IIDA Great Plains Chapter Announces 2025 Interior Design Excellence Awards Recipients
RDG has been honored for its work elevating the interior design profession.
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Great Plains Chapter has recognized RDG Planning & Design with an Interior Design Excellence Award (IDEA). The annual IDEA Awards recognize winners, promote interior design, and celebrate talent across the chapter. All projects are judged on the same criteria, centered around the idea that “good design is good design, no matter the scale, no matter the sector.” The 2025 awards celebration took place on Friday, May 2, in Des Moines, Iowa.
RDG received an Honorable Mention Award for the design of the carved stone feature walls at the Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences Campus. This custom-carved stone element incorporates the site’s geological story, showcasing craftsmanship that honors the land’s history while creating a tactile and visual connection to its natural origins.
RDG’s design centers on regionally sourced, 4-inch-thick natural stone, carefully carved with subtle linear recesses. These shallow cuts create angular edges that cast shadows across the stone’s surface, evoking a sense of movement and visual connection. Introduced at the main entry to campus, this feature anchors the first floor and spans two stories, linking interior program spaces. Stone feature walls reappear at key destinations across the four-building campus, serving as visual landmarks that intuitively guide users through both horizontal and vertical circulation.
Through multiple iterations and physical mock-ups, the design team refined the stone’s size, depth, spacing and tactile qualities. This architectural gesture represents the cutting edge of progress, echoing the university’s mission to lead through innovation, inclusion and sustainability.
Participation in the IDEA award program elevates, advocates and celebrates exceptional design. IIDA Great Plains cultivates a design community that inspires excellence while promoting the importance of interior design. The IIDA Great Plains Chapter encompasses interior designers and professionals across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. A full list of winners can be viewed here.