Champion Spotlight - The Coyne Family Foundation's Commitment to the Future of Design

For three decades, the AIGA WorldStudio D×D Scholarship (AWDS) has transformed challenges into opportunities and supported turning diverse perspectives into groundbreaking design. As we celebrate our 30th milestone anniversary, we’re not just looking back—we’re continuing to build a movement for a more inclusive and innovative design future.

Since 1994, our mission has been clear: nurture emerging talent and harness the power of diverse voices to reimagine what’s possible. And, in this milestone year, we couldn’t let it pass without highlighting the unwavering support of the Coyne Family Foundation.

In this time, the Coyne Family Foundation has led by example, providing critical support to AWDS and igniting change within the design community. Their commitment goes beyond financial assistance—it empowers emerging leaders to challenge the status quo.

One shining example is Tracey LaGuerre, who received the Rebecca Marco and Coyne Family Foundation Award through the AWDS program in 2015 as a freshman studying interactive design at California College of the Arts. Today, she’s transforming the animation landscape, producing work for brands like Cartoon Network and showcasing her talent for storytelling, storyboarding, and design. Beyond animation, she’s making waves in publishing as a children's book illustrator at Shannon Associates LLC and running her own small business (https://www.etsy.com/shop/traceyellestudios/?etsrc=sdt).

Tracey's remarkable journey and creative achievements showcase the incredible talent we get to support through the AWDS. Her success, driven by her vision and determination, inspires the next generation of creative voices in design and beyond.

Today, we celebrate the Coyne Family Foundation’s legacy and ongoing commitment to  fueling the future of design through AWDS—a scholarship program that has already changed so many lives and set young innovators on a path to reshape our world. We’re also celebrating all of the individuals, teams, associations and companies who joined the Foundation each year to empower talented designers to overcome obstacles and push boundaries, ensuring that creativity remains a powerful tool for social transformation.

We hope you’ll join the Coyne Family Foundation in building a future where every creative voice matters. Your investment in this scholarship opportunity is an investment in a more inclusive, innovative design landscape. Together, we can drive change, celebrate diversity, and secure the future of design.

Learn more about AWDS and discover how you can support our mission at dxd.design/apply. And ask us about our named scholarship opportunities! Email us at info@dxd.design for the details.