Here you will find competitions in which students may participate. Entrants contend for prizes, honor and recognition in areas such as design or craftsmanship of a wood product.
AAW Turning to the Future
American Association of Woodturners (AAW) hosts the Turning to the Future woodturning competition for high school and post secondary students.
http://www.woodturner.org/Woodturner/Communities/Specialty-Programs/Students%20and%20Teachers/Woodturner/Students-and-Teachers/Students-and-Teachers.aspx?hkey=d4fa92f8-6e10-4482-8cbf-c4fee61848b2AWFS®Fair Fresh Wood Student Woodworking Competition
Open to students in North American high school, technical school or post secondary institutions. Has multiple categories and cash prizes. Occurs biennially in conjunction with the AWFS®Fair in the odd-numbered years in Las Vegas, Nevada.
http://awfsfair.org/attendee-information/student-contests/BIASC Design/Build Competition
A competition for Southern California students, held at the OC Fairgrounds. The Build competition includes student teams from four divisions: High School, Youth Build, Community College and Special Interest Group. Construction/Wood Shop student teams construct a 6 x 8 ft structure. Building Team will be challenged to build a structure at the competition site over a limited time period. In the design portion, individuals design and prepare construction documents as in the real world, according to defined build. Sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC)
http://www.biasc.org/events/biasc-design-build-competitionCalifornia State Fair – California Student Showcase
The California State Fair Student Showcase debuts the best student made projects in Arts, Engineering and Sciences. This competition is open to any California resident 5-18 years old. Enter to win State Fair ribbons, boost your accolades and get recognized as being among the Best of California!
http://calexpostatefair.com/participate/competitions/student-showcase/Contemporary-Modern Furniture Student Design Competition
The Educational Foundation of IFDA (IFDA-EF) and Cliff Young co-host the Contemporary-Modern Furniture Student Design competition. Entrants are asked to design a piece of furniture with classical references, clean design and sophisticated details. The piece could be hip and edgy, warm and organic and made with timeless simplicity but not minimal. The piece needs to be functional and aesthetically pleasing for a modern lifestyle.
http://www.ifdaef.org/design-competitionsDoug Mockett & Co Annual Design Competition
This architectural furniture component and hardware company sponsors an annual design contest for innovative furniture components, hardware and accessories. Cash prizes and royalties for winners. Co-sponsored by Doug Mockett & Co and Wood & Wood Products.
http://www.mockett.com/design-competitionFORM Student Innovation Competition
Architecture and interior design students are invited to showcase their creativity by designing a furniture piece themed for Design for the Next Generation. This can be a piece for a learning environment, post-pandemic workplace or future-forward commercial setting. These designs must incorporate three different Formica® Laminate products. The grand prize winner will receive a $2,000 cash award and the fabricated design will be displayed at NeoCon. The second place winner will receive $1,000 in a cash prize and third place will receive $500 with both design renderings shown during NeoCon. The top three winners will all be invited by Formica Corporation to attend NeoCon for a chance to network with industry professionals and get a taste of the design community. The FORM Student Innovation Competition is a modern take on the original “FORM: Contemporary Architects at Play” challenge, held by Formica Corporation in 2008. Ten world-renowned architects, including Zaha Hadid, Michael Graves, Bernard Tschumi and Massimo Vignelli, constructed new works of art from Formica® Brand products.
www.formica.com/en-us/campaigns/form-competitionGIA: Excellence in Student Design
Global Innovation Awards (gia) EXCELLENCE IN STUDENT DESIGN: The IHA (International Housewares Association) created its Student Design Competition in 1993 to invigorate the housewares industry with the fresh ideas of top student designers and to encourage young talent to consider careers in the housewares business. Now in its 27th year, IHA’s competition is unique in the U.S. as the longest-running, industry-sponsored, merit-recognition program for industrial design students.
http://www.theinspiredhomeshow.com/explore/awards/gia-excellence-in-student-design/Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence
(EDUCATORS) The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence was started in 2017 by Eric Smidt, the founder of national tool retailer Harbor Freight Tools. The prize recognizes outstanding instruction in the skilled trades in U.S. public high schools and the teachers who inspire students to learn a trade that prepares them for life after graduation. Winners join a nationwide network of outstanding trades teachers who convene regularly by webinar and in a three-day summer workshop to share best practices and advance their field.
http://harborfreighttoolsforschools.orgI Built This! Video Contest
NCCER and Build Your Future present: I Built This! Designed to promote the value of craft skills and construction as an industry of choice, the contest encourages secondary and postsecondary students and trainees to showcase their building projects. Call for entries opens in October.
http://www.byf.org/i-built-this/ICFF Studio
To enter the competition, a designer must have a working prototype that is not in commercial production. All submissions are reviewed by established industry professionals, allowing those recognized by the ICFF Studio program to stand in a class of their own. Entries are judged on design aesthetics, the ability to be economically mass produced, marketability and commercial viability.
http://icff.com/the-fair/icff-studio/International Design Award (IDA), sponsored by Hettich and Rehau
International competition sponsored by Hettich and Rehau that features two separate segments: Furniture and Fittings. Awards ceremony is held during the Interzum show in Cologne, Germany.
http://corporate.hettich.com/en-de/company/ida.jsp#:~:text=The%20International%20Design%20Award%20is,international%20design%20contests%20for%20students.&text=The%20awards%20ceremony%20of%20the,in%20which%20the%20winners%20participated.International Design Awards (IDA)
INT’L DESIGNER OF THE YEAR AWARDS: Gain worldwide exposure: Enter one of the most respected Design Awards. Architects and interior designers, product designers, graphic designers and fashion designers are invited to submit their work for the IDA design competition. Student Categories and awards are presented as well.
idesignawards.com/ISFD Innovation+Design Contest
The International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) INNOVATION + DESIGN furnishings and lighting design competition is a juried and curated competition open to ISFD members as well as members of the professional Maker/Designer community and post-secondary students.
http://isfd.org/2020-innovation-designISFD Pinnacle Student Awards
The Pinnacle Awards were created in April 1995 by the ISFD board of directors to promote design quality and encourage the recognition of furniture designers within the retail home furnishings industry. The ISFD Pinnacle Awards® Committee and the Board of Directors initiated the ISFD Student Pinnacle® Award, as part of our continuing mission to support, motivate and inspire the designers of tomorrow. The winner will receive the Pinnacle Trophy, Winner’s Certificate, free admission to the Pinnacle Awards® banquet and a free student membership to ISFD.
isfd.org/awards/isfd-pinnacle-awardsIWF Design Emphasis
A furniture design competition open to post secondary students throughout the U.S. Contest is held in conjunction with the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) in Atlanta, GA, held in even-numbered years.
http://iwfatlanta.com/Mastercam Wildest Parts Competition
The challenge is simple. Create a bold, original item using Mastercam. Mastercam's Wildest Parts Competition challenges students to design and make something that is, well, wild. We're looking for high quality parts that either haven't been done before or have never been done like that before. Our challenge is for students to break the mold, think outside the box, and cut outside the lines.
http://www.mastercam.com/community/competitions/wildestparts/MITES Student Project Competition
Open to students in Michigan, projects may be entered in several categories within the "Wood" competition, including clocks, casework, furniture, turning, and sculpture and carving. There are also "Construction Trades" and "Architectural Drawing" competition. Michigan students: contact your teacher to find out how to participate.
http://mites.cc/index.php/student-competition-information/SIT Furniture Design Award
SIT Furniture Design Award ™ was created to recognize the efforts of talented international furniture product designers and implementers. We believe that Industrial Designers improve our daily life; SIT celebrates creativity and share furniture designers’ innovative SEATING vision to the world. Includes the "SIT Emerging Furniture Design of the Year: Student" award.
www.sitaward.com/Skills Canada
Skills/Compétences Canada (S/CC) is a national, not-for-profit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trades and technology careers among Canadian youth. A unique position among private and public sector partners enables Skills Canada to work toward securing Canada’s future skilled labour needs while helping Canada's youth to discover rewarding careers. Students compete in live build contests in many different skill areas, including Cabinetmaking.
http://www.skillscanada.comSkillsUSA Championships
The SkillsUSA Championships showcase the best career and technical students in the nation. Live build contests in dozens of skill areas (including Cabinetmaking) begin locally and advance to state and national levels.
http://skillsusa.orgWoodworking Network Presents: Veneer Tech Craftsman’s Challenge
Recognizes excellence in woodwork that features natural veneer and edge-banding applications. Open to professionals and amateurs, with a special category for Student Design.
http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/community/veneer-tech-craftsmans-challengeWorld Skills Competition
Every two years, hundreds of young skilled people, accompanied by their teachers and trainers, gather together from around the world to compete before the public in the skills of their various trades (including Cabinetmaking) and test themselves against demanding international standards. They represent the best of their peers drawn from regional and national skill competitions held currently in 49 countries/regions.
http://www.worldskills.orgBack to top