Diversify by Design Announces 2025/2026 Winners of AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarships

Diversify by Design (D×D) is proud to celebrate 30 years of impact with the announcement of the 2025/2026 AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship recipients.

For three decades, the AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship program has advanced diversity in design by creating pathways for emerging talent. It offers not only financial assistance but also professional recognition, validation, and peer networks that help students thrive long after graduation.

Out of this year's pool of over 200 applications, 13 students from colleges and universities across the U.S. were awarded scholarships in three categories: Communication Design, Illustration, and Photography. Each winner was chosen for their creative excellence and commitment to diversity, positive social change, and cultural awareness. Together, they carry forward a legacy of investing in the next generation of designers, confronting long-standing societal challenges, and shaping a more inclusive future for the profession.

The 2025/2026 scholarship recipients are:

‍Communications Design, Total Awarded: $10,500

• Arim Han, Graduate Student, University of Illinois Chicago
• Jon Glover, College Junior, University of South Carolina
• Grant Stokes, Graduate Student, Harvard University
• Peggy Shen, Graduate Student, University of Washington
• Tala Ghezawi, College Senior, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

‍Illustration, Total Awarded: $10,500

• Burcu Koleli, Graduate Student, Rhode Island School of Design
• Corin Tate, College Freshmen, Fashion Institute of Technology
• John Olajimi, College Freshmen, The University of Texas at Austin
• Sofia Palacios, College Freshmen, California Institute of the Arts
• Sophia Basaldua, College Freshmen, Rhode Island School of Design

‍Photography, Total Awarded: $5,500

• Amanda Dorval, Graduate Student, Institute of American Indian Arts
• Sabaah Folayan, Graduate Student, UCLA
• Samuel Trotter, College Freshmen, College for Creative Studies

Special thank you to the 2025/2026 jurors:

Our jurors aren't just judges; they're trailblazers in the world of design, dedicated to breaking barriers and creating opportunities for underrepresented talent in the creative fields.

We are extremely grateful for their participation, as they not only embody the spirit of diversity and creativity, but positive change, as well.

The 2025/2026 scholarship jurors are:

Communication Design

• Julia Ysabela Fernandez, Product Designer, Meta | Artist and Content Creator @adesignwoman
• Oen Michael Hammonds, Distinguished Design Executive, IBM | Fellow, AIGA Austin
• Debbie Millman, Founder and Host, Design Matters Media | Editorial Director and Co-Owner, Print Magazine | Chair/Co-founder, Masters Program in Branding, School of Visual Arts
• Sadie Red Wing, Instructor, Arizona State University | Graphic Design PhD Candidate, University of Minnesota
• Sam Shelton, Founding Partner & Creative Leader, KINETIK | Educator, GWU Corcoran School of Art + Design

Illustration

• Robert Generette III, Illustrator, Educator, Vector Art Monster
• Dian Holton, Art Director
• Shawn Williams, Associate Footwear Designer, Vans

Photography

• Nacho Amor, Executive Director, GRID Gallery
• Stanley Johnson, Owner, Consultant, Mentor, Stanley Johnson PhotoGraphics | Visiting Professor, FAMU

Learn more about D×D AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships.