IRVINE, Calif. , Sept. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thermador, the iconic American luxury home appliance brand, has announced its inaugural student recipients of the Diversity in Design Pipeline initiative, which was launched earlier this year to empower a new generation of talent from underrepresented communities.
The Thermador Diversity in Design Pipeline Initiative, in partnership with the Interior Design Society (IDS), was designed to support students in their senior year at an accredited interior design program to aid the transition into a successful, burgeoning career. The program was informed by a survey commissioned by Thermador that found mentorship and financial support to be the biggest obstacles for students of underrepresented backgrounds to become professional designers.
The students were chosen by the esteemed panel of judges who were impressed by the passion and unique point-of-view found in each application. Among them were Oh Joy! Founder Joy Cho, HGTV Design Star contestant Justin Williams, House Beautiful Market Director Carisha Swanson, award-winning interior designer and co-founder of Bauer/Clifton Interiors Jeremy Bauer and award-winning interior and product designer David Santiago of Casa Santi Interior Design.
Student essays included personal stories and inspiring goals -- from wanting to design public space solutions for the homeless, to beginning a nonprofit to benefit sickle cell anemia research. The winning students include: Aleah Mazyck of UNC Greensboro, Kayla Martin of California State University, Raquel Rodrigues of Texas Tech University, Jonathan Martin of the University of Northern Iowa, and Chrystal McLeod of Georgia Southern University.
“Thermador is honored at the opportunity to work with these talented students as part of our brand’s commitment to opening more pathways for underrepresented communities in interior design,” said Beatriz Sandoval, Head of Brand Marketing for Thermador. “These students have exceeded our expectations and demonstrated an invaluable perspective for the design community. In learning about their ambitions and goals, it is our responsibility to make an impact and pave the way for the future of design, and to provide key opportunities for this young group as they embark on their own careers.”
Mentors for the students were hand selected by IDS from a wide pool of professional designers from across the U.S. This year’s group includes nationally acclaimed and award-winning designer Ami Austin; CEO and Creative Director of Joy Street Design Kelly Finley; Creative Director and CEO of Bria Hammel Interiors, Bria Hammel; founder of Liz MacPhail Interiors Liz MacPhail; and highly acclaimed Nashville designer Jonathan Savage.
“This scholarship program was thoughtfully created with longevity in mind -- it provides more than just financial support,” said Jenny Cano, Executive Director of Interior Design Society. “The mentorship aspect was included to prepare recipients to effectively navigate our industry outside of the classroom. Each recipient has been paired with a successful, well-rounded interior designer who not only is invested in the future of design, but also believes in the importance of diversity. We are looking forward to watching these relationships form and grow over time.”
The mentorship program pairs students and mentors who will meet on a monthly basis to discuss the essential and tangible skills needed to be successful in the highly competitive world of design. As part of the scholarship program, students and mentors are invited to attend Thermador brand immersion experiences and seminars on cutting-edge trends and innovation across the kitchen and bath categories. Students also receive $10,000 toward tuition and a student membership with IDS.
“Being chosen for the IDS + Thermador Diversity in Design Pipeline Scholarship Program means so much to me and my family,” said Aleah Mazyck, a Diversity in Design recipient and senior at UNC Greensboro. “Reducing the financial burden of earning two degrees simultaneously will allow me to more acutely focus on my studies and continue excelling as a top student at my university.”
Jonathan Savage, Founder of Savage Interior Design, one of the acclaimed mentors for this program shares his excitement.
“I am so grateful to be involved in this incredible mentorship program,” he said. “When I was a student, I was lucky enough to have a well-known and accomplished interior design mentor, Mr. Albert Hadley, and hope to give as much design insight as possible to my mentee. It is always rewarding to help out an upcoming design student to get a real world understanding of a working designer. I am very much looking forward to this experience.”
For more information about the new Diversity in Design Pipeline Initiative, please visit the Thermador website: https://www.thermador.com/us/build-and-design/diversity-in-design
About Thermador
Since 1916, Thermador has introduced innovative breakthroughs – from the world’s first wall ovens and gas cooktops with the patented Star® Burner, to the Freedom® Induction Cooktop, the first full-surface induction appliance, as well as the Freedom® Collection, the first modular built-in fresh food, freezer and wine preservation columns. New Thermador products span two completely redesigned collections: Masterpiece® and Professional. These collections establish a true connection with consumers through the exclusive Thermador Connected Experience by Home Connect™. The Thermador Connected Experience provides access to personalized content, unique partnerships and customized product guidance. Thermador is part of BSH Home Appliances Corporation, a fully owned subsidiary of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, the largest manufacturer of home appliances in Europe and one of the leading companies in the industry worldwide. For more information, visit www.thermador.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at: www.facebook.com/thermador, @Thermador and @ThermadorHome, respectively.
About Interior Design Society
The Interior Design Society (IDS) is one of the country's largest design organizations dedicated to serving the residential interior design industry. It’s a group of like-minded professionals interested in broadening their network, professional development, and continued education. IDS offers its members a place to belong within a supportive and welcoming design community through local chapters nationwide, and the new Virtual Chapter! IDS was initially founded in 1973 by the National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA) with a goal of supporting interior designers working in furniture stores. IDS has long since elevated and expanded its focus to provide support to professional interior design entrepreneurs nationwide. The national headquarters is located in High Point, North Carolina, the home furnishings capital of the world. For more information, visit interiordesignsociety.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/IDSNational/, @IDSnational respectively.
Media Contact:
Liz Heyman
