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DESIGN FOR IMPACT​

Challenge Rules

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 - Nov 3

MATERIALS SELECTION

Aug 15 – Oct 9

AWARDS CEREMONY

Nov 4

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 and use a Cabinet Couture cabinet door as the architectural focal point and submit the following by October 16:

  • Curated Moodboard including the cabinet door, combined with any of the following physical samples: countertop, flooring, tile, paint color(s), fixtures finish, decorative materials, and/or hardware. You may expand from these but not to exceed 10 articles. Our event sponsors will source many of these materials for your use.  We encourage you to use these and others of your preference.

  • Concept Elevation — a non-dimensioned hand sketch, render, perspective, or other visualization incorporating your moodboard selections to help illustrate to the judges how you intended to apply your moodboard selections.

  • Design Narrative — 100–500 words on how your design will improve Carlos' daily life. Capture your philosophy, materials, and expand your narrative to include accessibility features and functional solutions that you would incorporate to compensate for Carlos' mobility limitations and improve Carlos' sense of independence while cooking. Refer to the Challenge Brief section to learn more about Carlos' needs and wants.

  • AI imagery may be used as a visualization tool. The moodboard, material selections, and narrative must be the participant's original work.

  • See the Challenge Brief for other 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.

© 2025 Cabinet Couture. All Rights Reserved.

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