Three Interior Design Students Win IIDA NY’s Hazel Siegel Scholarship, Head to SHIFT Conference
Three aspiring interior design professionals were honored as winners of the fourth annual Hazel Siegel Scholarship, presented by the International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY). Khadeine Ali from The New School, Parsons School of Design, Lydia Mudd from New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), and Jiayin Li from Cornell University will receive an all-expense-paid, three-day trip to IIDA’s SHIFT Conference in Dallas on February 12–14 and a one-year IIDA student membership to the New York chapter.
The IIDA Texas and Oklahoma chapter organizes SHIFT, a multi-day professional enrichment experience for students, educators, and design industry professionals. The conference invites participants to engage in various events designed to grow their knowledge of interior design through presentations and conversations with practicing professionals, project and firm tours, portfolio reviews and mock interviews, an industry expo, continuing education for professionals, and networking opportunities. SHIFT’s 25th annual conference will take place at the Renaissance Hotel in Dallas.
Lydia Mudd is a student leader at NYIT where she encourages students to get involved and find their passions by nurturing interests vital to personal and professional development. Inspired by her passion for making personalized, reflective spaces, Mudd’s senior thesis explores redesigning workplaces to create intuitive collaboration among neurodiverse and neurotypical people. She seeks to explore the intersection of cognitive productivity and design in a research-based firm to tackle inclusivity and accessibility gaps.
Mudd said she looks forward to attending the conference where she can speak with professionals and gain insights about the industry.
"Perspective, in whatever way you look at it, is such an important aspect in design. Having an opportunity to attend this conference and being able to speak with differing professionals is so valuable to gain insight within this objectively small community of people,” she said. “After curating a lot of my design mindset and practices off of the NYC industry, I'd love to know about different niches within national design culture itself, along with what topics are up and coming as I officially step into the field this summer.”
Khadeine Ali attends The New School at Parsons School of Design. As a first-generation immigrant from Trinidad, she wants to create transformative spaces by designing socially impactful projects that enhance well-being and inclusivity through storytelling, sustainability, and historic preservation. Ali’s long-term goal is to become a professor where she can mentor underrepresented people and inspire future designers who can use design as a tool for social impact.
Ali looks forward to attending the conference where she can gain more understanding of the interior design industry through hands-on activities.
“The conference's mission to ‘LEAD. INSPIRE. GROW. UNITE.’ resonates deeply with my aspirations as an emerging designer,” she said. “I value the unique opportunity to learn from established professionals and exchange ideas with fellow students, creating a rich collaborative learning environment.”
Jiayin Li, who attends Cornell University, seeks to design spaces to support health, well-being, and functionality, focusing on health and senior living centers. She wants people to feel valued and included regardless of age or physical health, something she seeks to impact through design. Li wants to have a pluriversal world by incorporating empathy, universal principles, and diverse cultural perspectives into her designs. She is involved in the Pluriversal Design Lab, which supports her interest in making interior design more accessible to marginalized groups. Post graduation, Li will pursue a master’s degree to study spatial design and environmental impact.
Li noted how her attendance at the conference will connect her with interior designers whose interests span interiors, hospitality, and health.
“As a new designer entering the industry, I am hoping to gain critical insights and resources for professional development while engaging with talented individuals to bring forward new ideas,” said Li. “Whether it's guidance on securing my first internship or finding the next steps in my research, the knowledge gained from this opportunity will extend beyond my academic foundation and help me transition effectively into the real world. Additionally, this will be my first visit to Dallas, Texas, and I am excited to explore a new city and create lasting memories through the travel.”
The Hazel Siegel scholarship honors acclaimed textile designer and IIDA NY chapter member Hazel Siegel, who held several leadership roles and garnered many honors throughout her 40 years of service to the chapter. IIDA NY started a program in her honor after she passed in 2020. Siegel was also a professor at Pratt Institute and was recognized as an industry icon by Interior Design magazine’s 75th-anniversary issue due to her unwavering commitment to the design field. The annual scholarship continues to recognize Siegel’s legacy and impact on the design community and support the aspirations of future design professionals.
Hazel Siegel Scholarship applicants had to be currently enrolled in New York State’s undergraduate or graduate interior design programs and students must be in good academic standing. Applications were due by Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.
This year’s three winners were selected for their community engagement, academic standing, design aspirations, perspectives on diversity, and post-graduation goals.
Mudd expressed gratitude as a scholarship recipient for the inclusivity of the design community and how it exemplifies her professional aspirations.
“As I near the end of my more regimented education within the school system, I'm looking forward to reinforcing my joy within interior design,” she said. “My goal has always been to create a positive impact, whether it's seen within the spaces I create and curate or the greater part of this industry. Being awarded this scholarship and the opportunities it brings feels like a great addition to the first steps taken in that direction."
As an aspiring educator, Ali said this scholarship is transformative as it allows her to attend the SHIFT conference to expose her to industry professionals who can support her professional development.
“As someone who aspires to practice and eventually teach interior design, this conference experience will be invaluable in helping me build the foundation for these goals,” Ali said. “The scholarship's support allows me to step beyond the classroom environment and immerse myself in the professional design community, helping me develop the skills and connections necessary for a successful career in practice and education.”
Li echoed Ali’s sentiments about the transformative opportunities that being a Hazel Siegel Scholarship recipient presents.
“Being recognized for my ideas and aspirations is truly transformative, as it reinforces my belief that I am on a viable path to bring positive change to the health and well-being of the wider community through design,” she said. “The scholarship has further motivated me to continue exploring my potential and pushing the boundaries of what I can achieve to the best of my abilities in both my current pursuits and future endeavors.”
