Designers Share How To Boost Chances Of Winning A Best of Year Award

What does it take to win an Interior Design Best of Year Award? Past winners and honorees have a keen understanding of what goes into a stellar submission, and they’re spilling their secrets. From impressive projects to one-of-a-kind products, it’s clear that when it comes to the industry’s premiere architecture and design awards program, creativity knows no limits.

Read on to see what experts have to say about putting together a notable submission, and be sure to send in yours for Interior Design‘s Best of Year Awards before September 13.

What Makes A Great Best of Year Submission? Past Winners Share Top Tips

“It Is Definitely Worth Entering” 

For Nicole Hollis, founder of her namesake firm, winning a Best of Year Award in 2023 for the Kona Village resort “increased visibility in the hospitality sector,” she shares. “This recognition has helped us further establish ourselves as a leading firm in the field.” But what does it take to put together a winning entry? For one, view the submission as a chance to grow—because it is!

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase your best work, gain exposure, and be part of a prestigious community,” notes Hollis. “Even if you don’t win, the process of preparing and submitting your work for consideration is an excellent opportunity to reflect on your achievements and showcase your best projects.” Of course, a win brings countless benefits.

“Being recognized by a top industry magazine validates our work and enhances our reputation, furthering our firm’s credibility and reach,” she says, pointing out that Interior Design‘s Best of Year Awards “stand out due to their broad audience.” Not the mention the Best of Year ceremony, which connects “a diverse and influential group, amplifying the impact of the recognition,” she adds. “I’d say it’s definitely worth entering.”

“Attracts the Highest Caliber Entries in the World” 

Originality also is key for Best of Year Awards submissions, offer past winners. “Clearly share how your project is shaping new directions in design and tapping into the contemporary zeitgeist,” says Ming Thompson, principal at Atelier Cho Thompson, which won a 2023 Best of Year Award for the EQ Office for Commercial Lobby and Amenity Space: Small. And get specific, nuanced design narratives and striking photography makes for a strong entry.

“The Best of Year Awards attracts the highest caliber entries in the world, and the winners are all landmark design projects that are at the cutting edge of contemporary design,” she adds. “The concepts, forms, tectonic approaches, and material ideas of these projects will all shape global design for years to come.”

Ultimately, the difference between a submission that garners attention and one that does not comes down to completing an entry. Past winners tout the importance of believing in the work, calling out design details, and give it your best shot. As John Edelman, president and CEO of Heller, says: “If you believe in yourself and your product—then don’t overthink, just enter!”

Submissions to Interior Design‘s Best of Year Awards Close September 13

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to submit to Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards by September 13, 2024. For additional information, such as a list of categories for projects and products, check out the submission guidelines.