IFDA opens 2026 design student scholarships

Design student scholarships. A brief context to set expectations.

Design student scholarships: Quick notes

LEWISVILLE, N.C. — The International Furnishing and Design Assn. (IFDA) Educational Foundation have announced the Design Student Scholarships for 2026.

Applications for all nine scholarships totaling $25,500 will only be accepted during the month of March starting Mar.1 to 31, 2026. Winners will be announced in July.

IFDA, a 79-year-old global design industry alliance with a diverse membership of designers, media and marketers, has awarded hundreds of scholarships to high-achieving design students as well as grants to talented professionals, internationally.

“We are honored to support today’s students and enhance awareness of design through educational and philanthropic programs,” said Karen Dzendolet, chairman of the board of the Educational Foundation of IFDA. “Investing in students is investing in the future of design.”

IFDA says applicants applying for the scholarships must be currently enrolled.  Scholarships will be paid  to the school for the 2026 fall semester tuition. Applicants are not eligible to apply if their graduation date is either the spring or summer semester of 2026.

The scholarships are for undergraduate and graduate students attending U.S. institutions and all applications must be in English. IFDA membership is not required to apply (with the exception of the IFDA Student Member Scholarship). Winners of a certain scholarship cannot reapply to that particular scholarship.

The nine scholarships are:

• Tony Fusco Scholarship – $6,000. The Tony Fusco Scholarship was established by the New England Chapter to honor the late Tony Fusco, an active and committed IFDA New England member. It is open to New England residents currently enrolled in interior design or related programs, full-time undergraduate or graduate student.
• FBN Leaders Commemorative Scholarship – $3,000. Open to currently enrolled interior design or related program, full-time undergraduate students; extra credit for volunteer work/leadership.
• Part-Time Student Scholarship – $1,500. Open to currently enrolled interior design or related program, part-time students.
• IFDA Student Member Scholarship – $2,000. Open to currently enrolled interior design or related program, full-time undergraduate IFDA student members.
• Vercille Voss IFDA Graduate Student Scholarship – $2,000. Open to currently enrolled interior design or related program, full- or part-time graduate students.
• Ruth Clark Furniture Design Scholarship – $4,000. Open to currently enrolled, full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate students with a course emphasis on Furniture Design.
• Barbara Beckmann Textile Design Scholarship – $3,000. Open to currently enrolled full- or part-time undergraduate and graduate students with course emphasis on Textile or related design.
• IFDA Philadelphia Scholarship – $2,500. Open to currently enrolled, two-, three- or four-year interior design or related program students. Focus rotates annually between design in (2026) Graphic, Furniture, Interior and Textile Design. This year’s focus is Graphic Design.
• Tricia LeVangie Green/Sustainable Design Scholarship – $1,500. Open to currently enrolled interior design or related program, full- or part-time undergraduate students.

For more details consult the Educational Foundation website. For scholarship application forms click here.

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