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 continuing in a Master’s of Industrial Design degree. Endowed in 2020 through the generosity of the estate of Sonja Bata.

Deadline

March 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Value

Two $1000 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.

• Quality and originality of contribution to research
• Significance, feasibility and merit of proposed research
• Judgment and ability to think critically
• Initiative and autonomy.