How can a firm win an Architecture award?
The first step is to find the right awards to enter in, whether you're part of the public relations or marketing team of your firm or you're an architect or designer working in construction and design, there is a design award out there that fits your design style and interests. We’ll take you through how you can pick the right awards from an array of awards and categories.
Make applying for design and architecture awards part of your marketing or PR strategy. Take a few hours each month to research the new awards, and hit competitor websites to get a sneak peek into the awards your peers have contested, then check for the latest edition of the awards. Look at the about-pages of award-winning designers, they'll mention the awards they've won. You can research and if it fits your design style, you can enter those awards, too. Document the different awards in a database on your computer. That way, you can access it at any time to see which awards are coming up next. Discuss with seniors at work who can lend insights on the right awards for your practice. Ask fellow designers within your network if they know of any awards.
Subscribe to magazines or email newsletters within your niche that list architecture and design awards. Follow the hashtag on Instagram and LinkedIn. Google different criteria, such as "Design Awards India 2022" or "Architecture Awards Green Design" and see what the search unveils. A good google search should be able to give you all the information you need. Here are a few to get you started with: Best Design Awards (The Designers Institute), New Zealand Architecture Awards, AAA (Auckland Architecture Association) Unbuilt Architecture Awards, AR+D Awards for Emerging Architecture, Bentley Be Inspired Architecture & Engineering Awards, National Architecture Awards (Australian Institute of Architects), Brick Industry Association Brick in Architecture Awards, Progressive Architecture Awards (Architect Magazine), WAN Urban Design Awards, Architizer A+ Awards, Dezeen Awards, RTF awards, ISARCH International Award for Architecture Students, Global Award for Sustainable Architecture (Locus), Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA Awards. Now that you've done the research and shortlisted a good number of design awards, it's time to choose which one you should enter.
For example, if you work predominantly in vernacular architecture, you won't win an award focused on concrete design. Likewise, if you design furniture in a minimalist style, you won't place in a competition that’s looking for traditional, ornate pieces. For each award you've discovered, ask yourself if you meet the entry criteria. Often, an award will be restricted to a certain domain. If you don't meet the criteria, move on. But keep that information documented – you never know when your firm will meet the criteria in the future. Check out the winners of previous years. Pull out what made their designs stand out to the jury. Think of what is unique with your entry and dial up your USPs. Look for the dates and analyze if the time will be sufficient to submit your entry and if the fee is affordable to you. Ask yourself if winning that particular award you are looking at will benefit your company. Understand and analyze how much value the award will add to your practice. Don't worry about your chances of winning. Participation itself can give you some important lessons in terms of design excellence.
Next, find out who the panel of judges are for the award. Peek into their profiles and research them independently. The more you know about each judge’s design philosophies, the better you'll fare in the competition. Choose a project that would most appeal to them and create an application that directly appeals to your jury. This does not mean you should cook up concepts, knowing your jury will help you get at what angle to approach the award from (For example, sustainability or technology). Most prestigious design awards have multiple categories, and it can sometimes be confusing. Always look for the category you have the best chance of winning. For example, the category you dream of winning is probably very competitive. But if you enter a less popular category, there will be fewer firms in it and that means you have a good chance to bag the award. Enter as many categories as you're able to and can afford. Gather all the information you have sourced – the entry criteria, dates, your application form, and all your research about the judges and the previous winners, before you start to type your award application. Drafting the application is the most difficult part of the whole process, especially if you're not used to it. Here are some tips: read the submission guidelines several times. Make sure you understand exactly what is required to complete the application. Mail the awards office with your questions if you are confused at any point. Keep your application crisp and to the point, don’t talk about anything that is not asked for. Use short, punchy statements to get across your main points and USPs. It can help to list out key points you want to convey in your entry on a separate piece of paper. You can then tick each one off as you address them in your application. This ensures you don't miss out on something important. Run grammar checks, and ask a friend to proofread it for you. Set reminders on your phone, and send your submission in time.
