New in 2025, the PLAID program will expand to serve both the Washington Metro and Baltimore-Annapolis City Centers, offering emerging designers the opportunity to build meaningful, local connections within their professional communities. The Washington Metro City Center (WMCC) cohort will launch in October 2025, followed by the inaugural Baltimore-Annapolis City Center (BACC) cohort in January 2026.

PLAID Program

Propelling Leadership + Advocacy in Interior Design

IIDA Mid Atlantic Chapter’s core values are to advocate, educate and engage. We see no better way to achieve these goals than to provide an Emerging Leadership Program. This program is designed for early career professionals who have an interest and talent for leadership within the interior design community. The goal is to provide participants with a better understanding of various aspects of interior design and how they relate to each other. This will offer participants the opportunity to explore many facets of our industry, to engage in dialogue with experienced leaders and experts and to develop a network of colleagues within the Mid Atlantic region.

meet our 2025

WMCC SCHOLARS

Michelle Syer

sshape

Monique Gagnon

Gensler

Veronica Marz

Studio Alliance

Xinyi Wang

Smithgroup

Julie Blitz

FORM

Milena Tekle

Independent Designer

Taylor Sallis

Perkins & Will

Alice Sandoval

ZGF

Kellie Weeks

HGA

Rocio Carrero

HOK

Maua Abelson

AECOM

Shreya Somani

Arcadis