Sam Farber Fellowship
Sam Farber Fellowship
The Sam Farber Fellowship celebrates the legacy of Sam Farber (1924–2013), whose commitment to inclusive design transformed how we think about products that serve all users.
This fellowship is made possible by Smart Design and supports ID students who demonstrate merit, prioritizing those with a commitment to using design to improve consumers’ lives, integrate design with business practices, or pursue entrepreneurship.
Sam Farber’s legacy lives in millions of homes worldwide. His iconic OXO peeler redefined what household tools could be, proving that when designers prioritize human needs over convention, the results benefit everyone, not just those with specific challenges.
Learn more about Sam Farber.
Featured Recipients
Audrey Gordon (MDes 2020)
“My time at ID helped me deepen my understanding of why designers make certain decisions and how systems operate.”
Jeff Sprague (MDes 2023)
“I believe design can be used to solve complex problems by providing structure for ambiguity, exploring every possibility, and relentless experimentation.”
Emery Donovan (MDes 2023)
“I like to think of design as the practice of making the future tangible, strategy as making choices about the future, and research as the essential third element that informs how those choices and futures are made.”
Benefactors
Smart Design
The Sam Farber Fellowship was started by his former colleagues at Smart Design, who wish to keep his legacy alive through the design practices taught at ID.
All Recipients
Audrey Gordon (MDes 2020)
Jeff Sprague (MDes 2023)
Emery Donovan (MDes 2023)
Steven Hunsicker (MDes + MBA 2023)
Flora Massah (MDes 2024)
Sanya Shah (MDes + MBA 2024)
Mrinal Bhatia (MDes + MBA 2024)
Grace Parks Hall (MDes + MBA 2024)
Rhea Shah (MDes 2025)