STARK RISING STARS DESIGN GRANT
APPLY NOW
STARK invites the next generation of interior designers to apply for our prestigious Rising Stars Program. This transformative initiative offers emerging designers the opportunity to accelerate their careers through substantial grants, industry recognition, and community building.
AWARDS
(1) National Recipient: $20,000 & $5,000 STARK Product Credit
(6) Regional Recipients: $5,000 each & $2,500 STARK Product Credit
(1) Community Choice Winner: $2,500 & $2,500 STARK Product Credit (selected via Instagram Community Vote)
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
- Principal & Business Owner of Interior Design Business Founded after 2018
- Located in the United States or UK
- Project portfolio with minimum of 3 completed projects
- A STARK Trade Account
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
- Completed Stark Rising Stars Application
- Professional Portfolio Photography (3 project minimum, 6 projects maximum)
- STARK Trade Account (if you do not have a registered Trade Account with STARK, apply for one here: APPLY FOR TRADE
- Professional headshot
KEY DATES
- Applications Open: April 30, 2025
- Submission Deadline: October 31, 2025
- Award Recipients Announced & Award Events: Winter 2026
STARK RISING STARS DESIGN GRANT
judging criteria
1. DESIGN VISION & PHILOSOPHY
Clarity, originality, and depth of the designer's creative identity. Judges should evaluate how well applicants articulate their design philosophy, what inspires their work, and how they approach each project with intentionality and purpose.
2. INNOVATION & FUTURE READINESS
Demonstrated ability to embrace innovation and anticipate future trends in interior design. Judges should assess how applicants integrate technology, sustainability, or evolving cultural aesthetics into their designs—and how they plan to stay ahead of industry changes.
3. ALIGNMENT WITH STARK CORE VALUES
Embodiment of “Figure It Out,” “Next Level,” and “Measure Twice, Cut Once.”
Judges should look for stories or examples of resilience, continuous improvement, thoughtful execution, and a growth mindset in the applicant’s process and projects.
4. BUSINESS STRATEGY & GROWTH POTENTIAL
Clarity of business goals and how the grant would catalyse meaningful progress.
Applicants should clearly outline how they would invest the funds in themselves and their business, with a strategic plan for sustainability, expansion, or client impact.
5. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & BRAND ELEVATION POTENTIAL
Potential to contribute to and benefit from the STARK community and brand ecosystem. Judges should consider the applicant’s ability to represent STARK as a Rising Star through collaboration, thought leadership, and participation in events or marketing opportunities
Meet the Judges
Ashley Stark
Ashley Stark is the Creative Director of STARK, the legendary carpet company founded by her grandparents, and founder of Ashley Stark Home, where her lifelong immersion in design and heritage craftsmanship has shaped her inimitable style. Her curated collection of rugs skillfully juxtaposes unexpected touches with classic elements that feel right in any setting.
Andrew Torrey
Founded in 2013, TORREY is a New York–based interior design firm known for residential projects across the U.S. and internationally, including custom interiors for private jets and transport coaches. Featured in publications such as Architectural Digest and The New York Times, the firm recently released its first monograph, Private Spaces: Great American Design, with Rizzoli.
Caitlin Kah
Caitlin Kah Interiors is a boutique Palm Beach design firm known for creating fresh, livable spaces ranging from traditional to contemporary. Founder Caitlin Kah, formerly lead designer at Kemble Interiors, has been featured in top publications and was named to Luxe Interiors + Design’s 2023 Next in Design list.
Francis Nicdao
Principal and Chief Creative Officer at Pembrooke & Ives, directs many of the firm’s most celebrated projects, from high-end residences to building renovations and product design. Originally from the Philippines, he studied at Pratt and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen before building his career in New York City.
Jamie Drake
Celebrated for his bold and glamorous aesthetic, Jamie Drake has created an expansive body of work spanning luxury residences, commercial spaces, yachts, and product design, earning him a place in the AD100 Hall of Fame and on the Elle Decor A-List. Beyond his design achievements, he is a dedicated philanthropist, serving on numerous boards and supporting organizations such as the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, Housing Works, and Parsons School of Design.
Jay Jeffers
Jay Jeffers, founder of JayJeffers Inc. and co-owner of The Madrona hotel, is a celebrated designer known for creating luxurious yet livable spaces, with projects spanning California, New York, Texas, Florida, and beyond. Honored on Elle Décor’s A-List and featured widely in national publications, he has authored two design books and created product collaborations with Accurate Lock & Hardware and Arteriors.
Kendall Wilkinson
Intent on creating luxury interior spaces that reflect the lives of the people who live there, Kendall Wilkinson Design was formed around one central theme: Individualism. It’s in that narrative that KWD finds its heartbeat. With an emphasis on quality materials, customization and comfort, each intriguing space is created with intention and thoughtfulness around the clients that call these rooms home.
Lucy Penfield
An award-winning interior designer with degrees in art history, interior design, and design thinking, Lucy is nationally recognized for her sophisticated, client-focused approach that blends artistry with meaning. From textiles to custom homes, her radiant, art-infused style draws inspiration from diverse projects and challenges.
Marie Flanigan
Interior designer Marie Flanigan is celebrated for her sophisticated use of color, texture, and light, a signature style now reflected in her curated home goods. Her eponymous store offers rugs, bedding, lighting, furniture, and unique finds sourced and designed with the same elevated aesthetic she brings to her clients’ homes.
Mark D. Sikes
An esteemed interior designer and tastemaker working on projects throughout the United States and abroad, including the White House and Blair House. He is known for all American sensibilities and a fresh take on classical aesthetics. Mark has a talent for creating beautiful and timeless interiors that embody an indoor/outdoor lifestyle.
Randy Kemper
Randy Kemper is a principal of Ingrao Inc., a renowned New York–based design and architecture firm founded in 1982 alongside Anthony Ingrao. The firm is celebrated for its bespoke approach to creating luxurious interiors worldwide, with Kemper's work characterized by meticulous material selection and thoughtful interplay of light, texture, and scale.
Tony Ingrao
The founder and principal of Ingrao Inc., an internationally acclaimed architecture and design firm established in 1982 in New York City, where he partners with Randy Kemper in design and Bryan Brown in Architecture. The firm's 40+ year legacy of award-winning design continues to define some of the world's most exquisite spaces and redefine modern luxury.
STARK CORE VALUES
STARK has been a trusted partner to the interior design community for over 85 years. Founded in 1938, the company was built on the desire to provide carpet & rugs of unparalleled craftsmanship, quality, and design while providing world-class service. Our mission for the Rising Stars Program is to support emerging designers who embody STARK's legacy of excellence & innovation & that align with STARK's Core Values.
WE FIGURE IT OUT
Nothing like incomplete information, impossible timelines, inadequate systems, or the word “no” stops STARK from finding creative solutions to complex problems. We 'Figure It Out' constantly on behalf of our teams and our clients.
NEXT LEVEL
At STARK, we work tirelessly every day to provide Next Level service, design, product, and technology for our partners. As individuals and team members, we are never satisfied with status quo, and we always ask ourselves, “How can I do better? How can we go above and beyond?”
MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE
Our meticulous, conscientious, and detail-oriented behaviors help make STARK great because we know that one small error or miscommunication can lead to costly mistakes that impact the reputation of our teams and our firm as a whole. Our clients and peers expect near perfection so we always Measure Twice, Cut Once.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of STARK executives, industry leaders, and design professionals. Each submission receives careful consideration through multiple rounds of evaluation to ensure fairness and thoroughness in our selection process.
GET INVOLVED
Interested in being on our judging panel?
EMAIL: MARKETING@STARKCARPET.COM
Refer a Rising Star: Know a Standout Designer?
