All submissions will be done electronically, no hard copy submissions will be accepted. To enter a project into this competition, you will need to prepare and submit the following:
- Your firm's contact information including name, address, phone number, and email
- Your design project's information including name and location
- Project description: a brief project summary (50-word maximum)
- Challenge statement: a description of your design challenge (250-word maximum)
- Solution statement: a description of specific solutions to project challenges (250-word maximum)
Please submit color images of your completed project, in JPG or JPEG format with a maximum file size of 1MB. You may submit captions to your images, not to exceed 50 words. Take note of the following additional guidelines:
- Submit 7-10 color images total.
- only one (1) exterior image is permitted.
- Use numbers to name your image files, in order of uploads (01, 02, 03, etc.)
- Submit a minimum of one (1) floorplan.
- A maximum of three (3) floorplans are allowed.
- Please use the following format for floor plans: "floorplan1, floorplan2, floorplan3"
- No composite images allowed - only one photograph per image upload.
- Do not reference or include your design/architectural firm name/logo in the images.
- Images may be edited to improve contrast ratio, color balance, and composition through cropping only.
- Images may not be edited to add, remove, or alter any aspect or element of the project including its context. Images should represent the project as it exists in the built environment.
- Conceptual renderings will not be accepted.
Projects must be submitted in one of the categories below. Categories may be renamed, consolidated, or eliminated (and projects reclassified) at the discretion of IIDA and/or the jurors. All entrants are eligible for the Narrative Award, which recognizes an interior design/ interior architecture project with a compelling project statement that describes extraordinary circumstances surrounding a project or significant challenges that were overcome in order to deliver a project.
- Amenity Spaces (any multi-purpose assembly space in a residential or commercial setting)
- Corporate Spaces - Large (1,000 square meters and above)
- Corporate Spaces - Small (under 1,000 square meters)
- Commercial Lobbies
- Education (colleges/universities/research)
- Education (elementary/secondary)
- Entertainment (casinos, night clubs, performing arts centers, sports arenas, theatres)
- Healthcare (hospitals, outpatient clinics, medical facilities)
- Hotels – Full Property
- Hotels – Guest Rooms/Suites
- Institutional (cultural, government/municipal spaces, libraries, religious spaces)
- Residences Large (150 square meters and above)
- Residences Small (under 150 square meters)
- Restaurants, Lounges, and Bars
- Retail (stores, boutiques)
- Sales Centers and Show Flats
- Showrooms and Exhibition Spaces
- Spas, Fitness Centers, & Gymnasiums
The winning design projects will be selected by a jury of design professionals. Submissions are judged on excellence in aesthetics, design, creativity, and function as well as the suitability of the design solution to the project challenge and the successful integration of the elements of design are also considered. The jury reserves the right not to select a winner from the entries submitted.
Winners will be honored during an in-person award ceremony at IIDA Headquarters, in August of 2023, Chicago, IL. Winners will be featured on IIDA.org. Winners will also receive official digital assets, including competition winner logos for self-promotion, coverage and mention on IIDA’s social media accounts, and in an official press release distributed to leading industry outlets and media partners.
For questions or more information, contact Veronica Whitaker at vwhitaker@iida.org