HUNTINGBURG, IN - January 23, 2026 — OFS and Carolina mark their 8th year as proud sponsors of the 2026 International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Student Design Competition, an internationally recognized program celebrating the creativity and innovation of interior design and interior architecture students worldwide. Now in its 13th year, the IIDA Student Design Competition has become a vital part of interior design education, challenging students to address real-world design problems while gaining exposure within the professional design community.
The 2026 design brief invites students to design a primary care clinic in a rural community in Northwest Montana, addressing limited healthcare access, provider shortages, and the cultural and geographic realities of rural life. Students are challenged to create a welcoming, inclusive healthcare environment that prioritizes preventative care, neurodiversity, dignity, and hospitality-inspired design.
As part of the competition requirements, at least 50% of the specified furniture must come from OFS and Carolina. This encourages students to work with real-world healthcare and hospitality solutions while exploring customization and flexibility, which are essential elements of modern healthcare environments. Suggested product solutions include Element, Lasata, Offshore, Mile Marker, Elara, Noé, Stray, and Staks.
Projects are evaluated by a panel of five industry leaders, including OFS Director of Design Strategy, Maria VanDeman. Submissions are judged on innovation, creativity, functionality, human and environmental impact, and presentation.
OFS and Carolina sponsor the competition’s financial awards, providing:
- First Place: $2,500
- Second Place: $1,500
- Third Place: $750
The 2026 IIDA Student Design Competition is open to current interior design and interior architecture students worldwide.
- Submissions Open: January 5, 2026
- Submission Deadline: February 6, 2026
Full competition details, including the design brief and FAQs, are available at IIDA.org.
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.
About Carolina
For over 75 years, Carolina has designed and manufactured quality healthcare furniture for customers around the globe. Founded in 1947, Carolina has constantly evolved their products and expanded their knowledge to meet the needs of tomorrow’s challenges, as well as today’s. Carolina is based in High Point, NC, and was acquired by OFS in 2007. Due to the unique connection to OFS, Carolina can also draw from their full offering of products designed for administrative working spaces.
About IIDA
IIDA is the commercial interior design association with a global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. We advocate for advancements in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of interior design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people’s lives every day.
Media Contact:
Brooke Lueken
blueken@ofs.com
