AIGA Announces 2021/2022 Winners of AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships

In its 26th year, the program awards $48,500 in scholarships to students across the country

New York, NY—AIGA, the professional association for design, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021/2022 AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships. The scholarships are awarded annually to encourage social and environmental responsibility and cultural awareness in the next generation of artists and designers. Jurors selected 23 students to receive awards for the 2021/2022 academic year, and upped the financial amounts for each category.  Due to the increased community support during the 2020 #AIGATogether campaign, AIGA was able to increase the amount of individual scholarship awards for the 2021/2022 academic year, making a greater impact for each student.

The AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships program increases diversity in the creative professions by providing an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented and economically disadvantaged backgrounds with positive social agendas to achieve their educational goals and give back to their communities through their work. Since its inception in 1995, over $1.3 million dollars has been awarded to more than 800 college students of art and design. 

“AIGA’s Worldstudio Scholarships are actively working toward the goal of increasing representation in the creative professions and helping to overcome financial barriers for students. These scholarships are an investment in the future of the design community, ensuring a more resilient and inclusive future for designers,” said AIGA’s Executive Director, Bennie F. Johnson. “This year we have been able to increase the amount of scholarship awards thanks to the support of our design community and we are making a greater impact and building a more contemporary association for design for all.”  

This year, 209 applications were received and 23 were awarded—4 scholarships at $3,500 each, 8 scholarships at $3,000 each, 5 honorable mentions at $500 each, 2 chapter scholarships at $2,500 each, 2 chapter scholarships at $1,000 each, and 2 chapter honorable mentions at $500 for a grand total of $48,500. Each student also receives a certificate of achievement, and a one-year, complimentary Contributor-level membership.

“The current upheaval around race in America has demonstrated that initiatives like AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships are more important than ever. We must provide support to the next generation of diverse, creative talent, to make our society more inclusive and reflective of who we truly are,” said Mark Randall, Principal, Worldstudio; Associate Dean / Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design Strategies and Partner, AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships. 

You can find additional information and artwork for this year’s recipients at AIGA.org. The 2021/2022 scholarship recipients are:

Illustration

Total Awarded: $11,000 and $6,000 in chapter awards

• Ty Campbell, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Alex Driskell, Ringling College of Art and Design
• Yeala Grimes, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Ajane Lawrence, North Carolina State University
• Sydnei Pitts, Loyola Marymount University
• Duha Shreiteh, Kansas City Art Institute
• Honorable Mention: Matilda Gonzales, Northwest Vista College
• Honorable Mention: Avery Luthardt, Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Graphic Design

Total Awarded: $20,000 and $500 in chapter awards

• Miriam Flores, University of Utah
• Jonai Gibson-Selix, The University of the Arts
• Sulaiman Jackson, Baker College
• Olivia Quesada, University of Washington - Seattle
• Olivia Santangelo, North Carolina State University College of Design
• Adreenah “Dreezy” Wynn, University of Florida

• Honorable Mention: Kofi Bazzell-Smith, University of Illinois
• Honorable Mention: Camrien Cooper, University of California - Berkeley
• Honorable Mention: Gawon Lee, George Mason University
• Honorable Mention: Nick Tallent, University of Houston

Photography

Total Awarded: $9,500 and $1,500 in chapter awards

• Jamil Fatti, Rhode Island School of Design
• Xavier Hadley, New York University
• Lia Latty, Maryland Institute College of Art
• Stevia Ndoe, New York University

• Honorable Mention: Marilyn Montúfar, East Los Angeles College

Special thank you to the 2021/2022 jurors: 

• Carlos Estrada, Principal/CD, Agency 512 / Vice Chair, AIGA DEI / Equity Director, AIGA Detroit
• Sabrina Hall, Senior Product Design Manager, Justworks / CUP Board of Directors
• Dian Holton, Deputy Art Director, AARP
• Natacha Poggio, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, University of Houston-Downtown / Director, Design Global Change
• Sadie Red Wing, Student Success Coach, American Indian College Fund
• Gil Ashby, Visual Artist / Associate Professor of Illustration, College for Creative Studies Detroit
• Robyn Ng, Art Director / Illustrator, Independent Freelance
• Sarah Siddiqui, Lead Graphic Designer, Experience Kissimmee
• Claudia Grimaldi Marks, Senior Art Director, Getty Images
• Reggie Tidwell, Curve Theory / AIGA Asheville, Founding President
• Tom Koken, Designer, Worldstudio
• Mark Randall, Principal, Worldstudio / Associate Dean + Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design Strategies

This program would not be possible without the generous support of our donors. Special thanks to participating chapters and supporters of the AIGA Charlotte Design Continuum Fund and the AIGA DC Design Continuum Fund, as well as the supporters of the #AIGATogether campaign, including the Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation, Betty Designs, and CASE Agency.