The jurors of the 2020–2021 AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships reviewed more than 300 applications from students attending art and design programs at colleges and universities across the country. This year, 13 scholarships and 11 honorable mentions awards were granted to applicants whose work focuses on social, environmental, and cultural impact in three categories: Illustration, Photography, and Graphic Design.
Each student has demonstrated talent along with a commitment to giving back to their community through their work. They are advocating for social and environmental reform; addressing the stigmas of mental health and racism; founding nonprofits to uplift young artists; promoting sustainability, higher education, and food justice; producing digital content for substance-free spaces created by and for queer artists; advocating for body positivity among women; informing people of the struggle and the beauty that is being black; focusing on the manifestation of identity to show the consistently powerful presence of the black figure; giving impoverished youth a voice; curating narrative-based visual pieces to educate and combat cultural erasure in the media and entertainment industry; and more. We are thrilled to announce this year's recipients!
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This program would not be possible without the generous support of our donors. Special thanks to the Jean and Richard Coyne Family Foundation, the Elno Family Foundation, and the supporters of the AIGA Together Campaign and the AIGA Design Continuum Fund. Participating chapters included AIGA DC and AIGA Charlotte, for the third year in a row. Their work to develop a culture of giving in their community supports local students pursuing a design education.
2020 Jurors
Worldstudio:
- Mark Randall, Principal, Worldstudio + Associate Dean + Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design Strategies
- Tom Koken, Designer, Worldstudio
Graphic Design Category:
- Carlos Estrada, Principal/Creative Director, Agency 512 + AIGA DEI Taskforce
- George Garrastegui, Jr., Professor, City Tech + AIGA DEI Taskforce
- Sabrina Hall, Interactive Art Director, Scholastic + Adjunct Professor, City Tech (CUNY) + Board Member, CUP
- Dian Holton, Senior Deputy Art Director, AARP
- Shani Sandy, Design Executive, IBM
Illustration Category:
- Robyn Ng, Senior Art Director, Paperless Post
- Melanie Reim, Associate Dean, School of Art and Design, Fashion Institute of Technology
- Armando Veve, Illustrator
Photography Category:
- Emily Jan, Art Director, The Atlantic
- JoJo Whilden, Photographer
2020–2021 Scholarship and Honorable Mention Recipients
Graduate Student, University of Maryland, College Park
Category: Graphic Design
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention - AIGA DC
AIGA DC Design Continuum Fund Award
Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
“I'd like to use my knowledge, skillset, and unique perspective to build and collaborate on products and systems that benefit my community and others around the world. Designers are vital members of society in that we can create meaningful impact and foster relationships with the people and communities we serve.”
“Put simply, my goals are to generate wealth and opportunities for people of color and other minorities by providing a platform, a voice, and means to those who are without.”
Matthew Alexander
Freshman, California Institute of the Arts
Category: Graphic Design
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Award
Instagram | LinkedIn
“Collage helped me make sense of the world around me and pointed me in the direction of design due to their similar processes.”
“I did not grow up with access to a design education. [...] This is why I want my studio to be in the south. The goal is to make design visible in the community and the knowledge accessible. I am hopeful this will empower people with more nuanced backgrounds to enter and spice up design.”
Sundhya Anthony
Senior, College for Creative Studies
Category: Graphic Design
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention
AIGA Together Award
Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
“My post-graduation plan is to work at a design studio that values ethical design practice and gives back or brings the community together.”
“I want to be able to help young people know that it's okay to talk about mental illness, get help, and find healthy ways of working through them.”
Cecilia Caputo
Sophomore, Carnegie Mellon University
Category: Graphic Design
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention
AIGA Together Award
Instagram | LinkedIn
“In my practice, I place great value on diversity, empathy, and community, and from this, I am driven to use my skills in design as a tool for educating people to be more ethically and socially conscious of everything and everyone in the world around us.”
Ricky Chen
Freshman, University of Southern California
Category: Graphic Design
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Award
Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Pinterest
“In my art, I also address the stigmas of mental health and racism. My pieces have been inspired by, and mirrors, work from the feminist art movement. [...] I will continue to bring awareness to my audience and inspire them to reflect on the condition of women of color: their bodies and minds.”
Alexandria Gee
Junior, The University of the Arts
Category: Graphic Design
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Award
Instagram | LinkedIn
“My greatest resource is my voice, and as I continue to develop as a graphic designer, I will continue using my voice to mentor young Black designers, providing guidance through their practice, offering scholarships and professional development opportunities, and continuously reminding them that it is possible to be a successful Black designer.”
Jonai Gibson-Selix
Junior, University of California Los Angeles
Category: Graphic Design
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Award
Instagram LinkedIn | Pinterest
“I see a huge need to mentor youth in career education, and help others navigate turning their interests into viable and impactful career paths, regardless of socioeconomic background. [...] Through volunteering my skills with community organizations, I’m using design to promote sustainability, higher education, and food justice. As a developing design educator, I want to continue helping youth explore their passions, like others have helped me.”
Taylor Kim
Graduate Student, New York University
Category: Graphic Design
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Award
Instagram | LinkedIn
“Most of my designs, such as my new MOMI visual identity, communicate a message about the spreading of pop culture and how it affects society in terms of the arts and the media. But some of my other designs, such as my fictional Tourette’s Syndrome awareness campaign, have the power to make a positive social change by letting people know how to take neurological disorders more seriously.”
David Leyva
Graduate Student, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Category: Graphic Design
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Award
Instagram | LinkedIn
“I want to address the distressing waste being produced by our industry and work towards solving these issues by researching ink compostability, materials, and alternative packaging. There are currently no programs dedicated to sustainable packaging design in the United States, so I’m going to be self-driven in my research.”
Erika Loret de Mola
Graduate Student, Maryland Institute College of Art
Category: Graphic Design
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention - AIGA DC
AIGA DC Design Continuum Fund Award
Instagram
“I seek to disrupt the discourse of design practice by using it as a dynamic medium for advocacy, social justice, and bridging communities.”
“I plan to use storytelling as a means of advocating for cultural competency behind the lens, and to showcase black and brown queer bodies as they should and do exist outside of our oppression.”
“I dedicate my art to community healing and advocacy and develop work that challenges society to engage in necessary conversations about equality and equity.”
Ogonna Ononye
Freshman, University of North Texas, College of Visual Arts and Design
Category: Illustration
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention
AIGA Together Award
Instagram
“I am a proud Latina and an advocate for body positivity among women. I hope to enlighten others about the wonders of self-acceptance through my paintings and illustrations. [...] To do so, I display struggles, moments of bliss, and inclusivity of all body types through fashion.”
Aliya Hernandez
Freshman, Rhode Island School of Design
Category: Illustration
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention
ELNO Family Foundation Award
Instagram
“My overarching concept is comfort, and the extent that people will go to find it.”
“I want to engage in meaningful dialog regarding comfort that will elicit in others a questioning of their own needs. [...] My interest in human behavior is why I anticipate becoming an active member of my community, devoted to creating safe spaces for youth and bringing awareness to issues of mental health through my art making.”
Aydan Huseynli
Francine Lubin
Freshman, Howard University
Category: Illustration
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention - AIGA DC
AIGA DC Design Continuum Fund Award
Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Pinterest
“My sustained investigation is called, ‘Black History in the United States: Oppression and Excellence.’ I liked the idea of moving through periods in my work and modern takes on our past. The thing about racism is that it still lives behind a mask of a ‘post-racial’ society."
“I wanted to illustrate the pain that comes with being a black person during slavery, Jim Crow, now, and all the years in between.”
Francine Lubin
Freshman, Yale University
Category: Illustration
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Award
Instagram | LinkedIn
“I co-founded a nonprofit organization for the exhibition of youth artwork: Student Art Spaces (SAS). SAS is a global youth-led initiative uplifting young artists through equitable events and art learning. By giving women, POC, and low-income artists a voice, SAS is making sure that the art world is an accessible space for everyone.”
Alice Mao
Senior, Virginia Commonwealth University
Category: Illustration
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Award
Instagram
“My work focuses on the manifestation of identity, particularly black identity. This identity always forms to show the consistently powerful presence of the black figure.”
“There is a definite negative social identity that is imposed upon black youth when the media negates the idea of the ‘black hero.’ [...] It's important to see the black protagonist, the black leader, the black achiever. This necessity also extends to the fantasy realm.”
Amuri Morris
Freshman, North Carolina State University
Category: Illustration
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship - AIGA Charlotte
AIGA Charlotte Design Continuum Fund Award
Instagram
“I have reclaimed my use of the word ‘blackness,’ it now means pride, and self-expression.”
“I draw black women and their complex hairstyles. The intricacies of curls, the shape, and bend of every kink make up a head of hair that black women should wear proudly. Styles that, while hard to achieve, hold so much history and expression. […] My art has become a way to inform people of the struggle but also the beauty that is being black.”
Cheyenne Newkirk
Freshman, Pratt Institute
Category: Illustration
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention
AIGA Together Award
Instagram
“The recent death of my Grandmother made me realize that there's one less teacher in the world and that I want to fill that role.”
“One doesn’t need wealth in order to enjoy and create something that will resonate in the hearts of others. This is what attracted me to the craft. It's what connects different generations, civilizations, and people.”
Sara O’Brien
Freshman, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
Category: Illustration
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
AIGA Together Award
Instagram
“Concepts of gender, identity, and character drive my creative work. I strive to illustrate complex characters and stories that perhaps don’t fit into a single mold, and challenge our society and status quo. I often illustrate strong women, Latino folk, and individuals of all sorts—role models that I wish I had growing up. I desire to illustrate scenes that show vulnerability yet strength.”
Eve Tamez
Freshman, School of Visual Arts
Category: Photography
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Award
Instagram
“When I was a young girl, I knew that telling stories was a way for me to express my individuality. When I was a teenager, I knew that photography filled my soul. It allows me to tell a story without saying anything at all and to bring to life images that were only known in my mind.”
“I want to inspire others to create and I want them to feel connected to my work. I want to urge personal growth and show that anyone can become what he or she strives for as long as they invest into themselves.”
Tanaya Henson
Graduate Student, Maryland Institute College of Art
Category: Photography
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship - AIGA DC
AIGA DC Design Continuum Fund Award
Instagram
“I’m dedicated to informing those around me of the effects gentrification has on African American culture and future generations.”
“My work has played a major role in my community because it has given impoverished youth a voice. While most people overlook the opinions and concerns of children, my work challenges us to listen and take in consideration their concerns and ideas for the future.”
“I will use my photography skills to start social engagement, better child welfare, and encourage lower poverty rates all over the USA.”
Beverly Price
Freshman, New York University
Category: Photography
AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship
Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Award
Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
“I attended a march to protest the lack of gun control and received the opportunity to have my photos and writing published in a national publication. I have always felt a social and political responsibility to report the truth within my art but present it in a way that seizes the attention of the public. I felt I was possibly on the way to becoming a photojournalist; someone who could not only draw the public, but also simultaneously provide a voice to the underrepresented.”
Maddie Provost
Graduate Student, The Creative Circus
Category: Photography
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention
AIGA Together Award
Instagram | Twittter | LinkedIn | Pinterest
“I spent four years curating narrative-based visual pieces to educate the world about black and brown existence, LGBTQ+, diversity, inclusion, womanism, liberation, and combating our cultural erasure in the media and entertainment industry. My work as a multi-disciplinary visual storyteller reflects my life, through the gaze of a poor, artsy, multicultural Black American woman. My art is a reflection of the culture in which I was raised and currently reside.”
Reeyana Sehgeh
Junior, George Washington University, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design
Category: Photography
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention - AIGA DC
AIGA DC Design Continuum Fund Award
Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook
“I was adopted from China by Caucasian, American parents. [...] I felt like I had to be completely American or completely Asian, I couldn’t be both. This conflict has led me to create work that explores how much culture, history, and ethnicity matter to people’s personal identities.”
“It’s impossible to only identify with one culture and not the other, and that needs to be acknowledged by our country. I plan to continue making work about interracial and intercultural adoption, since our community is often unheard, and when it is our stories are oversimplified.”
Sydney Walsh
Junior, Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta
Category: Photography
AIGA Worldstudio Honorable Mention
AIGA Together Award
Instagram
“With my work I talk about gentrification, place and space, and nostalgia. My work addresses the erasure of traditional African American places to make room for places that disenfranchised people of color can’t afford to exist in. Through various trivia facts, historical tales and philosophical ideations paired with photography I’ve taken to make a new piece that hijacks the viewers punctum and forces the viewer to see things the way I do.”
Robert Willis
Competition
education
Diversity and Inclusion
