Awarded annually by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, on the recommendation of the Director of the School of Industrial Design to outstanding graduate students entering or a first-year student continuing into their second year in a Master’s of Industrial Design degree. Endowed in 2020 through the generosity of the estate of Sonja Bata.

Sonja Bata (1926–2018)’s career reflects a sustained commitment to design as a form of stewardship, public education, and long-term social responsibility (Bata Shoe Museum, n.d.; Carleton University Senate, n.d.). Originally trained in architecture, Bata applied design thinking across business, cultural institutions, and environmental advocacy, advancing an integrated view of design’s role in shaping human and material conditions (Carleton University Senate, n.d.).

Within the framework of her work, environmental design practices are understood as the ones that address challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable production systems by treating environmental responsibility as a foundational condition of design practice, rather than an ancillary concern. Sonja Bata’s long-standing leadership within the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) demonstrates a model of environmental engagement grounded in sustained action, institutional leadership, and global impact.

Within the framework of her work, cultural design practices are understood as the ones that address questions of identity, heritage, representation, and meaning making, recognizing designed artifacts and systems as carriers of cultural knowledge and values. Sonja Bata’s founding of the Bata Shoe Museum exemplifies this orientation. As an international research and educational institution, the museum positions footwear as a lens through which human history, social organization, and cultural differences can be understood (Bata Shoe Museum, n.d.).

Within the framework of her work, social design practices are understood as the ones that focus explicitly on issues of access, equity, care, and justice. Sonja Bata’s extensive involvement in educational and cultural organizations  and multiple academic institutions, demonstrates a conviction that design has both a public mandate and a civic responsibility.

Deadline

December 1st at 11:59 PM

Value

One $2000 awards.

Eligibility

• Must be in the Master of Design program.
• Applicants must have a 10.0 GPA (A-) or above. Only courses taken during the Master of Design program will be included in the GPA calculation. SAT, PASS, and college-level grades are not included in GPA calculations.
• Must be a full-time student.
• Milestones related to the terms must be completed and passed according to the provided timeline.
• Students can receive a maximum of two Sonja Bata awards while in the Masters of Design program.

Evaluation Criteria

The proposed research potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field of cultural, environmental and social contribution of design, and any anticipated outcomes.

• Originality and alignment of contribution to research on the role of design in tackling environmental, cultural, and social issues.
• Significance, feasibility and merit of proposed research.
• Social Contribution (extracurricular or volunteer activities)