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Feb 25, 2025 By Nneka McGuire
More Showrooms, More Booths, More Chances to Win
Our Showroom and Booth Competition is expanding in 2025
By Nneka McGuire Feb 25, 2025
Published in Articles

IIDA’s Showroom and Booth Competition is back — and bigger than ever. For the first time, the competition will include permanent showrooms and temporary installations at NeoCon in The Mart and at Design Days in Fulton Market.

The 2025 Showroom and Booth Competition officially opens March 3. Find out how the expanded competition works, and how to apply, by reading the short FAQ below.

    Hold on, who’s eligible to apply?

    If your business has a permanent showroom or temporary space exhibiting at NeoCon in The Mart, or at Design Days in Fulton Market in 2025, then voila — you’re eligible.

    Note: There aren’t booths, per se, at Design Days, but there are pop-up spaces; those are eligible under the booth category.

    But wait, how can you compare showrooms and booths of different sizes, at different locations?

    Showrooms and booth will be divided into, and evaluated based on, four categories:

    • Large Showroom (4,000 square feet or larger)
    • Small Showroom (under 4,000 square feet)
    • Large Booth (400 square feet or larger)
    • Small Booth (under 400 square feet)

    Here’s how it’ll work: A jury of design professionals will evaluate submissions at Fulton Market on Saturday, June 7, and at The Mart on Sunday June 8.

    Both NeoCon at The Mart and Design Days in Fulton Market run from June 9-11, 2025.

    How many winners will there be?

    There will be two winners per category — one winner located in The Mart, and the other in Fulton Market. Eight category winners in total (most likely, though the jury reserves the right not to choose a winner in any given category).

    Plus, there will be two Best of Competition Winners, derived from the category winners: one Best of Competition at The Mart, and another at Fulton Market.

    So, NeoCon and Design Days submissions won’t be judged against each other?

    Not so fast. A special, select jury will compare the Best of Competition winners from The Mart/NeoCon and Fulton Market/Design Days. Of the two, one will be selected Best of Chicago Design Week — the winner will be revealed at IIDA’s Revel in Design Gala the evening of June 8.

    What do I get if I win?

    Honor, acclaim, design fame! Winners will be honored at NeoCon and Design Days and will be featured on IIDA.org, and across IIDA’s social platforms, where we have more than 420,000 followers. Winners will also receive official digital assets — including competition winner logos for self-promotion — and coverage in an official press release distributed to leading industry outlets and media partners.

    How can I apply?

    Find competition open and close dates, pricing, and more details here. Once the competition officially opens on March 3, you’ll find a link to submit on the same webpage.

    Have more questions? Reach out to IIDA Design Competitions Manager, Veronica Whitaker, at competitions@iida.org.

    Find out more about IIDA’s Showroom and Booth Competition

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