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Awards / Decorating & Design Competition
This annual competition recognizes decorating and design excellence in Canada in a variety of different categories and is open to all accredited members and students enrolled in recognized decorating programs in Canada.
Past winners of the competition increased their credibility with potential clients and were covered in local and industry media, and on social media.
The competition is open to Accredited DDA Members. Each category has unique eligibility criteria and entry requirements.
For each project, entrants are required to submit photos, drawings and a design statement for the judges to review. Basic project and entrant information is also required, including the project’s overall budget, a headshot and bio, and a project brief.
Entries must be the principal work of the entrant submitting the entry. Entrants who worked collaboratively on a project may submit the project as a team as long as all entrants meet the eligibility criteria.
Gold, silver and bronze winners may be chosen in each category. Choice award finalists are selected from among the winners of various categories. People’s Choice Award – selected by the general public from among the gold winners of each category. Influencer’s Choice Award – selected by a Canadian design influencer from among the winners of the Whole Home categories.
Fee for entry is $125.00 +tax.
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The Whole Home Design categories include all residential whole home decorating and design projects that involve the member’s original design concept. To qualify for this category, the project must include (at minimum): a kitchen space, a full bath, an eating space, a living space, and a sleeping space. If the project does not include each of these, its components can be entered separately into other categories. Entrants are welcome to include any other spaces in addition to the minimum spaces listed above. Spec and model homes are welcome. The project may include new construction and renovation, or consist only of finishes and furnishings.
Projects entered in a Whole Home category this year cannot be entered into any other category in the same year. (E.g. when entering a whole house, the house’s kitchen cannot also be entered into a kitchen design category this year).
The Whole Home – House category includes a single freehold or condominium house, and can include detached, semi-detached, row, and townhouses. Tiny homes are welcome in this category as long as the project meets the minimum definition of a whole home (including a kitchen and full bath, as well as space that allows eating, living, and sleeping).
The Interior Decoration categories includes all residential non-kitchen, non-bath spaces that involve the member’s original design concept. The project may include new construction and renovation, or consist only of finishes and furnishings.
The Interior Decoration – Facelift Under $25K category includes a residential space with an overall project budget of under $25K (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances), such as a family room, a sunroom, or a bedroom. Kitchens, bathrooms, or renovations should not be entered in this category.
The Interior Decoration – Between $25k to $50K category includes a residential space(s) with an overall project budget between $25K to $50K (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances). E.g., a family room, a sun room, a bedroom or open concept with more than one space/activity. Kitchens, bathrooms, whole home or renovations should not be entered in this category.
The Interior Decoration – Over 100K category includes residential space(s) with an overall project budget of $100K or more (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances). Examples include a family room, a sunroom, a bedroom, or an open concept with more than one space/activity. Kitchens, bathrooms, whole homes, and renovations should not be entered in this category.
The Interior Decoration – Between $50K to $100K category includes a residential space(s) with an overall project budget between $50K to $100K (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances). E.g., a family room, a sun room, a bedroom or open concept with more than one space/activity. Kitchens, bathrooms, whole home or renovations should not be entered in this category.
The Kitchen & Bathroom Design categories includes all residential kitchen and bath spaces that involve the member’s original design concept.
The Kitchen Over $150K category includes one residential kitchen with an overall project budget of approximately $150K or more (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances). The project may include new construction and renovation, or consist only of finishes and furnishings.
The Kitchen Face-lift under $50K category includes one residential kitchen with an overall project budget of approximately $50K or less (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances). The project may include new construction and renovation, or consist only of finishes and furnishings.
The Kitchen between $50K to $100K category includes one residential kitchen with an overall project budget of approximately between $50K to $100K (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances). The project may include new construction and renovation, or consist only of finishes and furnishings.
The Kitchen category between $100K and $150K includes one residential kitchen with an overall project budget between $100K and $150K (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances). The project may include new construction and renovation or consist only of finishes and furnishings.
The Universal Kitchen category includes one residential kitchen that incorporates the use of the 7 principles of universal design, with no budget restrictions. The project must include new construction or renovation, as well as finishes and furnishings.
The Bathroom Facelift category Under $30K includes one full residential bathroom with an overall project budget of under $30K (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances). The project may include new construction and renovation or consist only of finishes and furnishings. Powder rooms should not be entered in this category.
The Bathroom Over $60K category includes one residential full bathroom with an overall project budget of approximately $60K or more (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances). The project may include new construction and renovation, or consist only of finishes and furnishings. Powder rooms should not be entered in this category.
The Bathroom category between $30K and $60K includes one residential full bathroom with an overall project budget between $30K and $60K (excluding design fees, taxes, and any appliances). The project may include new construction and renovation or consist only of finishes and furnishings. Powder rooms should not be entered in this category.
The Powder Room category includes one residential powder room with no budget restrictions. The project may include new construction and renovation, or consist only of finishes and furnishings. Full baths should not be entered in this category.
The Universal Bathroom Design category includes one residential bathroom that incorporates the use of the 7 principles of universal design, with no budget restrictions. The project must include new construction or renovation, as well as finishes and furnishings.
This category includes any commercial design that involves the member’s original design concept.
The Commercial Space category includes offices, studios, restaurants, spas, salons, retail, common areas, hospitality, etc. The project may include new construction and renovation, or consist only of finishes and furnishings.
This is a new group to celebrate accredited and affiliated members
The Website – Affiliate category recognizes outstanding website design, functionality, and user experience. Eligible websites must have an original design or a significant redesign that enhances branding, usability, and engagement. If you used a third-party developer, you must provide credit to the company that designed your website. Entries should highlight how the website effectively communicates the business’s identity, supports marketing objectives and drives customer interaction.
The Marketing Campaign – Affiliate category recognizes innovation and effective marketing campaigns. Eligible campaigns may include digital, print, social media, video or multi-channel initiatives designed to promote a product, service or brand. Entries should demonstrate strong creative direction, compelling messaging, and measurable impacts, such as increased engagement, brand awareness or sales performance.
The Custom Product – Accredited/Affiliate category is open to both accredited and affiliated members. Members can enter a product that was a joint effort with an accredited member and an affiliated as a co-entry. Submission can include any product designed and manufactured in Canada for a residential or commercial Canadian project. The product must be created for a specific project and used in the interior solution of that project.
Got questions? Ask us by emailing awards@ddacanada.com.
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