Kimball International Makers of a Better Future 2026
Competition Brief
Kimball International Makers of a Better Future 2026 is a professional award program organized by the IIDA Foundation in partnership with Kimball International. The program recognizes practicing designers and architects who integrate future-oriented thinking into their design practice, with a focus on technology, sustainability, and social change. The competition assesses individual vision through their recent work experience, which differs from project-based competitions.
Intent
The program intends to identify designers who create built environments through their forward-looking design practice. Emerging practices which develop solutions for future workplace, healthcare, and education needs will receive recognition through this program.
Purpose
The purpose is to provide financial and professional recognition to individuals whose work reflects strategic foresight in design. The award serves as a visibility platform for design narratives which focus on future-oriented work rather than serving as a technical design competition.
Requirements
Applicants must be practicing interior designers or architects and IIDA Associate or Professional members. Submissions include a 3–5 minute video describing a recent project and future-oriented considerations, a written component with a recommendation letter and resume, and supporting visuals. The project narrative can be enhanced through the submission of additional optional documentation.
Jury
The IIDA Foundation selects a design professional committee which examines the submissions. The evaluation process uses three criteria, which assess professional impact and foresight and future-focused design strategy integration, without disclosing individual jury member identities.
Fees
| Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | No cost |
Rewards
| Reward | Details |
|---|---|
| Cash Prize | $2,500 for each of 2 winners |
| Travel and Accommodation | Round-trip airfare and hotel stay in Chicago |
| Recognition | Recognition at the IIDA Annual Meeting and media coverage |
Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Period | February–April 2026 |
| Winner Announcement | Spring 2026 |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The IIDA Foundation and Kimball International! operate the program with restricted information about jury members and their assessment methods. The award functions as a professional recognition award which assesses individual design skills through their architectural work. The prize level is moderate because the design work requires minimal effort to complete its narrative requirements. Participants gain professional visibility and portfolio development benefits because these two elements serve as their main advantage. The jury includes appointed industry experts but their specific qualifications remain unmentioned which makes it difficult to check their evaluation procedures.
Conclusion
Kimball International Makers of a Better Future 2026 functions as a recognition program which evaluates individual future planning abilities instead of design results. The program establishes its uniqueness through three different design competitions which include IIDA Interior Design Competition and Student Architecture Design Competition. The program offers substantial financial and networking advantages but its absence of clear evaluation standards and identified jury members creates confusion for prospective participants. The program functions primarily as a professional recognition initiative which operates as an architectural competition system but its value will be judged based on its performance against project-based contests like the Adaptive Reuse Architecture Design Competition.
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