2024 Design Excellence Awards

2024 DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS COMPETITION

OFFICIAL RULES

(These Official Rules are available for download and print to the right of this document.)

 

The 2024 ASID New Jersey Design Excellence Awards Competition (DEA) is sponsored by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. The competition platform is managed by Daniel Bradbury at CPJAM.COM.  By entering Competition and/or by clicking “I agree” below, You – the Entrant - represent and warrant that you have read, understand and agree to these Official Rules including but not limited to, the (1) Competition Rules, Regulations and Eligibility Guidelines and (2) Competition Entrant Terms and Conditions, Indemnification Requirements and Release as set forth below.  These Official Rules will form a binding agreement between the Chapter and the Entrant.  

 

COMPETITION PROTOCOL, RULES, REGULATIONS & ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

PROTOCOL 

The DEA committee:

• Identifies and hires the competition online platform vendor

• Reviews and amends competition rules and regulations based on member survey feedback and DEA committee experience from previous years.

• Submits all documents for Board review and approval

 

The ASID NJ Chapter Administrator, with guidance and assistance from the DEA committee:

• Recruits its judges from geographically diverse ASID chapters around the US (Please note: NJ chapter members never judge the NJ competition.) Judges are vetted and requested to have been past design competition winners or experienced designers. The goal is to have a minimum of  3-5 judges for each category.

The DEA committee chair or co-chairs and the ASID NJ Chapter Administrator:

• Thoroughly review online platform for accuracy prior to opening of competition.

Once the competition is open, the ASID NJ Chapter Administrator, the designated DEA Industry Partner (IP) member, and or a non competing ASID NJ designer committee member are the only ones to have access to the online platform. The remaining DEA committee members are locked out. ALL ENTRIES ARE ANONYMOUS and identified only by a number assigned by the competition host to ensure anonymity and confidentiality are protected. 

The designated IP member of the DEA committee and the ASID NJ designer committee member who does not enter the competition will act as liaison between the Administrator and the DEA Committee. They will be contacted by the Administrator if there are any concerns or questions once the competition opens. They will address these concerns/questions, and if necessary, bring the issue(s) to the DEA committee and/or the Board for further clarification and resolution. 

 The Chapter Administrator and DEA IP member and/or non-participating ASID NJ designer committee member: 

• Review submissions for eligibility and disqualification

• Monitor online platform during competition and distribute submissions to judges for scoring

• Review the judges' scoring and assigns winners based on judges' results as tallied electronically on the CPJAM platform 

• Order & prepare winners' trophies and certificates for Industry Partners (if requested)

• Prepare an outline of winning projects for videographer for the awards presentation

• Post-awards announcements -- provide access to judges' scoring and comments to competition entrants

• Upload winning projects to ASID NJ chapter website

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

Competition period (Online registration and project submissions):  

• 2/13/24 – 5/6/24 11:59 PM EST

• There is no waiting period between registering and submitting.

• Early Bird: 2/12/24 - 3/18/24 PM EST
• Judging period: 5/10/24-5/31/24

• Cost per ASID, Allied, and Associate member and Industry Partners: $150 for first entry, $125 for each additional entry; Early Bird: $140 for the first entry, $120 for each additional entry.

• Student member entry: Free

• All entry information must be complete by the deadline, at 11:59 PM EST, 5/6/24. 

• The award winners will be announced at the 2024 Design Excellence Awards Gala on June 25, 2024.

• Entry fees are not refundable or transferable.

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

• All ASID members of the New Jersey Chapter who are in good standing and eighteen years or older may participate. 

• If the Entrant is employed by a firm or member of a team, he/she must be the primary interior designer on record for the project.

• Entrant(s) must be the lead designer on the project to be submitted.  This means that no other designer(s), architect(s) or builder(s) can claim this project as their own. Retail stores and Franchises are permitted only if the Entrant(s) is the lead designer(s) of the original concept. Exception for IP Product Entry, where an ASID NJ Industry Partner and ASID NJ Designer Member collaborate on product design.

• All projects must have used a minimum of two (2) Local, Regional or National ASID IP Members who are current IP members or were IP members at the time of the project.  Please include all Industry Partners used on the project.

• Only spaces that have not previously won an ASID NJ Design Excellence Award are eligible. ASID NJ Design Excellence reserves the right to reassign an entry to the appropriate category if necessary.

 

GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION

 

• Any information identifying Entrant’s name, design firm, logo, architect, or any other collaborating party that appears in description, images or on drawings will be grounds for disqualification, except in the case of  a commercial project where the client's logo can be shown and IP Categories where logos are permitted. 

• If any other designer, architect, builder, or a vendor challenges the Entrant’s ownership of the design, the project will be investigated by the Chapter. If evidence shows the Entrant is not the lead designer, the award will be rescinded. 

• Submission of Entries which do not utilize and identify at least two (2) ASID Industry Partners will be disqualifed.

• Every entry must include a complete furniture floor plan with architectural scale identified as well as the square footage. If multiple rooms are part of the submission, the total square footage of the entire project also must be included in the plan. The absence of square footage will result in disqualification.

• All entries must be actual, physically installed projects, with the category exception of student entries.

• No computer-rendered images, elevations, and/or sketches are allowed (except for student entries). Photography of physically installed projects only. 

• Submissions of winning entries or images from past ASID NJ Design Excellence Award competitions will not be considered.

• The same image may not appear in more than two categories. 

• Submission of Entry into the wrong category.

• The entrant is not a member in good standing as per ASID HQ’s official membership roster at time of payment for entry.

• Failure to include the required information and documentation will result in disqualification.

 

CATEGORIES, ENTRY CRITERIA & JUDGING CRITERIA

A. RESIDENTIAL CATEGORIES

1. Residential Single Space – excluding Kitchen and Bathroom

2. Residential Two or More Spaces – in residences of 2,500 sq. ft. or less, may include kitchens and/or bathrooms.

3. Residential Two or More Spaces – in residences of 2,501-5,000 sq. ft., may include kitchens and/or bathrooms.

4. Residential Two or More Spaces – in residences more than 5,000 sq. ft., may include kitchens and/or bathrooms.

5. Residential Apartment, Condo, Townhouse or Loft* (i.e., a residential setting governed by building management restrictions or Board of Directors rules.)

6. Residential Small Bathroom -- 50 sq. ft. or less

7. Residential Large Bathroom -- 51 sq. ft. or more

8. Residential Small Kitchen -- 150 sq. ft. or less

9. Residential Large Kitchen -- 151 sq. ft. or more

10. Residential Show House Space: Show House spaces may not be entered into any other category  

11.  Design for People with Special or Specific Needs/Aging in Place/Universal Design

12.  Specialty and Unique Interior Spaces 

13.  Outdoor Living Spaces 

 

B. COMMERCIAL CATEGORIES

1. Commercial Single Space

2. Commercial Several Spaces – in offices or spaces of 10,000 sq. ft. or less

3. Commercial Several Spaces- in offices or spaces of 10,001 sq. ft. or more

4. Retail/Showroom, Exhibit Space, Public Spaces, Athletic Facility

5. Hospitality Spaces, Hotel, Restaurant, Clubs

6. Healthcare Spaces – in facilities of 3,000 sq. ft. or less

7. Healthcare Spaces – in facilities of 3,001 sq. ft. or more

8. Special and Unique Spaces (for example staircase, elevator, coffee bar)

9. Exterior Commercial Spaces

10. Government/Institutional Space(s)

 

C. HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECT CATEGORY

RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL

1. Registered as historic with the municipality, and/or, is 100+ years old

2. Space restored to its original essence

 

ENTRY CRITERIA for all categories under: 

A.  RESIDENTIAL

B.  COMMERCIAL

C.  HISTORIC PRESERVATION

 

Entries will demonstrate the following: 

• Consideration of both aesthetic and functional aspects of the project; problems and/or challenges; and special or unique services provided

• Present design concept showing purpose, focus and applicable to intent of the design.

• Explain design solutions: choices made to have an outstanding outcome, details relating to architecture, lighting, furniture, and technical aspects. 

 

To be included:

• Project description, 1000 words or less, based on judging criteria, as prompted by the online design platform (recommended written in the third person).

• Modified project summary, 50-75 words, will be used at Awards presentation in the event the project wins (recommended written in the third person).

• Furniture Floor plans to scale in PDF format with scale and square footage indicated.

• Photographs for all categories and spaces: A minimum of 2 photographs is required and maximum of 12 photographs may be submitted per entry. An image may be entered into the competition only once. Students are not required to submit photographs.

• “Before Photos” – are required; quality is not judged.

• “After Photos” in JPG formation 300 dpi:  minimum file size of 500KB, maximum file size of 10MB. An image may be entered in one category only.

• Photographer’s name/firm Professional photography is recommended, but not required. Photo credit is required.

• List of Industry Partners utilized for the project, current at the time of the project (minimum of 2)
  

 

JUDGING CRITERIA for:   

RESIDENTIAL, HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPACES, AND

RESIDENTIAL SHOW HOUSE SPACE

 

Successful entries are to demonstrate exceptional design and the following criteria:

10 pts.       Effectiveness of the design solution: exhibiting criteria, concept and positive impact on life and the human experience

10 pts.       Functional and creative design

10 pts.       Level of involvement in the entered project

10 pts        Scale and proportion

10 pts.       Color and composition

10 pts        Effective use of lighting         

10 pts.       Innovative and creative use of design or products and materials. 

10 pts        Effective space planning represented in a furniture floor plan noting scale and circulation

10 pts        Overall visual impact

10 pts        Descriptive narrative communicated how the project met goals and solved challenges

100 pts.    TOTAL  

 

JUDGING CRITERIA for:

COMMERCIAL SPACES and COMMERCIAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPACES

 

Successful entries are to demonstrate exceptional design and the following criteria:  

10 pts.       Effectiveness of the design solution: exhibiting criteria, concept and positive impact on life and the human experience

10 pts.       Functional and creative design

10 pts.       Level of involvement in the entered project

10 pts.       Scale and proportion

10 pts.       Color and composition 

10 pts.       Effective use of lighting 

10 pts.       Innovative and creative use of design or products and materials  

10 pts.       Effective space planning represented in a furniture floor plan noting scale and circulation    

10 pts.       Universal & sustainable design principles considered and/or implemented

10 pts.       Descriptive narrative communicated how the project met goals and solved challenges

100 pts.  TOTAL

JUDGING CRITERIA for:

DESIGN FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL OR SPECIFIC NEEDS

AGING IN PLACE/UNIVERSAL DESIGN

 

Successful entries are to demonstrate exceptional design and the following criteria for people with special needs:

10 pts.    Effectiveness of the design solution: exhibiting criteria, concept and positive impact on life and the human experience

10 pts.    Functional and creative design in the use of space for special/specific needs individuals

10 pts.    Level of involvement in the project

10 pts.    Scale and proportion

10 pts.    Color and composition

10 pts.    Effective use of lighting  

10 pts.    Innovative and creative use of design or products and materials

10 pts.    Effective space planning represented in a furniture floor plan noting scale and circulation

10 pts.    Use of universal and sustainable design principles

10 pts.    Descriptive narrative communicated how the project met goals and solved challenges 

100 pts.  TOTAL

 

STUDENT ENTRIES

ASID NJ STUDENT MEMBERS

 

CATEGORIES:

• RESIDENTIAL SPACE(S)

• COMMERCIAL SPACE(S)

• PUBLIC SPACE(S)

 

ENTRY CRITERIA:

• • RESIDENTIAL

  • COMMERCIAL

  • PUBLIC SPACE

• Students must be enrolled full time in an accredited interior design program or technical school during time of completion 

• A design statement describing the concept, function, purpose and requirements of the project

• The project may either be hand drawn, completed with computer aided design, or a combination of both

• If applicable, a “before” floor plan of existing conditions including walls, windows, ceiling height and special elements, with scale noted. (Drawing #1)

• The proposed “after” floor plan including walls, windows, ceiling height and special elements, with scale noted. (Drawing #2)

• A furniture plan to meet project requirements may be included with space plan above. 

• The proposed lighting plan, with scale noted. (Drawing #3)

• Minimum of two (2) interior elevations showing vertical spatial proportions and one (1) section of a space or special element. (Drawing #4 and #5)

• Minimum of one (1) 3D rendering (hand or computer generated, color or black and white). (Drawing #6)

• An image of a sample board showing materials and products (for example furnishings, fabrics, lighting and furniture). Selections should be labeled. Sketches or images from catalogs or magazines for the furnishings may be used

• The scale of the floor plans and elevations must be noted on the drawings

• Make sure no identifying information appears in any image or within in file name. Your identifying information should only appear on the entry form

 

JUDGING CRITERIA for STUDENTS ENTRIES

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

PUBLIC SPACE 

 

Successful entries are to demonstrate exceptional design and the following criteria:

10 pts.   Effectiveness of the design solution: exhibiting criteria, concept and positive impact on life and the human experience 

10 pts    Design originality

10 pts    Functional use of space

10 pts    Professional presentation

10 pts    Scale and proportion

10 pts    Color and composition

10 pts    Effective space planning and lighting plan

10 pts   Innovative and creative use of design or products and materials

10 pts    Creative selection and appropriate use of materials and color

10 pts.   Descriptive narrative communicated how the project met goals and solved challenges

100 pts TOTAL

 

INDUSTRY PARTNER

ASID NJ INDUSTRY PARTNERS

 

CATEGORY

• Product Design

ENTRY CRITERIA

• Industry Partners must be current members in good standing of the ASID NJ chapter at time of payment for entry

• Entries may be from an individual IP, IP company or IP in collaboration with an ASID NJ designer 

• A product designed and manufactured by an ASID NJ IP is eligible for submission

• A design statement explaining the concept, function, and purpose of the product minimum 350 – 1000 words

• Photograph of the product. (1 minimum)

• Conceptual sketches or shop drawings are recommended

• Some examples of a product include:

  • Product Design: original custom-designed product not found in existing categories.

  • Flooring: wood, stone, tile, carpet, rugs, etc.

  • Hard Surface:   millwork, stone, iron work, hardware, etc. (not flooring)

  • Technology and/or Lighting: lighting fixtures/lamps, technology, automation.

  • Textiles: rugs, drapery, bedding, upholstered furniture, etc.

  • Wall Treatment: faux finishing, plaster work, wallpaper, murals, upholstered walls, etc. 

 

NOTE: If you are entering a product that you did not design and/or manufacture, it is necessary to provide a written release authorizing the use of the product or design in this design.

 

JUDGING CRITERIA for ASID NJ IPs

 

Winner (highest score) and runner up (2nd highest)

• 10 pts    Positive impact on life and the human experience

• 10 pts    Effectiveness and functionality of the product

• 10 pts    Innovative use of materials

• 10 pts    Creativity

• 10 pts    Overall visual impact

• 10 pts    Use of universal design or sustainable materials (e.g., in product, packaging and /or manufacturing)

60 pts TOTAL

 

PRIZES/SCORING

 

• The three highest scores having met the minimum threshold for each level, will designate Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners.
• There will be only one winner per level in each category except in the case of a numerical tie. 

• Total points/scores for each submission will range from -100. 

• Projects must have the minimum score in each of the awards categories to qualify. 

• The highest score with a minimum score of 93 will receive a Gold Award. 

• The 2nd highest score with a minimum score of 85 will receive a Silver Award. 

• The 3rd highest score with a minimum score of 77 will receive a Bronze Award.

• Decisions of judges are final and binding.

• Winning entries shall be announced at the Design Excellence Awards event in June 2024.

 

Contest winners will be posted on the chapter website after the official awards announcement. 

 

ADDITIONAL RULES

1.   All federal, state, and local laws apply.  If any rule contained in these Official Rules (including but not limited to, the COMPETITION RULES, REGULATIONS & ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES and/or the COMPETITION ENTRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INDEMNIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND RELEASE (set forth below)) is declared illegal or invalid, the remaining rules shall remain in full force and effect.     

2.   Chapter reserves the right to disqualify any entries that do not comply with this Agreement.

3.   Entry fees are not refundable or transferable.

4.   Personal information provided in connection with this Competition and/or this Agreement will be collected by the Chapter and used in accordance with the Chapter’s online privacy policy.   In addition, to the extent you provide the Chapter with personally identifying information via any third-party, including but not limited to competition web site hosts, you may also be subject to the terms and conditions of such third-party’s Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions, over which Chapter has no control.

5.   No failure by Chapter to take any action or assert any right hereunder shall be deemed to be a waiver of such right.  No waiver of any right shall be deemed a waiver of any succeeding breach of the same or any other provision hereof.

6.   It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to follow all terms and conditions set forth in these Official Rules. Any entry which does not adhere to these Official Rules will be subject to disqualification.

7.   If any dispute arises out of or relating to this Competition and/or these Official Rules the parties will first attempt to settle the dispute by internal discussions through good faith consultation and negotiation. If internal negotiations do not lead to a solution to the satisfaction of each party within 60 days of the dispute arising, the controversy or claim shall be settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules. All arbitration decisions are binding on both parties.

 

COMPETITION ENTRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INDEMNIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND RELEASE:

 

By entering the 2024 Design Excellence Competition, Entrant represents and warrants as follows:

 

A.  Entrant understands and agrees that by entering, these OFFICAL RULES (including but not limited to the COMPETITION RULES, REGULATIONS & ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES and THE COMPETITION ENTRANT TERMS AND CONDITIIONS, INDEMNIFICATION AND RELEASE shall become a binding agreement between the Entrant and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. The Chapter strongly suggests that you, the Entrant, review this agreement with your attorney before you enter. 

B.  Entrant is the designer of this project.  Entrant agrees that no other person or entity may claim this design as their own, and that Entrant has not submitted this design on behalf of anyone else.

C.  Entrant agrees to abide by the judge’s decision as final. Entrant understands that any false or misleading information provided by the Entrant will result in disqualification from this Competition.

D. Chapter is not responsible for (i) late, lost, or incomplete entries; (ii) any telephone, electronic hardware or software program, network, internet or computer malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (iii) any errors in transmission; (iv) any condition caused by events beyond the control of Chapter that may cause the Competition to be disrupted or corrupted; (v) any injuries, losses or damages of any kind caused by any prize or resulting from acceptance of any prize, or from participation in the Competition; (vi) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Competition. All materials submitted by the Entrant become the property of the Chapter and will not be returned. 

E.  Should Entrant’s design be chosen as a prize-winning award, Entrant agrees to allow (and to cause the property owner where the project is located to allow) professional photography of the winning project to be used for future marketing, promotional, public relations, or educational purposes.  In addition, and except where prohibited by law, Entrant’s entry constitutes permission from Entrant to allow the Chapter, the American Society of Interior Designers, Inc. and their respective media and agency partners to use, without additional compensation, Entrant’s name(s), workplace/business information, biographical data, and likenesses for (i) publication on a Competition winner’s list; and/or (ii) for use in any Competition-related advertising and publicity.

F.  By entering, the Entrant, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) agrees to be bound by this Agreement; (ii) represents that Entrant holds all original copyrights to the materials submitted pursuant to this Agreement (or that Entrant has obtained written permission from the copyright owner to submit these materials); (iii) represents that the submitted materials do not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or other intellectual property or proprietary rights of any third-party; (iv) grants the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers  the American Society of Interior Designers, Inc. and their respective media and agency partners a non-exclusive, perpetual, transferable, royalty-free right and license to copy, reproduce, perform, display, prepare derivative works from, and distribute publicly all of Entrant’s submitted materials in both print and digital format for any purpose whatsoever including, but not limited to, use of such materials on third-party websites, social media, and other publications without additional compensation; and (v) agrees to indemnify and hold the American Society of Interior Designers, Inc., and Chapter and their respective officers, directors, and employees (collectively “Indemnified Parties”) harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, injuries, demands, suits, costs, expenses  and damages (including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) (collectively “Claim”) that the Indemnified Parties may incur by reason of or arising out of any breach of any of my representations, my provision of false information, use of my submitted materials and/or my license grant, except to the extent that such Claim is caused by the gross negligence of the Indemnified Parties.

G.  BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION AND/OR ACCEPTING ANY PRIZE, ENTRANT AGREES TO RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS CHAPTER, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS, INC. AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES AND EMPLOYEES (COLLECTIVELY “RELEASED PARTIES”) FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL ACTIONS, CLAIMS, INJURIES, LOSSES, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, EXPENSES OR CAUSES OF ACTION OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS WELL AS ANY AND ALL CLAIMS BASED ON DEFAMATION, PUBLICITY RIGHTS, AND/OR INVASION OF PRIVACY ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY MANNER, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RELATING TO ENTRANT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE DESIGN COMPETITION, SUBMISSION OF COMPETITION MATERIALS, AND/OR ACCEPTANCE OR USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE. 

 

By entering, I certify that I have read, understand and agree to each and every term set forth in these OFFICIAL RULES OF COMPETITION PARTICIPATION, including but not limited to those set forth in the COMPETITION RULES, REGULATIONS & ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES, and in the COMPETITION ENTRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INDEMNIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND RELEASE.

 

2024 NJ ASID DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARD

(DEA) Submission period is February 12 to May 6, 2024. 

 

HELPFUL SUBMISSION TIPS

There is a maximum of 1,000 words total for all criteria (word count does not include the design concept statement)

 

Organization:

• Please print the Rules and Regulations from NJ.ASID.org website and read carefully.

• The Design Excellence Award competition website is user friendly and easy to edit your entry throughout the entire submission period. Do not wait until last minute to start the process. 

• Make a checklist for each project you are submitting and check off each section as you go.

• Keep organized folders on your computer for each submission to store photos, drawings and written narratives or captions.

• Clearly label & number all photos to ensure that you submit the correct images when needed.

• Make sure you submit the correct resolution/file size photos as photographers often give you both high-and low-resolutions. Keep in two different, clearly labeled folders on your computer.

• Please make sure your drawings are free of logos, names, or any identifiers before submitting.

• Please indicate the proper scale on your Floor Plan. In addition, square footage of that floor plan must be included.

• For Single and Two or More Spaces as well as Contract, Student and IP, please include the project total square footage on the Entry submission page where indicated.

• Please read the disqualification section thoroughly, one omission of a requirement will disqualify your project.

 

Photography Tips:

• Leave enough time to get your projects photographed, whether hiring a photographer or taking your own. Timing with clients may take planning, so arrange accordingly.

• It helps to plan a photoshoot for a day with optimal lighting conditions. Location of space, and where sun will be at different times of the day, and/or if the room has a lot of natural light should be taken into consideration.

• The more photos the better! Discuss angles & specific details with photographer that correlate to the narrative you are writing.