The Most Important Grant for Women Designers of Color in the US

The FDC Grant is a biennial open competition for designers of color created by the Female Design Council as part of its mission to advocate for equity and inclusivity in the design industries. In 2021, the Washington Post noted that the design industry was “overwhelming white” with demographics of 72.7% white, 8.9% Asian, 4.8% Black, 3.2% Hispanic, 2% mixed-race and less than 1% American Indian. In addition to providing direct financial support, the FDC Grant raises critical awareness of a wide array of outstanding designers of color. 

The third edition of the FDC Grant, presented by 1stDibs and NICOLEHOLLIS, awards a $20,000 cash prize in unrestricted funding to an exemplary woman of color in interior design. The winner and finalists were selected by a prestigious jury of design world stars, and in addition to financial support, the winner receives major industry recognition and direct mentorship from a 1stDibs 50 and AD100 designer. The finalists will each receive a 12-month membership in the Female Design Council. 

RANDALL JONES

Floret Studio

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." 

“I intend to use the FDC Grant resources to establish partnerships with artisans and underrepresented creatives, ensuring that my work continues to champion diversity and authenticity in design.”

FINALISTS

ALEXIS CALDERA
Alexis Caldera Design

KOMAL KEHAR
Mira Projects

MAROSI WHITE
Accent Design & Interiors

JIALUN XIONG  
Studio/ Jialun Xiong

ALEXIS CALDERA
New York, NY

A graduate of the Fay Jones School of Architecture, Alexis trained at Gensler before launching her own residential interior design studio in 2020. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Alexis brings a deep sense of heritage and storytelling to her work, creating beautifully crafted, thoughtful spaces.

KOMAL KEHAR
New York, NY

With a Masters of Architecture from Parsons and an MA in Design Research from SVA, Komal is redefining design through exhibition spaces, collectible design, and bold retail interiors. In 2025, she will unveil a kitchen goods exhibition for the NYCxDESIGN Festival, and her work continues to shape the intersection of architecture, research, and storytelling.

MAROSI WHITE
Sacramento, CA

Originally from Malawi, Marosi moved to the U.S. in 1996 and founded her firm Accent Design & Interiors in 2019. With an MBA from Cal State University - Chico, she blends business expertise with a deep passion for interior design. She has taught Interior Design at the Art Institute of California - Sacramento for eight years, bringing an academic and creative approach to her practice.

JIALUN XIONG
Los Angeles, CA

Born and raised in Chongqing, China, Jialun studied design and architecture at Indiana University before founding her own studio in 2021. With a focus on residential interiors, restaurants, and custom furniture and lighting, Jialun is dedicated to designing spaces and objects that explore duality and creative restraint, crafting environments that inspire thoughtful presence and meaningful interaction. Her work has been exhibited at Alcova Milano, ICFF Wanted, and Alcova Miami.

GRANT JURY

Camille Okhio
Senior Design Writer, Elle Décor

Nicole Hollis
Founder, NICOLEHOLLIS

Elizabeth Graziolo
Founder and Principal, Yellow House Architects

Lora Appleton
Founder, Female Design Council

Gabriella Khalil
Creative Director and Co-Founder, Palm Heights
Creative Director, WSA

Karen Silveira
Creative Director, 1stDibs

PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS

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 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.

  • 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

FINALISTS

Ebere Agwuncha • Aliana Grace Bailey • Sekoi Cooper • Nia Musiba • Nifemi Ogunro

WINNERS

Luam Melake

Mia Wright-Ross

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

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.

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. 

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.

  • 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

WINNER

Little Wing Lee