The Dr. Lesley Ann Noel Standard Bearer Scholarship for Design Research Visionary is established to honor her legacy and commitment to fostering inclusive, critical, and community-centered design research. The scholarship supports undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate a dedication to decolonizing design research and advancing equity and justice in the field of design.
By establishing this scholarship, the State of Black Design seeks to ensure that Dr. Noel's trailblazing efforts to decolonize design and amplify diverse voices continue to inspire and shape the future of design research for generations to come.
the Dr. Lesley Ann Noel Standard Bearer Scholarship for Design Research Visionary
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The Dr. Lesley Ann Noel Standard Bearer Scholarship for Design Research Visionary is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in a design or related program and have a demonstrated commitment to using design research to advance equity and social justice.
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Applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a design or design-related program at an accredited college or university. This includes programs such as industrial design, UX design, design research, public health, anthropology, sociology, or social innovation, where design thinking and research methods are applied to real-world issues.
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The scholarship is open to students pursuing degrees that intersect with design research, including industrial design, design research, user experience design, design anthropology, public health design, social innovation, or any other related fields where research is used as a tool for social impact and cultural transformation.
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Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate students and 3.5 for graduate students. This ensures that recipients are demonstrating excellence in both their academic and design research work.
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Applicants must be able to demonstrate their dedication to advancing design research as a tool for equity, social justice, and decolonization. This commitment can be shown through:
Research Portfolio: A portfolio or research project that highlights the applicant’s work in design research. This should include projects that center marginalized communities, amplify underrepresented voices, or challenge traditional research methods in favor of more inclusive, community-driven approaches.
Essay: A 500- to 700-word essay reflecting on how Dr. Noel’s work has influenced their approach to design research. The essay should articulate the applicant’s vision for how design research can be used to promote equity, decolonization, and community empowerment. Additionally, applicants should discuss their future goals and how they plan to use design research to address social issues.
Community Engagement: Applicants should provide evidence of their engagement with community-based research, collaborative design projects, or leadership in initiatives that promote social justice through design research.
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Financial need will be considered, particularly for students who have faced economic challenges that hinder their ability to pursue their academic and research goals. Documentation may be requested to substantiate financial need.
the award will be given to one undergraduate and one graduate student. The amount of the scholarship will vary depending on available funds but is intended to cover a significant portion of the recipient’s tuition and educational expenses, allowing them to focus on advancing their research without financial burden.
Through this scholarship, the State of Black Design seeks to ensure that Dr. Lesley Ann Noel’s visionary work continues to inspire students to approach design research with a critical, inclusive, and community-centered lens.
Recipients of this scholarship SHOULD carry forward Dr. Noel’s legacy of using design research to create a more equitablE world. By supporting students who are committed to these principles, the scholarship will help ensure that the field of design research remains a space for innovation, equity, and social justice for years to come.
Application and Nomination Process
Applicants for the Dr. Lesley Ann Noel Standard Bearer Scholarship for Design Research Visionary must submit the following:
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A completed application form that includes personal information, academic background, and program of study.
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A portfolio or documentation of research projects that demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to using design research as a tool for social impact. This portfolio should include a description of each project, the applicant’s role in the research, and the impact of the project on the community or field of study.
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A 500- to 700-word essay that discusses how Dr. Lesley Ann Noel’s work has inspired their own research, their vision for how design research can be used to advance equity and justice, and how they plan to apply these principles to their future research and design work.
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Two letters of recommendation from faculty, mentors, or community leaders who can speak to the applicant’s dedication to design research and their potential for making a lasting impact in the field.
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An official transcript showing the applicant’s academic progress and GPA.
Documentation verifying the applicant’s enrollment in a full-time design or design-related program.