{"id":224,"date":"2022-05-13T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.kpu.ca\/wsdprogramupdates\/?p=224"},"modified":"2022-09-16T15:00:36","modified_gmt":"2022-09-16T22:00:36","slug":"encouraging-diversity-secures-wilson-school-of-design-student-an-international-scholarship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.kpu.ca\/wilsondesignloop\/2022\/05\/13\/encouraging-diversity-secures-wilson-school-of-design-student-an-international-scholarship\/","title":{"rendered":"Encouraging diversity secures Wilson School of Design student an international scholarship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An interior design student from Kwantlen Polytechnic University\u2019s Wilson School of Design has won an international association\u2019s scholarship competition by pressing for more diversity in the design industry.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Via <\/a>KPU Newsroom<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IIDA, a commercial interior design association with more than 15,000 members across 58 countries, offered the IA Interior Architects Diversity in Design Scholarship<\/a> to support and elevate students that represent diverse voices and perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farhath Ahmed, a third year student in the Wilson School of Design, won the 2022 award for her essay Diversity from the Top, which set out her strategies for creating diverse and inclusive workplaces in the design industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we want minority students to aspire and be successful in the field, they need to see someone who represents them in senior roles in firms, someone they can look up to and be inspired by their success,\u201d she wrote in the essay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIf students don\u2019t see diversity in the future workplace and see that capable, senior and talented folks never make it to the top \u2013 they aren\u2019t going to be as motivated to join an industry that doesn\u2019t enable minority growth to the top levels.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Winning first place in the competition secured Ahmed a $5,000 scholarship, but it was the subject that made her want to apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI saw it as a great opportunity to voice my opinion and thoughts about an issue that is very real and has an impact on people not just in the design community but globally,\u201d says Ahmed. \u201cI commend IIDA and [scholarship sponsors] IA Interior Architects for recognizing and opening up dialogue about this issue in an effort to make change in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahmed\u2019s long-term goal as a designer is to create spaces that not only have a positive impact on the user but also the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to create seamless designs which integrate functionality and sustainability in an aesthetic package,\u201d she adds. \u201cCreating the fine balance between art and science.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She chose the Bachelor of Interior Design<\/a> at KPU to learn the skills needed to realize her ambition because it is cohort based, which means the same students learn together full-time over the four-year program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe strength in forming close bonds with peers and faculty is a huge asset,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI can confidently say that the faculty and peer relationships I have formed in my three years here at KPU are invaluable and will carry forward in my life and career.\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Read Farhath’s winning submission below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Diversity from the Top<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

By Farhath Ahmed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UN sustainable Goal #10 is to reduce inequalities, \u201c\u2026empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.\u201d (“THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development”, 2021). We understand that universally there are still inequalities amongst people and even in an age where people should be judged and promoted solely based on their merit and work – many times they are not. Research shows that a lifetime of experience and cultural history shape every one of us and our judgement of others. Sometimes that can be beneficial or detrimental to the environment we are in. With the worlds attention focused now more than ever on diversity, equity and inclusion of minority people, we are in a great time and position to address and advocate for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actionable steps the design industry can take are to make initiatives towards diverse representation in design firms, starting from the top. If we want minority students to aspire and be successful in the field, they need to see someone who represents them in senior roles in firms, someone they can look up to and be inspired by their success. If students don\u2019t see diversity in the future workplace and see that capable, senior and talented folks never make it to the top \u2013 they aren\u2019t going to be as motivated to join an industry that doesn\u2019t enable minority growth to the top levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The design industry and firms need to address and understand that representation is not just a quota that needs to be filled. But meaningful hiring of people based on their talent and skills. Companies need to outline and clearly state their objectives of inclusion and tie it into their business strategies, have values as a business. Having a diversity council that is actually diverse and not just top level executives but people who can positively contribute their own experiences and cultural fabric from juniors and seniors from diverse backgrounds, all genders, and communities. They need to enable these change and policy makers with resources, access, and space to support and implement strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Universities and design firms should seek feedback and opinion from minority groups to see how they are functioning and how well they are sustaining and what changes can be made. If no one is asking for opinions and changes \u2013 how will anyone know what needs to be done? Schools that want to attract and retain minority students should have good resources and support systems in place, prepared to support them from academic, culture and social or financial stand points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The design industry can also facilitate partnerships between university students and design firms for minority students who can gain valuable experience and trade relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equity in the design industry, firms and universities are an ongoing process and created through dialogue which must be ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Interested in the Interior Design program?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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