Kimball International is excited to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Makers of a Better Future Fund. In partnership with the IIDA Foundation, Kimball International established this fund to support IIDA members who integrate the spirit of foresight into design, fostering innovative solutions for tomorrow's challenges. The fund will award two (Associate or Professional) IIDA members who are committed to advancing technology, sustainability, or social evolution through visionary design practices. By helping ease financial and networking barriers, the fund will empower visionaries to pursue their innovative ideas more freely.
“This program will cultivate a new generation of designers who are equipped to tackle complex problems with creative and sustainable solutions,” said Jessica Gubbins, Vice President of Brand, Digital, and Insights Marketing at Kimball International. “Ultimately, we hope to drive the industry forward, fostering a culture of innovation and responsibility that benefits society as a whole.”
Innovation lies at the heart of Kimball International's mission to enhance spaces where people work, learn, and heal. Through their Makers of Possibility ethos, they have inspired others to embrace boundary-breaking design concepts. By prioritizing future-focused design, they identify trends, tackle challenges, and develop solutions to meet present and future needs.
“Through the Makers of a Better Future fund, we’re fostering a new generation of designers who will revolutionize how we live, work, and gather,” said Michelle Boolton, Vice President of A&D at Kimball International, Industry IIDA member, and IIDA International Board Member. “Their visionary solutions will shape our world for the better.”
Entries accepted February 3, 2025 – March 17, 2025.
Two winners will be selected, and both will receive:
- $2,500 cash prize
- Round-trip airfare and hotel stay in Chicago during Fulton Market Design Days
- Recognition at the IIDA Annual Meeting
- Coverage on IIDA.org and in Design Matters newsletter
About Kimball International
Kimball International is a leading commercial furnishings company with deep expertise in the Workplace, Health, and Hospitality markets. We combine our bold entrepreneurial spirit, a history of craftsmanship, and today’s design-driven thinking alongside a commitment to our culture of caring and lasting connections with our customers, employees, and communities. For over 70 years, our brands have seized opportunities to customize solutions into personalized experiences, turning ordinary spaces into meaningful places. Our family of brands includes Kimball, National, Etc.,Interwoven, Kimball Hospitality, D’style, and David Edward. Kimball International, based in Jasper, Indiana, is a business unit of HNI Corporation.
For additional information contact:
Abby Troutman
Communications Manager