APPLICATION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 5, 2025, BY 11:59 PM EASTERN/8:59 PM PACIFIC

The PAVE Scholarship Program, now in its fifteenth year, provides financial assistance to students in educational programs preparing them for careers in the retail environments industry, including but not limited to careers in retail design, visual merchandising, interior design, architecture, product design, UX design, graphic design, and industrial design.

PAVE was developed to help ensure a future talent pool for the industry by eliminating barriers to studying in these fields. The funds assist students who are experiencing financial difficulties that may prevent them from continuing school. PAVE has awarded students over $216,000 in grants and scholarships in the past five years.

The VMSD Scholarship recognizes and supports leadership potential in Interior Design, Retail Design, Hospitality Design, Visual Merchandising, Architecture, UX Design, Engineering, Product Design, and similar programs. The recipient of this scholarship will have the opportunity to receive a $1,500 scholarship plus travel, hotel, and daily per diem covered to attend the International Retail Design Conference (IRDC) in Providence, Rhode Island, October 22-23, 2025 (Total Prize Package Value - $4,500).

Presented annually by VMSD magazine, the International Retail Design Conference (IRDC) is a one-of-a-kind conference that delivers two full days of education and design dialogue centered on the newest best practices, emerging opportunities, and fresh strategies for engaging shoppers, maximizing resources, and rethinking the retail experience. IRDC is recognized as the premier educational and networking event for the store design and visual merchandising communities. www.vmsd.com/irdc

GUIDELINES

• Student must be a 3rd or 4th-year undergraduate or graduate student (any year) as of October 22, 2025.
• Student must be enrolled in a program working toward a degree in Interior Design, Retail Design, Hospitality Design, Visual Merchandising, UX Design, Architecture, Engineering, Product Design, or similar programs.
• Student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Student must be located and studying within the United States or Canada.

REQUIREMENTS

The following items must be included in your application for your request to be considered.

•  Personal Statement (Max 500 Words): Why are you pursuing a degree/career in the design of retail environments/consumer experiences?
   
•  Portfolio (8-10 Pages Max): Highlights of your most recent retail-related** work. Can be student or professional-based.
   
•  One Professional Reference: We will need the phone number and email address for your reference only; a letter or reference is not required. Your professional reference can be a professor, faculty member, or an employer (including internship supervisors). References CAN NOT be friends or family members.
   
•  Must include a complete copy of your current transcript (official or unofficial).
   
•  Applications and supporting documents must be submitted through Submittable.
   
•  All applications must be received by September 5, 2025, by 11:59 pm ET/8:59 PT to be considered.
   

**Retail-related work includes design work related to retail, restaurant/F&B, hospitality, healthcare, workplace, education, pop-ups, immersive experiences, products, store fixtures/displays, etc.
 

In 2023, PAVE Global introduced the idea of a commemorative PAVE Gala T-shirt to celebrate students and create an additional way to provide financial support for the next generation of design leaders. Now we invite YOU, esteemed design students, to design this year's t-shirt!

Founded in 1992 as The Planning and Visual Education Partnership (PAVE), PAVE Global is a vital and effective organization that enables young talent to build successful careers designing and creating consumer environments. Our vision is to cultivate relationships with students and educators through financial assistance, top-industry thinking, inspiration, and mentorship.

THE CHALLENGE

The theme for 2025 is "BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE." We challenge you to graphically explore PAVE's vital role as the connector between design education and students' future careers in design.

Think about how PAVE serves as the bridge that links students, educators, and industry professionals, creating pathways that transform educational experiences into successful design careers. We want to know how you visualize PAVE's role in connecting the design community and building bridges to bright futures.

T-shirt design submissions must be made by Tuesday, September 17, 2025, by 11:59 PM Eastern, through the Submittable platform.

THE REVIEW & AWARDS

Judging will be conducted virtually through two tracks: a People's Choice winner and runner-up selected by the PAVE Community via online voting, and a second winner and runner-up selected by the PAVE Board of Directors and representatives from Studio Lourdes.

Winners will receive $1,000 each and runners-up will receive $500 each. All four winning designs will be available for purchase as both T-shirts and tote bags ahead of the end-of-the-year PAVE Gala. All proceeds will support future PAVE Scholarships.

Products will be produced using an eco-friendly on-demand Direct-to-Garment printing process.

DETAILS & RESOURCES

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

• You must be currently enrolled in a 2 or 4-year program at a university, state/community college, or technical school pursuing a degree in retail design, interior design, architecture, industrial design, product design, graphic design, visual merchandising, UX design, marketing, or similar areas of study.
• You must be studying and physically located in North America (US, Canada, or Mexico).

If you are unsure if you are eligible to participate, please contact us at info@paveglobal.org.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• T-shirt Design of your interpretation of "Bridge to the Future" 
  • Print file size - 12" x 12" (this is the maximum print area, graphics will be scaled to fit all shirt sizes)
  • PNG or JPG format only
  • Minimum of 300 DPI
  • RGB color profile
• T-shirt Design Title
• Artist Statement (250 words max.)
• T-Shirt Mock-Up 
  • These mock-ups will be used for the judging process.
  • To ensure all mock-ups can be judged equally, please use a Bella Canvas Unisex Staple T-Shirt (color of your choosing) as your base. A mock-up generator for this exact t-shirt can be found here.
• All submission materials must be submitted through Submittable by Tuesday, September 17, 2025, by 11:59 PM Eastern/8:59 PM Pacific.​ ​
• PAVE utilizes a blind judging syste the student's name and/or school may not appear anywhere on the deliverables.

TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS

• Limit colors for best printing results - Use a maximum of 6 colors for cost-effective printing and optimal Direct-to-Garment results.
• Avoid gradients - Gradients don't print well with DTG printing. Use solid colors or simulate gradients through halftoning techniques.
• Create designs with the necessary DPI - Simply typing in a new resolution value into the file won't result in a higher resolution print. If your graphic's resolution is too low, the best solution is to recreate it.
• Use high contrast for readability - Ensure your design reads clearly from a distance, as it will be worn at the PAVE Gala.
• Consider scalability - Your winning design will be produced on both T-shirts and tote bags, so ensure your concept works at different sizes.
• Use transparency to your advantage - Black ink will appear gray on black garments because of the white underbase used during printing. Leave these areas fully transparent when designing for black garments.
• Avoid borders - We advise against using graphics with perfect borders since the print can warp slightly when the garment is being pulled off the pallet.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Tuesday, September 17, 2025, by 11:59 PM Eastern/8:59 PM Pacific

HAVE A QUESTION?

Please contact us at info@paveglobal.org.

The Second Annual ChangeUp Scholarship + Experience recognizes and supports leadership potential in Graphic Design, Communication Design, Interior Design, Environmental Design, Industrial Design, or Architecture students through a $2,500 scholarship*, 40 hours of in-person mentoring at the ChangeUp Miamisburg, OH office**, and an invitation to attend the 27th Annual PAVE Gala on December 11th in New York City as a guest of ChangeUp.
​
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025
 

ABOUT CHANGEUP

At ChangeUp, we create experiences that make people feel, think, and act differently.  We are an independent, award-winning agency that believes change is not a risk; it is the answer.
​
Our tailored solutions address clients’ unique challenges and opportunities, ranging from launching a refreshed brand identity to rolling out scalable band environments.
​
Services include:  Strategy & Innovation, Brand Design, Brand Environments, and Architecture & Engineering
​
Find out more about us here! 

SCHOLARSHIP OVERVIEW

THE AWARD
ChangeUp will hand-select one student through a blind review to be recognized as the recipient of this scholarship.

One student will be selected to receive the following:

• A $2,500 Scholarship*
• 40 hours of in-person mentoring** with ChangeUp at our Miamisburg, OH office within your chosen discipline (expenses for office visit covered)
• Expenses will be covered (airfare, hotel, event tickets, and per diem of $75/day) for the recipient to attend the 27th Annual PAVE Gala on December 11, 2025, in New York City where they will be recognized amongst their peers and industry professionals and have the opportunity to network and make new connections.

 
* Award sent directly to therecipient's institution, to be applied directly towards tuition or other applicable schooling costs.
**The in-person learning experience will occur on a mutually agreed-upon date.
 

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES​

• Student must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's/Graduate program working toward a degree in Graphic Design, Communication Design, Interior Design, Environmental Design, Industrial Design, or Architecture, with an interest in pursuing a career in retail environments (including restaurants). 
• Student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Student must be a full-time student, enrolled in at least 12 credit hours.
• Student must be located and studying within the United States.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The following items must be included in your application for your request to be considered.​​

• Letter of Explanation (Max. 800 words): The letter should address why you have an interest in retail and what you envision for the future of retail. 
• Project Folio (10 pages minimum): Highlighting student-based or professional projects that you’ve worked on (include explanations of your involvement/responsibilities with the project and programs used). ​
  • Must include a copy of your current transcript (official or unofficial).
  • Applications and supporting documents must be submitted through Submittable.
• All applications must be received by Friday, October 3, 2025, by 11:59 PM Eastern/8:59 PM Pacific to be considered.

APPLICATION DEADLINE 

Friday, October 3, 2025, before 11:59 PM Eastern/8:59 PM Pacific

HAVE QUESTIONS?
Please contact the team at PAVE by email at info@paveglobal.org
 

ABOUT THE PAVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The PAVE Global Scholarship Program, now in its fifteenth year, provides financial assistance to students in educational programs preparing them for careers related to the design and creation of consumer environments. Since its inception, PAVE has helped reduce barriers for students to continue their studies, providing over $251,600 in financial aid, grants, and scholarships in the last five years.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 24, 2025, BEFORE 11:59 PM EASTERN/8:59 PM PACIFIC
 

Since 1992, PAVE Global's mission has been to mentor, inspire, and connect student designers to the extraordinary professional world of creating and designing consumer environments. 

To commemorate its 30th anniversary in 2023, PAVE introduced a prestigious new accolade to honor and acknowledge rising student visionaries. These exceptional individuals are anticipated to revolutionize the industry with their groundbreaking concepts and designs, making a positive impact on the world around us through design.

AWARD

All submissions will be judged blindly by a panel of industry professionals. One student will be selected to receive the following:

• $7,500 cash prize
• An invitation to attend the 2025 PAVE Gala on December 11th in New York City to network with Industry Professionals and be honored for this award. Travel, hotel, and per diem will be covered.
• $1,000 to the student's school/department or educator for travel to attend the 2025 PAVE Gala (to be determined by the school or department)
   

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

• Student must be currently enrolled in a 2 to 4-year undergraduate or graduate program working toward a degree in design, architecture, or visual merchandising with an interest in pursuing a career creating and designing consumer environments.​
• Student must be a full-time student, enrolled in at least 12 credit hours or equivalent.​
• Student must be located and studying within North America.

If you are unsure if you are eligible to participate, please contact us at info@paveglobal.org.

SUBMISSION PROCESS
 Students will prepare and submit (4) 11"x 17" boards containing their own pre-existing, relevant design work following the outlined process and criteria. 

OVERARCHING STATEMENT: 

All projects must be innovative in nature. Projects should exemplify creativity and be distinguished by their unique and thoughtful design thinking. Each solution must solve one or more of the following subtopics:

• Human-centered Design
• Inclusive/Universal Design
• Cultural Awareness/DEI
• Contemporary/Reactive Design
• Sustainability/Adaptive Reuse

If submitting group work, students must be clear about their role in the project. The submitting student must have made a significant impact working on the project and must credit collaborators.

STEP 1 - Pick one of your projects that embodies one of the following subtopics:

• Human-centered Design
• Inclusive/Universal Design
• Cultural Awareness/DEI
• Contemporary/Reactive Design
• Sustainability/Adaptive Reuse

​If you are unsure if your project falls under one of the above subtopics, please contact us at info@paveglobal.org, and we'd be happy to provide guidance.

​

STEP 2 - Create (4) 11” x 17” boards per the following criteria (important note: the same one project is to be used for all four boards):

• Board 1: 
  • ​Design/project title
  • Project imagery: graphic elements of the selected project
  • Project Inquiry: What was your approach and research process for this project? What is the foundation of your design thinking? (Example: concept, parti, EBD, design theories)

    
  
  
  
   

• Board 2:  
  • Design/project title
  • Project imagery: graphic elements of the selected project
  • Project Inquiry: Which sub-topic was addressed and how? Why are you interested in this topic?

    
  
  
  
   

• Board 3:  
  • Design/project title
  • Project imagery: graphic elements of the selected project
  • Project Inquiry: Did you learn anything unexpected during the process?

    
  
  
  
   

• Board 4:  
  • Design/project title
  • Project imagery: graphic elements of the selected project
  • Project Inquiry: Do you think you accomplished your goals, and how?

    
  
  
  
  
   

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• PAVE utilizes a blind judging system; the student's name and/or school may not appear anywhere on the (4) project boards.
• Boards should be submitted as PDFs in 11x17 landscape (horizontal) format. 
• Must include a complete copy of your current transcript (official or unofficial).**
• All submissions and supporting documents must be submitted through the Submittable platform.
• All applications must be received by Friday, October 24, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET/8:59 PM PT to be considered.

​
** Transcripts are utilized by PAVE administration to confirm your eligibility to participate as a current student. Transcripts will not be visible to judges on the review panel.​​​​

HAVE A QUESTION?

• For the quickest answers, check the Frequently Asked Questions page. If your question is still unanswered, please contact us at info@paveglobal.org.
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ABOUT THIS AWARD
The PAVE Global Educator of the Year Award honors and celebrates a full-time educator for their outstanding accomplishments and commitment to design education. The Educator of the Year Honoree consistently engages and inspires their students in new and exciting ways, seeks resources and opportunities beyond the classroom to enrich the current curriculum, demonstrates strong leadership within their department, makes significant contributions to the profession, and demonstrates excellence in teaching.


ELIGIBILITY

• Nominees must be current, full-time, tenured, or adjunct professors.
• Nominees must have a minimum of 7 years of experience in a post-secondary program related to Interior Design, Architecture, Visual Merchandising, Engineering, Graphic Design, UX/UI Design, Industrial Design, Product Design, Experiential Design, or a similar area of study at any university, college, or recognized professional school.
• Nominees must have a demonstrated history of-
      - Exhibiting excellence in teaching and consistently engaging and inspiring their students in new and innovative ways
      - Seeking resources and opportunities above and beyond the core curriculum (i.e. community involvement, design competitions, etc..)
      - Exhibiting strong leadership within their department
      - Making significant contributions to the profession

JUDGING

• All nominations will be judged by a panel of industry professionals and educators not affiliated with the nominees.
• Note: Anyone who writes a letter of nomination or a letter of support for a nominee is ineligible to participate on the review panel for this award.

PRIZE

• $1,500 to be awarded to the Educator of the Year
• $1,500 to be awarded to the School/Department
• Ticket to attend the PAVE Gala to be recognized
• Travel stipend* for flight + hotel
• Winners will also receive official digital assets for self-promotion, coverage via paveglobal.org, PAVE's social media accounts, and an official press release.

* Travel stipend of $1,000 (maximum) will be provided for educators located outside of the NY/NJ area.


PRESENTATION OF AWARDS
    The recipient will be honored at the 2025 PAVE Gala in New York City on December 11, 2025.


SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Letter of Nomination (min. 750 words)
      - Written by the Nominator, this letter should speak to the candidate's outstanding achievements and commitment to design education.
• Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages)
      - The candidate's CV to include experience and accomplishments relevant to this award.
• Academic/Classroom Project Outline
      - A brief description of the purpose, methods, and outcome of an innovation, sustainability, or community-focused project conducted with students/classes/studios that is above and beyond the scope of the core curriculum.​
      - The project must be from the last 3 years
• Mini Portfolio (max 5 pages)
      - Highlights of work/work samples that further support the candidate's CV and Academic Project Outline.​
      - It can include links to websites.
• Support Letters (3 letters, min. 500 words each)
  - These letters should speak to the criteria and provide evidence to support their claims.
      - Support letters should come from various sources, such as current students, alumni, colleagues, peers, administrators, industry professionals, etc.
• Headshot (Optional)
  - JPG or TIFF, at least 5x5 inches at 300 dpi
• All documents should be submitted as individual PDFs (except for the headshot) through the Submittable platform.
• Nominations are free and can be made by an industry peer, colleague, or administrator of the candidate. Self-nominations will also be accepted.

NOMINATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2025, BEFORE 11:59 PM EASTERN/8:59 PM PACIFIC
 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025, BEFORE 11:59 PM EASTERN/8:59 PM PACIFIC
 

The PAVE Scholarship Program, now in its fifteenth year, provides financial assistance to students in educational programs preparing them for careers in the consumer environments industry, including but not limited to careers in retail design, visual merchandising, interior design, architecture, product design, UX design, graphic design, and industrial design. PAVE was developed to help ensure a future talent pool for the industry by eliminating barriers to studying in these fields. The funds assist students who are experiencing financial difficulties that may prevent them from continuing school. PAVE has awarded students over $216,000 in financial grants and scholarships in the past five years.

The Bish Creative Display POP Scholarship + Experience recognizes and supports leadership potential in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Applied Design, Engineering Design, UX Design, Product Design, Branding, and similar programs who have an interest in pursuing a career in  POP Design.

THE AWARD
 Student applicants will be judged blindly by a panel of industry professionals. One student will be selected to receive the following:​

• $3,500 cash prize
• 5-day immersive mentorship experience at Bish Creative Display, in Chicago, IL. Travel and expenses covered.**
• Attend the 2025 PAVE Gala on December 8th in New York City, as a guest of Bish Creative Display. Travel and expenses covered.
   

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
 

• Student must be enrolled in a 2 to 4-year undergraduate or graduate program working toward a degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Applied Design, Engineering Design, UX Design, Product Design, Branding, and similar programs who have an interest in pursuing a career in  POP Design.
• Student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.​
• Student must be a full-time student, enrolled in at least 12 credit hours (or equivalent, based on your program requirements).​
• Student must be located and studying within the United States or Canada.
   

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
      The following items must be included in your application for your request to be considered.​​
 

• Cover Letter (Max 500 Words): Tell us about yourself. What interests you about pursuing a Graphic Design career designing Point-of-purchase retail displays?​
• Portfolio (8-10 Pages Max): Highlights of your most recent design work. Can be student or professional-based. Must include 2-3 pages of your design work done outside of school/class for fun (examples include logo design, flyer, character designs, and 3D graphics).​
• Please submit a picture portfolio of displays in the marketplace that are intriguing to you.​
• Please submit any designs or projects in your classwork that focus on point of purchase, in-store marketing, and merchandising.
• Must include a complete copy of your current transcript (official or unofficial).​
• Applications and supporting documents must be submitted through Submittable.
• All applications must be received by October 31, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET/8:59 PM PT to be considered.
   

**The in-person mentorship experience will occur on a mutually agreed-upon date.