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April 26, 2022

The 2022 Metropolis Future100 Report

Now in its second year, the Metropolis Future100 program honors the top graduating interior design and architecture students in the U.S. and Canada.

By: Metropolis Editors

Following the debut of the Future100 program in 2021, Metropolis set out once again this year to designate the top graduating architecture and interior design students in the United States and Canada. The program, sponsored by CannonDesign, Daltile, Formica, Keilhauer, Rapt, Sherwin-Williams, and SOM, invited the most talented students from the class of 2022 to apply. The final 100 are featured in this issue. 

Nominated by their instructors and mentors, these 56 interior design and 44 architecture students were chosen by the Metropolis team. They hail from some of the best schools in North America, from Tuskegee University to California College of the Arts, and call anywhere from Orlando, Florida, to Toronto home. A diverse group—with many identifying as female, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, or neurodiverse—they are leaders on their campuses, advocating for equity and inclusion through their work and extracurriculars.

On the following pages, we give you a broad look at this group of talented young designers: who they are, where they come from, and what and where they study. Then see the full list of winners and dive deeper into their impressive work (p. 96) to get a glimpse of what the future of the A&D industry could be. 

Judging Criteria 

The most talented students from the class of 2022 submitted their academic accomplishments, a portfolio, and testimonials from an instructor or a professional mentor. Applicants were required to be enrolled in an accredited architecture or interior design program at a public or private college in the United States or Canada, be working on studio-based or research-based projects, and be in good academic standing. Student submissions were reviewed by the Metropolis team and judged on their creativity, rigor, and professionalism. 

“Sophie Clapperton is exceptional—she is a deeply reflective designer who evaluates economic, social, and climate data to create a synthetic response that solves pragmatic problems, ennobles the inhabitants, and strengthens community.” 

KAREN NELSON, Dean, School of Architecture, Boston Architectural College

“Throughout her four years as a design student Lauren Shaul has shown considerable interests and sensitivities to design inclusive interiors that consider the spectrum of users, their abilities, ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomic backgrounds.” 

LINDSEY BAHE, Interior Design Program Director, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

ACADEMICS 

What Do They Study? 

Pursuing undergrad or graduate degrees in architecture and interior design, the Future100 students also demonstrate passions for other creative outlets—from painting and photography to lighting and furniture design—as well as interests in areas of study such as urban planning, accessible design, and sustainability. 

graphic showing percentages of architecture/interior design graduates and undergraduates included in the Future100

DIVERSITY 

What Do They Say About the Future? 

These top students advocate for equity and inclusion through their work and extracurriculars, and many identify with groups that are underrepresented in the A&D professions. 

infographic shows demographics of future 100 students

“Optimism, kindness, and human-centered focus are evident throughout Ashley Chen’s work and if this is an indication of her future direction—which I think it is—then my own sense of hope for the design field and its place in the world, too, remains high.” 

IGOR SIDDIQUI, Program Director for Interior Design, The University of Texas at Austin

SCHOOLS

Where Do They Study?

Launching a search across the United States and Canada, we reached out to deans, professors, and advisers at architecture and interior design programs, to find the top students from the class of 2022. Enthusiastic nominations came flooding in from leading schools throughout North America.

infographic shows what schools are represented by future100

GEOGRAPHY 

Where Are Their Schools? 

With wide-ranging geographic and cultural backgrounds, the Future100 study anywhere from New York to San Francisco. 

infographic shows where the future100's students' schools are

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