Challenge Rules

DESIGN FOR IMPACT

The full timeline, eligibility, and judging criteria. Everything that keeps the challenge fair.

TIMELINE

REGISTRATION START

Aug 15

SUBMISSIONS DUE

Oct 16

REGISTRATION END

Oct 9

PEOPLE's VOTE

Oct 26 - Oct 30

MATERIALS SELECTION

Aug 15 – Oct 9

AWARDS CEREMONY

Nov 4

HOW IT WORKS

1. Register
Reserve your spot by October 9.

2. Get inspired
Review Carlos's story, design brief and resources.

3. Create
Develop your moodboard + one concept illustration + short narrative.

4. Submit
Bring your physical moodboard to Cabinet Couture by October 16.

5. Celebrate
Winners announced November 4 at Cabinet Couture Award Showcase

ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY

Who can enter: Interior designers, architects, kitchen & bath designers, design students, interior stylists, and collaborative design teams.
Location: Participants must be based in the Austin area.
Entry fee: $20 per entry. Limited entries.
Deadline: Registration closes October 9.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All participants must select a Cabinet Couture cabinet door as the architectural focal point and submit:

Curated Moodboard — Include the cabinet door and complementary materials such as countertop, flooring, tile, paint, fixtures, decorative materials, and/or hardware. Limit to 10 physical articles. Sponsors will provide select materials, which you are encouraged to incorporate.

Concept Visualization — A non-dimensioned hand sketch, elevation, perspective, render, or other visualization showing how your selections come together.

Design Narrative — 100–250 words describing your design philosophy, materials, accessibility features, and functional solutions to support Carlos’s mobility needs and independence.

See the Challenge Brief for additional details.

ORIGINALITY AND COPYRIGHT

All submissions must be original work created specifically for this competition.
Entries may not replicate another designer's published work or showroom display.
Participants confirm they hold the rights to all images, renderings, and materials in their submission.
Designers retain ownership of their work; Cabinet Couture retains the right to display and promote submissions for marketing, educational, and exhibition purposes.

JUDGING AND VOTING

Each submission is assigned an entry number. Boards and drawings must carry no identifying information — no names, logos, signatures, watermarks, or social handles.
People's Choice Award: All entries are professionally photographed and posted anonymously on Cabinet Couture's social media. The design with the most public votes wins. Voting is anonymous, one vote per person; automated voting is prohibited and Cabinet Couture may remove fraudulent votes.
Juried scoring: Judges score independently using the official scorecard:
Creativity & originality
Response to the client's design brief
Integration of the Cabinet Couture door
Accessibility & functional planning
Overall design cohesion
Material selection & layering
Color composition
Sustainability
All judging decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

CONDUCT, CONFLICT, DISQUALIFICATION

Judges must recuse themselves from any entry where a personal or professional conflict exists; Cabinet Couture may recuse a judge if necessary. Participants are expected to conduct themselves professionally throughout.
Cabinet Couture may disqualify any submission for:
Late or incomplete entries
Failure to follow competition requirements
Plagiarism, copyright infringement, or unauthorized materials
Misrepresentation of authorship
Harassment, discriminatory behavior, or attempts to influence judges or voting

MARKETING RELEASE & CHANGES

By entering, participants grant Cabinet Couture the non-exclusive right to photograph, publish, display, reproduce, and promote submitted work across print, digital, exhibitions, and social media — always with designer attribution.
Cabinet Couture reserves the right to modify dates, judging procedures, or prizes, or to cancel the competition if unforeseen circumstances arise.

READY TO SUBMIT YOUR DESIGN PACKAGE?

Submit your moodboard and concept design package.