IIDA 2026 Will Ching Design Competition
Competition Brief
The IIDA 2026 Will Ching Design Competition stands as an international design competition which recognizes exceptional commercial interior designs from companies that employ ten or fewer workers. The competition evaluates architectural work which designers finished after 2023 and examines their ability to develop innovative solutions while maintaining spatial integrity and design implementation. The program accepts project submissions from multiple commercial sectors but does not designate winners according to distinct competition categories.
Intent
The competition exists to showcase design excellence which smaller companies produce because these firms do not receive recognition similar to what larger studios achieve. The program requires designers to create original designs which result in commercial spaces that maintain clear spatial organization and specific design functions.
Purpose
The purpose is to provide a forum for evaluating and celebrating commercial design work from firms with limited staff size. The competition uses global submission opening to discover novel methods which designers apply to actual interior design projects.
Requirements
The competition permits worldwide participation for interior designers and interior architects who work at companies that employ ten or fewer staff members. The project must have reached completion after December 2023 to meet eligibility requirements. Electronic submissions require project details and a design challenge overview which includes visual material that meets established standards. The organization does not accept any physical submission materials.
Jury
Design professionals carry out the evaluation process for project entries. The evaluation criteria include aesthetics, creativity, function, and how effectively the design responds to its specific challenge. The jury decides against selecting a winner because the entries do not satisfy the required standards.
- Senior interior designer experienced in commercial design
- Interior architect with global project background
- Design professional focusing on spatial creativity
- Educator or critic specialising in interior architecture
- Industry expert with integrated design practice experience
Fees
| Registration Type | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| IIDA Member Early Bird (Dec 1–15, 2025) | 350 |
| Non-Member Early Bird (Dec 1–15, 2025) | 450 |
| IIDA Member Regular (Dec 16–Jan 26, 2026) | 400 |
| Non-Member Regular (Dec 16–Jan 26, 2026) | 500 |
| IIDA Member Last Chance (Jan 27–Feb 10, 2026) | 450 |
| Non-Member Last Chance (Jan 27–Feb 10, 2026) | 550 |
Rewards
| Award | Description |
|---|---|
| Recognition at Revel In Design | Winners are honoured at the annual black-tie Revel In Design event in Chicago. |
| Digital Winner Assets | Official competition winner logos for use in promotion or media. |
| Publication Exposure | Winning projects are featured across design media platforms and association channels. |
Important Dates
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Submission Open | December 1, 2025 |
| Submission Closed | February 10, 2026 |
| Winner Celebration | June 7–8, 2026 |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The International Interior Design Association IIDA organizes the IIDA 2026 Will Ching Design Competition through its established professional system for judging design competition entries. The organiser has established clear submission guidelines but the jury process remains opaque because the jurors do not disclose their individual identities and professional skills instead providing only general information about their expertise. The competition functions as a professional recognition award which evaluates actual interior design work from small commercial projects instead of academic or theoretical design research. The competition requires high entry fees without providing any monetary awards, which creates doubt about whether competitors will receive adequate benefits for their efforts. The primary benefit for participants lies in portfolio visibility, institutional recognition, and media exposure, rather than implementation opportunities or direct professional advancement. The jury possesses interior design expertise according to their description, but the absence of detailed information limits assessment of their evaluation methods and disciplinary expertise in judging.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The IIDA 2026 Will Ching Design Competition enables smaller commercial design firms to demonstrate their design excellence through its competition. The competition permits entry from all around the world and accepts projects of various kinds, which creates flexibility but complicates direct comparison between different project types. The tiered fee structure rewards early registration and membership, yet the competition’s rewards focus on recognition and exposure rather than direct financial prizes. The jury will assess projects according to their ability to demonstrate effective spatial design and solution development.
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