AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship Program At Home with DxD

How exciting is THIS!?! The AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship Program has found a new home with Diversify by Design! 

The coalition could not be more proud, or more profoundly moved, to have been asked to manage one of the longest-running scholarship programs specifically created to address the lack of diversity in the creative professions.

Back in 1995, the design firm, Worldstudio, created the Worldstudio Foundation to engage the creative community in broader social issues. Their first initiative was a college scholarship program to support young talent of color and foster social responsibility in the creative professionals of the future.

Ten years later, Worldstudio Foundation partnered with AIGA (the professional association for design) to grow the program, securing funding from prestigious agencies, corporations, philanthropic foundations—like The Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation—as well as individual donors. Since its inception, more than 835 students have received over $1.4 million in scholarship funds. 

Today, in its 29th year, the AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship Program is adding DxD to the movement, bringing the power of coalition work to expand the program even further. The sky is now the limit!

Mark Randall—Worldstudio Co-Founder, Associate Dean at Parsons, and DxD Advisory Council member—summed up the relationship beautifully. “The work DxD is implementing to make the design profession more inclusive, aligns beautifully with the scholarship program. There is strength in numbers, adding DxD to the team will bring a much needed support to many more college students who want to study art and design, and make a difference in their communities. 

And he’s not alone in his excitement. The team at DxD is over the moon. Andréa Pellegrino, CEO at Impact Collaborative, DxD’s managing entity, put it this way, “The AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship Program coming to DxD is as much a gift as it is a confirmation of the coalition’s significance and impact on design education, and the industry overall. Our sole purpose is to bring about an equitable and diverse ecosystem for current and future generations of designers and with DxD managing the program, we’re one more step closer to realizing our goal.”  

Applications are open to matriculated college or university students in the U.S. who demonstrate a commitment to positive social change, environmental responsibility, and cultural awareness through the practice of communication design (including: graphic and visual design, interaction design, game design); illustration (including: animation and computer animation); or photography.

Applications will be accepted through April 21, 2024, with the jury meeting in late spring, and scholarships awarded in the summer.

Want to learn more about the Scholarship Program, or better yet, make a donation to help support tomorrow’s designers today? How about giving a named scholarship to a deserving student? Or opening up a new scholarship category?

The AIGA Worldstudio DxD Scholarship Program partners with individuals, corporations, agencies, and non-profit organizations to give scholarships in the name of donors and benefactors. Scholarships can also be tied to larger initiatives, important events, or your organization's giving goals. Email us at info@dxd.design and get started on your way to creating a brighter future for a young designer!