CHICAGO, IL. — September 3, 2026 — For five years, IIDA’s Design Your World program has given high school students the opportunity to explore the world of design, connect with industry professionals, and discover possibilities for their future career paths. In 2026, nearly 90 students across Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, and St. Louis spent two weeks learning from design professionals, exploring creative processes, and developing and presenting projects of their own.
About IIDA's Design Your World program
Developed by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Design Your World is an education pipeline program created to make design more accessible, inclusive, and diverse. Launched in 2021, the program provides young people with early exposure to interior design and architecture while introducing them to the many career paths within the industry.
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OFS has been the program’s Presenting Sponsor since its beginning, supporting Design Your World as it has grown from its initial Chicago program to four markets across the country. The free summer program combines design education with hands-on experiences, including studio work, professional visits, mentorship, portfolio development, and collaboration with practicing designers.
At the heart of the program is the belief that young people have the ability to shape the environments and communities around them.
Throughout the two-week program, students move from learning design fundamentals to applying them to real-world scenarios. They explore the design process, visit professional environments, build their portfolios, connect with industry professionals, and work together on a design challenge. After weeks of collaboration and creative problem-solving, students stand behind their final projects and communicate their ideas to an audience of industry professionals, family, and peers.
Across Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, and St. Louis, this year’s final projects demonstrated the creativity, curiosity, and confidence each student developed throughout the program. The presentations also gave students an opportunity to experience the design process from concept through completion and see what they are capable of creating.
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Since the program’s launch in 2021, OFS has been proud to support Design Your World as its presenting sponsor. That partnership comes to life through the people who contribute their time and expertise alongside students. In 2026, OFS representatives Meagan Johnson in South Florida, Adriana Morton in Chicago, and Kaitlin Snow and Jarrion Douglas in Dallas participated directly in the program through guest speaker appearances. In St. Louis, Emily Bolls of M2Inc contributed her expertise alongside the local design community.
OFS’ connection to the program also includes the Design Your World children’s book, co-authored by OFS’ Maria VanDeman. Created as an extension of the program itself, the book introduces young readers to design as a tool for creativity, self-expression, and positive change. VanDeman continues to be involved with Design Your World and is featured throughout this year’s program.
Five years in, Design Your World continues to give young people the opportunity to explore design, connect with professionals, and see where their ideas can take them. This year’s final presentations were a reminder of what can happen when students are given the opportunity to create, collaborate, and imagine something better.
The future of design is already taking shape, and these students are helping design it.
About OFS
OFS is a family-owned contract furniture manufacturer dedicated to crafting experiences and products that contribute to places where people want to be. Founded in 1937, OFS provides furniture and logistics solutions for office, healthcare, education, lifestyle, government, and home office markets worldwide, offering seating products, tables, casegoods, and open plan products. OFS is based in Huntingburg, Indiana.
OFS Press Contact
Adriana Morton- amorton@ofs.com
