The Most Important Grant for Women Designers of Color in the US
As part of its mission to advocate for equity and inclusivity in the design industries, the FDC launched a biennial open competition for women designers. Beyond representation and publicity, the opportunity for direct financial support of a designers' business is a game-changer for this historically underrecognized group in design. Grantees are selected by a jury of top industry professionals, and winners of each cycle of the FDC Grant program have gone on to major media attention and career achievements.
FDC GRANT HISTORY
As part of its mission to advocate for equity and inclusivity in the design industries, the FDC launched a biennial grant program for BIPOC designers. Beyond representation and publicity, the opportunity for direct financial support of their design business is a game-changer for this historically underrecognized group in design. Grantees are selected by a jury of top industry professionals, and winners of the FDC Grant program have gone on to major media attention and career achievements.
CYCLE 3
In 2025, the third edition of the FDC Grant was presented by 1stDibs and NICOLEHOLLIS. The winner was awarded a $20,000 cash prize in unrestricted funding. A prestigious jury of design world stars selected the winner and finalists. The jury included: Lora Appleton, Elizabeth Graziolo, Nicole Hollis, Gabriella Khalil, Camille Okhio and Karen Silveira. In addition to financial support, the winner received major industry recognition and direct mentorship from a 1stDibs 50 and AD100 designer. The finalists each received a 12-month membership in the Female Design Council.
WINNER
Randall Jones
Randall Jones is a graduate of Howard University and also holds an MFA in Interior Design from Parsons, the New School for Design, where she founded Obsidian, a student group for Black designers. Having trained at Rockwell Group, Yabu Pushelberg and Billy Cotton, she launched her own firm in 2021 that specializes in personalized, high-end interiors that reflect identity and artistry. Inspired by the interplay of form, texture, and identity, Randall's work creates meaningful, livable experiences. She is currently an adjunct professor at Parsons where she teaches interior design courses with a focus on social justice, and was named by House Beautiful as one of the “29 Black Interior Designers Making History."
Alexis Caldera • Komal Kehar • Marosi White • Jialun Xiong
FINALISTS
Lora Appleton, Founder, Female Design Council
Elizabeth Graziolo, Founder and Principal, Yellow House Architects
Nicole Hollis, Founder of NICOLEHOLLIS
Gabriella Khalil, Creative Director and Co-Founder, Palm HeightsCreative Director, WSA
Camille Okhio, Senior Design Writer, Elle Décor
Karen Silveira, Creative Director, 1stDibs
JURY
CYCLE 2
The second grant cycle was developed with the support of AD100 interior designer Nicole Hollis, and was created to provide financial support to an interior design or architecture firm led by a woman of color. In addition to the monetary award, the grantee received mentorship from Nicole Hollis's team. The winner of the second FDC Grant was Little Wing Lee, founder of Studio & Projects Design Studio and the advocacy organization Black Folks in Design. Since winning the grant, Lee has received the commission for the redesign of the interiors of the National Black Theatre of Harlem and launched a collection with RBW Lighting. The Grant Program also recognized five finalists, who each received a 12 month membership in the FDC.
WINNER
Little Wing Lee
Little Wing Lee is an award winning interior designer with over 15 years of experience in cultural, commercial and residential projects. Her sharp eye for color, texture and materiality along with her thoughtful and narrative-driven approach brought her to work with some of the most renowned and inventive design firms, including SOM, Rockwell Group, Ralph Appelbaum Associates, APPARATUS and Ace Hotel Group/Atelier Ace.
FINALISTS
Laura Casanas Maya • Anne Devereau • Teruko Kushi • Urvi Sharma • Cherub “Chopp” Stewart
Lora Appleton, Founder of the Female Design Council and kinder MODERN
Michael K. Chen, Founder of MKCA, Co-founder of Design Advocates
Nina Cooke John, Founder of Studio Cooke John
Nicole Hollis, Founder of NICOLEHOLLIS
Alison Levasseur, Global Interiors & Garden Editor of Architectural Digest
Tiana Webb Evans, Founder of ESP Group, Jamaica Art Society and Yard Concept
JURY
CYCLE 1
The first FDC Grant, developed with the support of InCollect and BZippy, awarded two winners with the funds to bring their ideas into prototyping and/or production. The grant was won by furniture designer Luam Melake and leather artisan Mia Wright-Ross. Since winning the grant, Melake is now represented by design gallery R&Co and has launched a collection with CB2, and Wright-Ross has been an Artist Fellow at the Museum of Art and Design and a faculty member at Parsons School of Design. The Grant Program also recognized five finalists, who each received a 12 month membership in the FDC.
WINNERS
Luam Melake
Melake’s practice is focused on handwoven sculptures and functional furniture. Materials are borrowed from her methodologies of art, design, craft, architecture and industrial manufacturing and combined into works that collapse these disciplines.
Mia Wright-Ross
Mia Wright-Ross is a leather artisan, designer, educator, and entrepreneur. The leather cording techniques that appear as a signature motif across her luxury lifestyle brand, MWR Collection, also represent Wright-Ross’ design philosophy—each material used is fundamental to the unity and completion of the design.
FINALISTS
Ebere Agwuncha • Aliana Grace Bailey • Sekoi Cooper • Nia Musiba • Nifemi Ogunro
Lora Appleton, Founder of the Female Design Council and kinder MODERN
Alyse Archer-Coité, Design Researcher
Malene Barnett, Founder of Black Artists + Designers Guild, Artist
John Smiroldo, Founder of InCollect
Bari Ziperstein, Founder of BZIPPY, Artist
JURY
