IE and JLL Design Wonder Award 2026-2027

Competition Brief

The IE and JLL Design Wonder Award 2026-2027 is a fully funded scholarship programme for nine post-graduate students to pursue the Master’s in Interior Design at IE School of Architecture and Design at IE University in Madrid, Spain. Now in its second year, the award is a three-year initiative jointly funded by JLL Project and Development Services (PDS) and IE School of Architecture and Design, launched in November 2024. Applications for the 2026-2027 edition are open until 30 April 2026.

The award is not a design competition in the conventional sense. It is a merit-based selection programme that identifies outstanding candidates globally and fully funds their participation in a ten-month, in-person postgraduate programme in interior architecture and design at one of Europe’s most internationally oriented design schools.

Intent

The programme aims to bridge academic training and professional practice in interior design by combining postgraduate education at IE with direct industry engagement from JLL, one of the world’s largest commercial real estate and design services firms. JLL provides course content and guest lectures throughout the programme, ensuring students engage with real-world design challenges. The ten-month Master’s in Interior Design focuses on how interior environments shape human experience and generate social impact, covering spatial strategy, design research, materials, sustainability, and technical development alongside business dynamics and client relationship management.

Purpose

The award was established to expand access to advanced interior design education for talented candidates who might otherwise be unable to fund postgraduate study. Upon successful completion of the programme, selected graduates are offered the opportunity to work for two years at JLL offices worldwide, applying their skills to real-world projects through JLL Design or Tétris Design and Build studios. This creates a direct employment pathway from scholarship to professional practice at an international scale, across JLL’s 600-plus designers in 65 studios in more than 30 countries.

Requirements

The award targets post-graduate candidates from any country with a demonstrated background in or strong interest in interior design, architecture, or related spatial disciplines. Candidates apply directly through IE University’s dedicated award landing page. The 2025-2026 class comprised entirely international students, reflecting the programme’s global orientation. Full eligibility criteria, application materials, and selection process details are available through the IE University School of Architecture and Design admissions team at ieschoolaandd@ie.edu. The programme is delivered in person at IE University’s campus at Calle de Velázquez 130, Madrid.

Jury

Selection is conducted by the IE School of Architecture and Design in collaboration with JLL’s design leadership. Key figures involved in the programme include David Goodman (Dean, IE School of Architecture and Design), Nicasio Gutiérrez (PDS Global Head of Design, JLL), and Adrian Davidson (Head of Design EMEA, JLL). The selection process and specific evaluation criteria are managed through IE University’s admissions process and have not been published as a formal jury framework.

Registration Fees

There is no application fee. The award fully covers tuition for the Master’s in Interior Design programme for all nine selected recipients. Living costs, accommodation, and travel to Madrid are not specified as covered in the published programme details and should be confirmed with IE University directly.

Prizes and Rewards

The post-graduation employment opportunity is described as an opportunity to apply, not a guaranteed placement. Candidates should confirm the exact terms of the post-graduation pathway with IE University and JLL directly before applying.

Key Dates

✦ ArchUp Competition Review

The IE and JLL Design Wonder Award is a substantive and well-structured scholarship that addresses a genuine access problem in postgraduate design education. Nine fully funded places at a well-regarded international school, combined with direct industry engagement from a global design firm and a post-graduation employment pathway, represent a significant package. The programme’s commercial orientation is explicit and worth noting: JLL’s involvement shapes the curriculum toward the professional, client-facing dimensions of interior design, which may suit some candidates more than others. The selection process is managed through IE University’s admissions rather than a published open jury, which limits external transparency about how candidates are evaluated. The post-graduation employment pathway is an opportunity rather than a guarantee, a distinction that matters for candidates making location and career decisions based on this award. For candidates with a strong interest in interior architecture and spatial design who want direct access to a major international design practice environment, this is among the most comprehensive scholarship programmes currently available in the field.

Final Thoughts

The IE and JLL Design Wonder Award 2026-2027 offers nine outstanding candidates a fully funded postgraduate degree, professional industry training, and a potential employment pathway at an international firm. Applications close 30 April 2026 via IE University’s School of Architecture and Design at ie.edu.

Registration Deadline

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