Founded in 2007, the AIGA DC Design Continuum Fund (DCF) is AIGA DC’s regional scholarship program, recognizing and supporting students in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia who are pursuing creative careers and using design as a force for positive social impact. Thanks to the generosity of Continuum Circle members, donors, and friends of AIGA DC, the Design Continuum Fund continues to grow its endowment, ensuring lasting investment in future generations of creative leaders.

Annual DCF Scholarship

Emerging designers across DC, Maryland, and Virginia are invited to apply and join a community dedicated to advancing equity through design.

Applicants to the AIGA Worldstudio DxD Scholarship who attend a college or university in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia are automatically considered for the AIGA DC Design Continuum Fund (DCF) Scholarship. While the Worldstudio DxD Scholarship is a national program administered by AIGA, the DCF Scholarship is AIGA DC’s regional scholarship opportunity for students pursuing careers in design, illustration, and photography with a commitment to social impact.

To date, the Design Continuum Fund has awarded more than $109,000 in scholarships to emerging designers.

Although applications for the 2026–2027 scholarship cycle have closed, we’d love to stay connected. Follow AIGA DC on social media and subscribe to our newsletter using the form in the bottom left corner of this page to receive updates, community news, and be among the first to hear when the 2027–2028 application period opens.

Qualifying categories for 2026 scholarships:

Communication Design

Including graphic and visual design, interaction design, game design, motion graphics

Illustration

Including animation, computer animation

Photography

Brand Partner

Teal Media is a full-service creative agency with a conscience, driven by the belief that purposeful design can inspire action and spark lasting change. Their client partners are dedicated to advancing social good, and Teal matches that commitment with passion, creativity, and strategic expertise.

Specializing in Brand Strategy, Website Design & Development, and Creative Support, Teal brings mission-driven stories to life through thoughtful, impactful design. Their values deeply align with AIGA DC and the Design Continuum Fund’s mission to build a more inclusive, equitable design community.

We’re proud to partner with Teal Media, whose support helped bring our rebrand to life and amplify the voices of underrepresented creatives in our region. To learn more about the work, check out Teal’s case study and AIGA DC’s Q&A interview, Designing for Impact.

Believe in our mission and want to get involved?

Click here to support the next generation of designers

Past Recipients

2025

CHLOE McNEILL, Illustration, Undergraduate student at Howard University

ALAINA LURRY, Photography, Undergraduate student at MICA

BAO DUONG, Illustration, Graduate student at Johns Hopkins University

NASTYA LAVRY, Communication Design, Undergraduate student at MICA

ARISHA RAHMAN, Illustration, Undergraduate student at George Washington University

MABEL TSADO, Communication Design, Dual Degree Graduate student at MICA & Johns Hopkins University

2024

SHAKTHI HARI NARAYANASAMY VENKATARAMAN, Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art, MFA

CHLOE McNEILL, Illustration, Howard University, BFA

BLANQUITA SULLIVAN, Illustration, Maryland Institute College of Art, MFA

ALAINA LURRY, Photography, Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

2023

BLANQUITA SULLIVAN, Illustration, Maryland Institute College of Art, MFA

GRACE ATIWOTO-AYITE, Illustration, Virginia Commonwealth University, BA

CEDAR CLARK, Illustration, Maryland Institute College of Art, BA

2022

CIARRA WALTERS, Photography, Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

ALAINA LURRY, Photography, Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

TAMIA CAMPBELL, Illustration, Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA

NIGEL MEIKO, Graphic Design, University of Baltimore, BFA

KRISTIAN CRAIG, Graphic Design, University of Maryland Baltimore County, BFA

TAKYRA MARSH, Illustration, Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

2021

TAMIA CAMPBELL, Illustration, Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA

YAELA GRIMES, Illustration, Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA

LIA LATTY, Photography, Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

GAWON LEE, Graphic Design, MA, George Mason University, MA

MARILYN MONTAFUR, Photography, George Washington University, MFA

AUTUMN WINTERS, Graphic Design, Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA

2020

BEVERLY PRICE, Photography, Maryland Institute College of Art, MFA

AMURI MORRIS, Illustration, Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA

JASMINE CRISOTOMO, Graphic Design, University of Maryland, BA

MATTHEW ALEXANDER, Graphic Design, University of Maryland, BA

OGONA ONONYE, Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art, MA

SIDNEY WALSH, Photography, Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, BFA

FRANCINE LUBIN, Illustration, Howard University, BFA

2019

RICHA MISHRA, Graphic Design, University of Maryland, BA

JASMINE CRISOSTOMO, Graphic Design, University of Maryland, BA

DOLORES VACCARO BIERNAT, Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

SHOSHANA SCHULTZ, Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art, MFA

ASHA NEWSOM, Graphic Design, American University, BA

MEZTLI HERZOG, Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

SAMUEL MCMINN, Graphic Design, Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA

DEANGELA DUKES, Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art

MADELYNE MAYCHACK, Graphic Design, James Madison University

AMURI MORRIS, Illustration, Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA

2018

ASHLEY FLETCHER, Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art, MFA

KIANA FOWLKES, Graphic Design, University of the District of Columbia, BA

2017

PHUONG XIAN MAI BUI, Graphic Design, Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA

MIKEA HUGLEY, Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

2016

KARIYMA MURPHY, Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

AURORA COLON, Graphic Design, Maryland Institute College of Art, MFA

2015

FRED LAMECK, Graphic Design, George Washington University/Corcoran School of the Arts, BFA

2014

YATHRIB RAGSDALE, Graphic Design George Mason University

2013

JENE’ ADAMS, Graphic Design Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

2012

LAURA GUZMAN AGUILAR, Graphic Design University of Maryland, BFA

2011

COURTNEY LaPRINCE, Graphic Design, Montgomery College of Art & Design, AFA

JESSICA KUSUMA, Graphic Design, Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA

2010

ALEXIS LOVELY, Graphic Design, Howard University

HUONG LEE, Graphic Design Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

2009

SARAH MACHICADO, Graphic Design Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA

NVCC Tom Suzuki Scholarship Winner
ALFREDO RAMIREZ, Graphic Design