Three New York-Based Design Students Recognized for Exceptional Academic and Design Achievement
The International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY) is honored to announce the winners of its fifth annual Hazel Siegel Scholarship. The recipients include Rahil Mandalia from Pratt Institute, Syna Saigal from The New School, Parsons School of Design, and Sarah Touri from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). They will receive an all-expense-paid, three-day trip to IIDA’s SHIFT Conference in Dallas, February 11-13, and a one-year IIDA student membership to the NY chapter.
The scholarship honors the legacy of Hazel Siegel, an acclaimed textile designer and longtime IIDA NY member who served in numerous leadership roles and received multiple honors over more than 40 years of dedicated service. Following her passing in 2020, IIDA NY established the scholarship to honor Siegel’s enduring contributions to the design industry. In addition to her professional achievements, Siegel was a respected professor at Pratt Institute and was named an industry icon in Interior Design magazine’s 75th-anniversary issue, recognizing her unwavering commitment to the field. The scholarship carries forward her legacy and the lasting impact she made on the design community.
“We are delighted to recognize the exceptional talent and dedication of this year’s scholarship recipients,” said Lauren Titsworth, Co-Chair of the IIDA NY Hazel Siegel Scholarship Committee. “Rahil, Syna, and Sarah reflect the values Hazel championed throughout her career — innovation, inclusivity, and a commitment to community and human connection,” added Michelle Schutt, Co-Chair of the IIDA NY Hazel Siegel Scholarship Committee. “Their thoughtful, research-driven approaches offer fresh perspectives on how interior environments can promote well-being, equity, and meaningful experiences.”
The winning Hazel Siegel Scholarship winners were selected based on their community engagement, academic standing, design aspirations, perspectives on diversity, and post-graduation goals as follows:
Rahil Mandalia (Pratt Institute)
Mandalia is driven by a desire to reconfigure existing spaces to better support the evolving needs of the human body and mind in a post-pandemic, technology-driven world. His work explores how design can counteract the effects of constant digital stimulation, creating environments that encourage pause, focus, and sensory awareness amid the rise of AI and the decline of attention spans. Passionate about hospitality design and sustainable construction, Mandalia aspires to gain professional experience in a design studio before eventually launching his own practice rooted in sustainability and thoughtful materiality. Guided by universal design principles, ethical use of technology, and a deep commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, Mandalia seeks to use design as a tool for accessibility, education, and meaningful human connection.
Syna Saigal (The New School, Parsons School of Design)
Guided by a belief that the spaces we inhabit shape how we think, feel, and connect, Saigal approaches interior design through a human-centered and socially conscious lens. With an academic background in legal studies, she brings a distinctive perspective to design, translating principles of fairness, structure, and equity into environments that promote dignity, healing, and inclusion. Her studio work focuses on wellness-oriented and socially impactful spaces that prioritize comfort, belonging, and user experience. After graduation, she plans to gain professional experience at an interior architecture or design firm specializing in wellness, hospitality, or social impact projects, with a long-term goal of establishing her own practice rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and culturally informed design.
Sarah Touris (Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT))
Focused on creating interiors that foster community, connection, and collective well-being, Touris is passionate about how the built environment can encourage meaningful social interaction in urban settings. With a strong interest in sustainable urban growth, she is drawn to mixed-use and community-focused projects that balance public and private amenities. Influenced by her time studying abroad in Milan, Touris is inspired by European models of inclusive public space designed for all users. Grounded in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, she strives to create accessible, evidence-based interiors that break down barriers and foster a strong sense of place within diverse communities.
About IIDA NY
The IIDA New York Chapter (IIDA NY)—an inclusive community of creative and diverse professionals, industry partners and students—celebrates design, encourages collaboration, shares knowledge and advocates for the interior design community. This professional networking and educational association provides invaluable resources to more than 700 members in 10 specialty forums with the goal of enhancing their expertise, knowledge and contacts. IIDA NY is proudly committed to design advocacy, sustainability, civic engagement, student mentorship and development, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. For more information, visit: http://www.iidany.org/.