IIDA NY Career Night 2026 Brings Together the Next Generation of Design Talent
A GROWING PLATFORM FOR CONNECTION AND OPPORTUNITY
The third annual IIDA NY Career Night brought together students, emerging designers, and leading architecture and design firms for an evening focused on mentorship, feedback, and professional growth.
Hosted at Keilhauer, with activations across Andreu World and Prismatique Designs, the event welcomed more than 200 attendees. The program continues to grow as a platform where future designers connect directly with industry leaders.
Learn more in The Architect’s Newspaper article.
A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ACROSS THE DESIGN COMMUNITY
Led by Student Development under the direction of Paridhi Chawla, and supported by the Professional Development LMNOP initiative, the event reflected a strong, coordinated effort across the IIDA NY chapter. Paridhi has recently taken over leadership of the Student Development initiative from Robin Reigi (the current IIDA NY President-Elect) and Elisabeth Mejia (the current IIDA NY President), who founded Student Development three years ago.
More than 20 sponsors participated, offering expertise, guidance, and hands-on engagement. The evening also introduced the LUZ Rising Immigrant Award, which recognizes resilience and contributions within the design community.
An inspiring keynote by Stephen Michael Wilder, NYCOBA-NOMA, AIA, added depth and perspective to the program.
“It has been especially meaningful to watch Career Night grow since our founding three years ago.”
REAL-TIME FEEDBACK AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Career Night is designed to be practical and accessible.
The evening included portfolio reviews with direct, real-time feedback from experienced professionals. Students were able to ask questions, refine their work, and gain insight into how their portfolios are evaluated in practice.
Additional activations included:
- A professional headshot studio to support career readiness
- A hands-on activation room led by manufacturers
- A collaborative mural built from Sherwin-Williams color chips, representing
- Leadership, Mentorship, Networking, Opportunity, and People
These elements created an immersive environment that encouraged both learning and interaction.
SUPPORTED BY LEADING ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN FIRMS
A key strength of the event is the participation of top-tier firms. Their involvement brings credibility and ensures that students receive meaningful, relevant feedback.
Participating firms included:
Perkins & Will
M Moser Associates
Glen & Co. Architecture
Array Architects
Perkins Eastman
Vocon
Mancini Duffy
Gensler
Aandaarch
Huntsman Architectural Group
Corgan
CetraRuddy
ZGF
Ted Moudis
Studio Valerius
Jake J Brotter Architecture & Design
TPG Architecture
Building Studio Architects
Workshop APD
Spivak Architects
Ewing Cole
Meyer Davis
This level of engagement reflects a shared commitment across the industry to support emerging talent.
“This event is made stronger by the generosity of the design professionals and industry partners who continue to show up for our students and emerging designers with such care and commitment.”
RECOGNITION AND CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
The evening also honored key contributors to the design community.
Carmita Sanchez-Fong was recognized through an annual dedication, with scholarships awarded in her name. The Hazel Siegel Scholarship marked its fifth year, continuing to support the next generation of designers.
These recognitions reinforce the importance of mentorship, access, and long-term investment in the profession.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF DESIGN
Events like Career Night play an essential role in shaping the future of the industry. They create space for connection, learning, and opportunity at a critical stage in a designer’s career.
At Robin Reigi Materials, we believe that strong design communities are built through shared knowledge and collaboration. Supporting initiatives like IIDA NY Career Night is one way to help ensure that the next generation of designers enters the profession with confidence, clarity, and support.
