ASID California San Diego

2027 Design Excellence Awards

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ASID San Diego Design Excellence Awards

Feb. 20, 2027

Call for Designer Submissions for the ASID 2027 Design Excellence Awards!

Now is the time to showcase the exceptional projects you've completed since January 1, 2024. We invite all ASID Designer Members, Industry Partner Members, and ASID Student Members in good standing to enter the 2027 ASID California San Diego Chapter Design Excellence Awards. (Please note: Previously awarded projects are not eligible for submission.)

The Design Excellence Awards are an opportunity to gain recognition for your work, increase visibility for you and your firm, and inspire excellence within the design community. Student members can gain valuable competition experience and strengthen their portfolios, while Industry Partner members can showcase their products and collaborations to ASID San Diego's design community.

Winning entries will be recognized at the 2027 ASID San Diego Design Excellence Awards Ceremony on February 20, 2027.

Schedule

  • August 19, 2026: Registration open for submissions with early-bird pricing
  • October 23, 2026: Early bird pricing ends
  • January 8, 2027, Midnight: Final day to submit projects

Submission Fees & Event Tickets

Awards dinner: Feb. 20, 2027

Designers & Industry Partners

Early Bird (Before October 23, 2026):

  • First Entry: $150.00, includes 1 free ticket to Awards Event
  • Each additional entry: $100.00
  • 1 event ticket for each additional entry priced at $75, or $475 for 7 additional tickets to fill your table

Entry from October 24, 2026:

  • First Entry: $175.00, includes 1 free ticket to Awards Event
  • Each additional entry: $125.00
  • 1 event ticket for each additional entry priced at $75, or $475 for 7 additional tickets to fill your table

Students

  • First entry: $50.00 per student entry, includes 1 free ticket to the Awards Event
  • Additional entries: $35, 1 event ticket for each additional entry priced at $75

Non-submitting attendance: $125.00  |  Table (8 people): $800.00
Non-submitting student attendance: $75.00

Gala tickets to be for sale soon on the ASID San Diego Website.

Eligibility, Rules & Requirements for 2027

Purpose

The 2027 ASID California San Diego Chapter Design Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding interior design by recognizing excellence, innovation, and creativity among our members. Beyond honoring exceptional work, the awards foster education, inspire new ideas, and strengthen our design community by showcasing projects that demonstrate the power and value of thoughtful design. By recognizing excellence, we aim to elevate the profession, encourage the exchange of knowledge, and inspire both current and future generations of designers.

Design Impacts Lives

Interior design has a meaningful impact on the people who experience it. The Design Excellence Awards seek to raise public awareness of how thoughtful design can enhance well-being, improve daily life, and positively shape the way people live, work, and connect.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Any San Diego Chapter ASID Member in good standing may enter the competition.
  • Project completed after January 1, 2024.
  • Previously awarded projects may not be submitted.
  • Cannot be a member of our chapter's Design Excellence Awards submission committee to enter a project.

Submission Requirements

1. Release Forms

No entries will be judged without these releases completed:

  • Designer Release
  • Client Release
  • Photographer Release (professional or self)
  • Employer Release (if applicable)
  • List of Design Participants and Suppliers

2. Design Narrative Statement

Maximum 250 words. This section provides important project context for the judges.

Provide a concise overview of your project that tells the story behind the design—from concept to completion. Please include:

  • Project Overview: Briefly describe the project, the client (if appropriate), and the overall design concept.
  • Project Size: Estimated project square footage.
  • Design Goals or Distinguishing Features: Describe up to three key objectives or unique features that define the project and explain what makes it exceptional.
  • Design Challenges: Describe up to three significant challenges, explain how you overcame them, and describe how your solutions contributed to the overall success of the project.

Tip: Focus on the story behind the design process and outcome. Tell the judges what inspired the project, the problems you solved, and how your final design solution achieved the client's goals while creating a meaningful impact.

3. Remove Names

Remove all title blocks, logos, firm names, and all names from all photos, drawings, and plans. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

4. Photos & Floor Plan

  • All photographs entered must be professionally photographed and at least 300 dpi (dots per inch).
  • If photographs do not meet the 300 dpi requirement, ASID San Diego Chapter reserves the right to decline using the winning entry for any marketing materials.
  • Photographs cannot be altered; items cannot be removed such as outlets, wires, stop signs, lighting, people, etc.
  • The number of photos depends on the category. Please refer to the category descriptions below.
  • One overall floor plan is allowed; please note on the floor plan the view locations for photo reference (if applicable).
  • Floor plans should indicate furniture placement and location of all architectural features. For the FF&E category, include working drawings.
  • One lighting plan is allowed and optional.
  • Photos are to be presented in JPG format at least 300 dpi.

Award Competition Categories

One lighting plan is allowed and optional where appropriate.

  1. Residential Space Over 3,500 Sq. Ft. (New or Remodel) — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 10 photographs including at least 4 significant areas, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  2. Residential Space Under 3,500 Sq. Ft. (New or Remodel) — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 10 photographs including at least 3 significant areas, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  3. Residential ADU Whole Space (New or Remodel) — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 10 photographs including at least 3 significant areas, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  4. Residential Large Kitchen (Greater than 250 sq. ft.) — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 8 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  5. Residential Small Kitchen (Less than 250 sq. ft.) — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 8 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  6. Residential Full Bathroom Large (Greater than 60 sq. ft.) — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 8 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  7. Residential Full Bathroom Small (Less than 60 sq. ft.) — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 8 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  8. Residential Powder Bath — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 8 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  9. Residential Home Office — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 8 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  10. Residential Outdoor Living Space — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 8 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  11. Residential Singular Space (unique use, closet, pantry, laundry room, etc.) — Submit a maximum of 8 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph. This space is limited to one room or area with no full walls separating spaces, and must not be part of any other category.
  12. Commercial Multi-family Public Spaces — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 10 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  13. Commercial Hospitality (including vacation home/short-term rental — yacht, motorhome, jets, etc.) — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 10 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  14. Commercial Corporate, Office — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 10 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  15. Commercial Public Assembly, Education, Religion, Retail, Museum — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 10 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  16. Commercial Health Care, Wellness, Spa, Gym — Submit a floor plan and a maximum of 10 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.
  17. FF&E — Best design of furniture, fixture, detail, or element. (IP or Designer entries allowed for this category.) Submit a maximum of 10 photographs, with a 25-word maximum caption for each photograph.

Judges' Choice Categories (ALL submitted projects will be entered into these 6 special categories):

  1. Color
  2. Lighting
  3. Sustainability
  4. Aging-In-Place / Universal Design / Accessible Design
  5. Historic Preservation
  6. Organization

All submissions will also automatically be judged in these special categories, no separate entry required.

Award Information: Please keep in mind that in the case of first place winners in each category (except student entries), only the principal designer listed on the entry form will be named on the trophy.

We wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing you at the Design Excellence Awards ceremony!

Should you have any questions, please contact: ASID San Diego, 619-548-8847 (M–Th 10am–2pm)

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