2026 SWMF Essay Scholarship

The Susan Wohlitz Memorial Fund was founded in 2005 to honor our Past-President Susan Wohlitz. Her dedication to mentorship and the development of young professionals inspired us to create a way to award students pursuing interior design degrees in the state of Wisconsin. The Susan Wohlitz Memorial awards over $10,000 in scholarships every year to student members of IIDA WI. To learn more about Susan and the SWMF Fund visit our website: IIDA-WI - Scholarships (iidawi.org)

 

Scholarship Details:

This scholarship opportunity is focused on the ability to convey design ideas through the written word.  

Please provide the following elements in an essay of 500 words or less to be considered for the $1000 scholarship: 

• Executive summary articulating the use of design principles to solve the problem below. 

• Images or inspiration board to reinforce the concepts described in your essay.

 

2026 Challenge: 

The Root & Table Collective is an up-and-coming organic food to table education and event company.  They are seeking design services from a local firm to help them build a new 35,000 sf event and education center on their 100-acre farm in the rolling hills of Southwest Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.  This non-profit organization focuses on teaching sustainable farming and food production, educating visitors on farm to table food practices and providing fresh produce and homemade food to their visitors.  For the Root & Table Collective's new education and event center in Southwest Wisconsin, a design approach that integrates sustainable and inclusive principles is essential to embody the non-profit's mission. The facility should not only be a practical space for events and workshops but also serve as a living demonstration of regenerative practices and universal access.  Their new facility should focus on becoming a gathering, celebration & education space for farmers, scientists, chefs and the public.  

Please include the following spaces in your concept development:

·         Multi-purpose event and meeting space to host up to 250 participants

·         Café & Farmers Market Space

·         Teaching Kitchen for cooking demonstrations and events – up to 25 participants

·         Executive Board Room space for - up to 20 participants

·         Ag Lab Maker Space for worktables, 3D printer, and other STEM tools and resources

·         The Shed – this will be a secondary structure that can house the farm implements and harvest tools.  It will also house the agriculture technology and serve as an education and training center, as well as an event venue. 

·         Staff office space and support for approximately 20 people.  (Staff to include an executive director, program manager, farm staff, and education coordinator).

·         Provide locker room functions for the staff.

 

Judging Criteria: 

1. Are all components included with the submission?

a. Executive summary

b. Image and inspiration board

2. How clearly does the executive summary articulate the strategies to solve the design problems?

3. Did the executive summary create a mental image of the solution proposed?

4. Were all the design problems and requirements addressed in the summary?

5. Were the graphics and presentation of the executive summary clear and supportive of the design strategies?  Did the layout and presentation of the executive summary and inspiration board support the design solutions? 

Please note: IIDA WI reserves the right to use submissions for future marketing materials.