Huge Canada and George Brown College Launch ‘The Experience Exchange’ Scholarship

Huge Canada, part of (NYSE: IPG) global experience agency, today unveils a new scholarship in partnership with George Brown College called The Experience Exchange, which grants financial assistance to passionate design scholars at George Brown College’s Centre for Arts, Design & Information Technology in Toronto, Canada. The purpose of The Experience Exchange by Huge is to help address the systemic issues facing historically underrepresented identities in the design industry by reducing the financial burden of an education, rewarding hard work and dedication to the field, and providing access to industry insights and experience. 

Matt Di Paola, managing director at Huge Canada, said, “By launching The Experience Exchange by Huge, we are helping to improve access to opportunities for underrepresented groups in our industry, starting in our hometown. Our goal is to create a huge impact here. We want to thank George Brown College Foundation for partnering with us to take the first step in supporting the next generation of design talent in Toronto.”

Recipients of the scholarship are those who exhibit a strong interest and commitment to design through extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and involvement in the classroom, are from equity deserving groups, and require financial support to help fund their education. The first recipients of the scholarship will be selected this Fall, 2021. 

“As part of Huge’s ongoing action plan for diversity, equity and inclusion, we are focused on increasing representation," said Toni Howard Lowe, GVP of diversity, equity and inclusion at Huge. "This is something that can only be maintained by fighting systemic bias and inequity, which is why we invest in the creation of growth pipelines such as The Experience Exchange by Huge." 

The scholarships are awarded to four students, two per the Fall semester and two per the Winter semester, valued at $2,500 each, for an overall commitment of $30,000 from Huge Canada to be distributed over three years. In addition to a supplemented design education, scholarship recipients also receive mentorship from Huge Canada professionals, access to career development sessions on campus, remotely and in-office when Huge Canada’s office opens in accordance with provincial guidance, and real-world networking opportunities.

“We are proud to partner with Huge Canada, who shares our vision for diversity, inclusion, and equal access to education and employment,” commented Dr. Cindy Gouveia, president of the George Brown College Foundation. “Their leadership in championing underrepresented voices through The Experience Exchange by Huge in the design industry not only makes an impact on the lives of our GBC students, but in the future of our communities and our world.” 

“The Experience Exchange by Huge established at George Brown College, is a shining example of the innovation, foresight and initiative that Huge Canada has in the design community" said Luigi Ferrara, Dean at the Centre for Arts, Design and Information Technology. “Supporting students from underrepresented communities, both financially and professionally, elevates them to have equal access to opportunities that will allow them to build their design careers with success. We are excited to see this partnership come to life and evolve.” 

Huge continues to double down on its public commitment ‘Staying Accountable’ with the release of its 2021 diversity data. In addition to The Experience Exchange by Huge scholarship, Huge also just concluded its most recent semester of Huge XD School, a paid design apprenticeship program started in 2011 to address the shortage of User Experience design talent in the creative industry that returned this year with a renewed equity-centred education purpose. 

HOW TO APPLY: 

The Experience Exchange by Huge scholarship is available to full-time domestic students in seven programs at the George Brown College’s Centre for Arts, Design, and Information Technology (CADIT) and the Project Management program (B415) at the Centre for Business. To be eligible for the award, applicants must exhibit strong interest and commitment to their field of study through their extra-curricular activities, volunteer work, and involvement in the classroom. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need. 

Preference will be given to students from underrepresented communities, including Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour (BIPOC), persons living with a disability, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+. Students must submit an online application for this award. Find more information on George Brown College’s Awards and Scholarships page. 

To learn more about Huge, The Experience Exchange by Huge and our commitment to ‘Staying Accountable’, please visit: here and here.