Mike Ford + Shaw Contract Scholarship Awarded

Honoring the Future of Design: Bertha Espinoza Named First Hip Hop Architecture Scholarship Recipient

At NeoCon 2025, we didn’t just talk about the future of design; we celebrated it. Rising design star Bertha Espinoza received the first Hip Hop Architecture Scholarship, a milestone made possible through the Shaw Contract collaboration with architect Mike Ford.

Bertha’s journey began in 2018 when she attended the Chicago Hip Hop Architecture Camp as a seventh grader. That experience, later featured on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday, sparked a passion for design that has grown ever since. This year, we had the honor of surprising Bertha with the scholarship during her very first NeoCon in Chicago. This unforgettable moment reflects the spirit of our mission: to support the next generation of diverse design leaders.

Powered by Purpose: The Mike Ford + Shaw Contract Collection

This scholarship is the first to be funded through the Mike Ford + Shaw Contract Collection, a bold and expressive carpet collection that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop. Inspired by the five elements of Hip Hop — Graffiti, DJing, Emcee, Breakdancing, and Knowledge — the collection transforms cultural expression into architectural inspiration.

Explore the collection: 

• Mike Ford + Shaw Contract collaboration 
• Architect translates Hip Hop to Carpet Broadloom and Rugs
• Mike Ford x Shaw Contract Collection Wins NYCxDESIGN Award 

A portion of every sale from this collection directly supports the Hip Hop Architecture Camp®, helping introduce underrepresented youth to careers in architecture and design.