About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
International Excellence Awards (IEA) 2027: Global Design Competition for Architects, Designers and Students
Application Deadline: 16 March 2027
Expected Results Announcement: 6 April 2027
Entry Fee: US$130–US$210, depending on the submission period
Student Discount: 50%
Eligible Participants: Architects, designers, design studios and students worldwide
Award Categories: 11 disciplines, including architecture, interiors, fashion, product design and AI-powered innovation
About the International Excellence Awards 2027
The International Excellence Awards (IEA) 2027 invite architects, designers, studios and students from around the world to submit outstanding built or conceptual design projects.
Founded in 2025 by the Architecture & Design Community, the awards celebrate creativity, innovation, functionality and excellence across multiple design disciplines. The 2027 edition marks the programme’s third season.
Eligible projects must be no more than seven years old. Both completed projects and conceptual designs can be entered, giving emerging and established designers an opportunity to showcase their work internationally.
Award Categories
The competition features 11 categories covering a broad range of creative disciplines:
Architecture
Interior Design
Landscape Design
Fashion
Furniture
Lighting
Packaging
Product Design
Transportation
Communication Design
AI-Powered Innovation
The AI-Powered Innovation category recognises projects created entirely or partly using artificial intelligence, including AI-generated architectural concepts, AI-assisted interior planning and generative design for furniture, lighting and packaging.
Benefits of Participating
Participants and winners can benefit from international recognition and professional visibility.
Personalised certificate: Winners receive a certificate recognising their achievement.
Custom award logo: Successful entrants receive an award logo to showcase their recognition.
Social media promotion: Winners receive a banner kit for sharing their achievement online.
Dedicated winner's page: Winning projects are featured on the awards website with a studio profile and contact details.
Professional exposure: The awards provide an opportunity to present work to a wider design audience.
Trophy option: Physical trophies are available to order separately.
Judging Criteria
Entries are evaluated through a blind judging process, with entrant information removed during assessment. Jurors independently score each project on a scale of 1 to 10 against three criteria:
Innovation and Originality: The uniqueness and creative strength of the project.
Design and Aesthetic Quality: The quality, visual appeal and coherence of the design.
Functionality and Spatial Integration: How effectively the project fulfils its purpose and integrates its design elements.
Awards are assigned at Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze level according to fixed average-score thresholds. The number of winners is not predetermined by ranking, meaning multiple projects can receive the same award level if they meet the relevant standard.
Entry Fees and Student Discounts
The competition uses a tiered entry-fee structure based on the submission date.
Submission periodEntry feeEarly Bird — by 30 October 2026US$130Advance — by 24 November 2026US$150Standard — by 8 January 2027US$170Extended — by 9 February 2027US$190Late — by 16 March 2027US$210
Students receive a 50% discount on the entry fee. Applicants should confirm the applicable fee, discount requirements and any additional charges on the official awards website before submitting.
How to Apply
Interested architects, designers, studios and students should:
Visit the official International Excellence Awards website.
Review the 11 categories and select the most suitable discipline for the project.
Confirm that the project meets the age and submission requirements.
Prepare the required project materials and complete the online entry process.
Pay the applicable entry fee and submit before the deadline.
Application Deadline
The final submission deadline is 16 March 2027, with results expected to be announced on 6 April 2027.
Applicants are encouraged to submit early to benefit from lower entry fees.
Official information: https://designskill.org/international-excellence-awards/
Note: This is a paid design competition, not a scholarship or grant programme. Review the official rules, fee schedule and award conditions before entering.
How to apply