 15-20 high school students based in South Florida will be selected to participate in the four-week Design Your World Miami program. According to the company, these students 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,” Perry said. “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.”
Design Your World Chicago will return for its second year in partnership with After School Matters (ASM) in the summer of 2022.
“ASM 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 Melissa Mister, chief programs officer, ASM. “Last summer was so successful, we will be expanding our curriculum to include more program hours in 2022.”