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October 20, 2023

International Interior Design Awards and Application Deadlines

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Our clients and co-workers celebrate our work daily, but there is something so special about being recognized by our peers and mentors. From the IIDA to the Gold Key Awards, these prizes laud commitment to excellence in design and honor those who have made exceptional contributions to the field. In this article, we list thirteen international awards presented to designers in both commercial and residential sectors. We also briefly outline each award’s application process and note impending deadlines. Whether you design hotel lobbies or single-family homes, read on to explore these remarkable opportunities for recognition.

13 International Interior Design Awards and Their Application Deadlines

IIDA (International Interior Design Association) Design Excellence 

The IIDA Design Excellence Awards annually celebrate outstanding commitment to design—recognizing exceptional work by designers and firms through the International Design Awards. Presented by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), these awards honor innovation in interior design and are open to anyone in the interior design profession. 

Nominations are not required. You can directly submit a portfolio for consideration. The application deadline for 2023 and 2024 can be found on the IIDA official website.

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: IIDA official website.

A’ Design Award & Competition

A’ Design Award & Competition—one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades—features a dedicated category for Interior Space and Exhibition Design. Open to designers worldwide, this competition requires no external nominations. 

Applications are accepted year-round until February 28—with results announced every year on April 15. Winners enjoy extensive global publicity including press appearances and exhibitions of their designs in Italy.

The competition stands out for its unique 3D-printed metal trophy. Its organization aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and philanthropy in the design world. 

Learn more about when and how to apply to these interior design awards: A’ Design Award & Competition 

SBID International Design Awards

SBID International Design Awards—presented by the Society of British & International Design —celebrates design excellence in various interior design categories. These awards encompass interior design, outstanding fit-out, and product design in both commercial and residential sectors. 

Open to all, the International Design Awards are a recognition of outstanding interior design all around the world. Each edition showcases exceptional projects and award-winning products—providing a global platform for creative and innovative design talent. While the entry deadline for 2023 has passed, stay tuned for future opportunities on the SBID official website.

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: SBID International Design Awards

The Inside World Festival of Interiors

The Inside World Festival of Interiors is an annual celebration of the best in interior design projects across multiple categories. This prestigious event showcases cutting-edge interior design innovations, concepts, processes, and trends from around the world. 

While the entry deadline for 2023 has passed, the festival provides a platform for finalists to present their projects live in Singapore. Inside World Festival of Interiors runs alongside the World Architecture Festival—creating a dynamic environment for architects and designers to showcase their work. 

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: The Inside World Festival of Interiors 

Core77 Design Awards

The Core77 Design Awards is an annual competition celebrating excellence across 23 diverse design disciplines—including the interior design industry. Open to experienced, award-winning designers, emerging interior design professionals, and students, this global platform allows participants to showcase their best work. We encourage those with student design portfolios to submit as a way to catapult their careers.

Established for over a decade, the international awards program values inclusivity and creative talent. The submission deadline for 2023 was on March 15 at 9 PM EST. For information on future opportunities, visit the official website.

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: Core77 Design Awards 

The Design Museum’s Design of the Year

The Design Museum’s Design of the Year award—hosted in London—celebrates innovative designs across various disciplines including interiors. Design experts nominate projects in categories like Architecture, Transport, Graphics, Interactive, Product, Residential Furniture Design, and Fashion Design. 

Eligible designs must have been produced within the past calendar year. While nominations are closed for public submissions in 2023, you can visit the exhibition in September to see the chosen designs. 

Since its inception in 2008, the award has recognized groundbreaking designs—from the ‘One Laptop Per Child’ project to the Teeter-Totter Wall in 2020. 

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: The Design Museum’s Design of the Year

The Andrew Martin Interior Designer of the Year Award

The Andrew Martin Interior Designer of the Year Award—often referred to as the “Oscars of the Interior Design World”—is a global celebration of exceptional design. Designers from across six continents participate in this acclaimed competition—with a distinguished panel of celebrity judges tasked with selecting the overall winner each year. 

You have to download, fill in, and submit an application form. Entries for the 2024 International Interior Designer of the Year Awards are open until December 16, 2023. The early bird deadline is even sooner, so act fast! 

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: The Andrew Martin Interior Designer of the Year Award

The National Design Awards

The National Design Awards—presented by the Cooper Hewitt-Smithsonian Design Museum—is a renowned program launched in 2000. It focuses on the significance of design in our daily lives. The prize goes to winners in ten award categories—including Interior Design—and seeks to honor innovation and impact. 

The eligibility criteria for the national awards specify that nominees should be citizens or long-term residents of the United States with varying experience requirements depending on the category. The application process involves an open call for nominations from prominent figures in the design industry. 

The winners of the 2023 National Design Awards were recently announced.

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: The National Design Awards

The European Hotel Design Awards

The European Hotel Design Awards is an esteemed annual event that pays tribute to excellence in hotel interiors across Europe. These awards encompass a variety of categories—such as Hotel of the Year, Historic Hotel of the Year, Boutique Hotel of the Year, and more. 

The awards are presented to hotels, restaurants, spas, and some individuals. The selection of this international design award recipient is a fairly exhaustive process—involving both a committee’s decisions and a review of applications received by June 30 each year. The winners must agree to attend the awards ceremony. 

For more details on how to apply and the specific categories, interested parties can request an application form through the European Hotel Awards’ contact page.

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: The European Hotel Design Awards

The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards

The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards is a renowned international competition dedicated to recognizing exceptional design in food and beverage spaces globally. This event is now in its 15th year—honoring creative and innovative designs and the individuals responsible for them annually.

The application process is open to emerging professionals—including interior designers, interior architects, architects, and food and beverage space operators. Collaboration between designers and space operators is essential for entry, and all projects must have been launched or renovated between the given dates by the organization.

The awards cover a wide range of categories—encompassing various aspects of hospitality space design, such as cafes, hotels, standalone restaurants, and more. Winners are selected based on specific features and how they contribute to the overall functionality of the space.

Category winners are automatically considered for regional awards and the ultimate global titles of Best Overall Restaurant and Best Overall Bar. 

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards

The Frame Awards

The FRAME Awards is an international interior design award with a holistic approach—recognizing excellence in commercial and residential design across 34 categories. It prioritizes innovation, functionality, creativity, and sustainability. 

The competition’s diverse, monthly jury panels encompass professionals from various design backgrounds—ensuring a broad perspective. Winners of the Month and Year are celebrated with an Awards Ceremony marking yearly achievements. 

The final submission deadline for 2024 is May 8, the shortlist will be announced on September 12, and the winners on October 17. 

Submissions should align with the FRAME Awards’ comprehensive design principles. 

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: The Frame Awards

The Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design

The Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design—an exclusive competition for interior designers—honors outstanding achievements in the realm of hospitality design encompassing hotels, restaurants, and clubs. 

Submissions undergo rigorous evaluation—assessing qualities like inventiveness, practicality, originality, and implementation. Entrants are required to furnish a comprehensive project description, top-tier imagery, floorplans, and details of participating design agencies and firms. 

The 2023 submission window has concluded. Recipients and finalists gain acknowledgment during an awards ceremony and are featured in Boutique Design magazine. The competition boasts 22 diverse categories—including special distinctions such as Judges’ So Cool and Designer of the Year Awards.

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: The Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design

The Best of Year Awards

The Best of Year Awards—managed by Interior Design magazine—is in its 18th year. This initiative serves as a benchmark for design brilliance—celebrating exceptional products, endeavors, and the gifted individuals and entities responsible for them on a global scale.

Entries are open to domestic and international submissions in various. The submission deadline for 2023 was September 6, 2023. Eligible products and projects must have been introduced or completed between September 2022 and September 2023. 

This international design award offers significant exposure to winners—including features in Interior Design magazine and digital coverage. The ceremony for 2023 winners is scheduled for December 7—hosted by Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen. 

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards: The Best of Year Awards

The CODAawards

The CODAawards is an international design award hosted by CODAworx that honors endeavors that successfully fuse custom-made artwork with interior, architectural, or communal environments. Distinguished panels of experts from the realms of design, landscape architecture, building architecture, and art evaluate submissions.

They assess entries in the design industry based on three key factors: the incorporation of commissioned artwork into location-specific projects executed in the past three years, the effectiveness of the collaborative process among creative teams, commissioners, and industry resources, and the capacity of a project to seamlessly harmonize art and design in the creation of space as an artistic expression.

The competition embraces diverse categories—encompassing Commercial, Educational, Healthcare, Hospitality Spaces, Institutional, Landscaping, Liturgical, Public Spaces, commercial spaces and Residential living spaces, and Transportation.

Learn more about when and how to apply to these international design awards, including entry fees: CODAawards

What an Award Could Mean for Your Design Firm and Partners

Receiving these professionally acclaimed awards can be a game-changer for your design firm. Not only do they provide industry recognition and a valuable marketing tool, but they also inspire confidence and trust in your work. 

Winning or even being nominated uplifts your profile, opens doors to exciting opportunities, and solidifies your position as a leader in the world of design. It could make a world of difference in your career and the careers of your co-workers, employees, and partners. For example, think about how exciting it would be for the vendors you work with to see their products featured in winning designs.

Don’t miss your chance to shine; apply and let your outstanding design projects be celebrated on the global stage. Your future in design industry excellence begins with each submission.

By Anila Hasnain.