ARIDO · National
ARIDO Design Scholarship
About this award
Contact ARIDO to confirm the award value, deadline, and eligibility before you apply. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
The provider doesn't post a fixed dollar amount — contact ARIDO (the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario — the professional body that regulates interior designers in the province) to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you identify as Indigenous and are studying a design-related field at a college or university in Ontario. You have three different deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask ARIDO how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask ARIDO during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with ARIDO whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain. How to apply: This funding is administered through Indspire's Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships program. Students complete one central application that's evaluated against all 360+ of Indspire's funding pools (including this one) — you don't apply to the sponsor directly. The Apply button on this page routes to Indspire's portal automatically. For the full program description, all three application deadlines, and detailed eligibility, see Indspire Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships on FundMyCourse.
Can you get it?
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident — citizenship requirement
- Post Secondary — study level
- Resident of ON — provincial eligibility
- Studying Interior design, architecture, architecture technology, furniture design, industrial design, graphic design, lighting design, environmental design, stage (production) design — field of study
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
The biggest mistake is submitting a generic collection of work.
Winners instead curate a portfolio that shows a clear progression of skill and a unique design voice.
Select your three strongest pieces that match the specific design field you are studying.
The biggest mistake is using a general teacher who barely knows you.
Winners instead use a professor or industry mentor who can speak to your technical growth.
Ask your referee to mention a specific project where you showed leadership or innovation.