IDEA 2021 will open for entries on 26 February with the discounted early-entry period running until 5 May.

Enter your project or studio from next week on and sign up to the IDEA newsletter to receive more information!

Now in its 19 year, IDEA is Australia’s oldest architecture and interior design awards and has become a benchmark for celebrating this country’s design excellence, as well as the incredible people behind them.

We know 2020 was tough, which is why, this year, we’re extending IDEA’s entry guidelines.

Any project completed between 1 January 2020 and 30 July 2021 is eligible for this year’s awards so long as it hasn’t been entered in IDEA previously.

Every shortlisted project gets its own page on the IDEA website and a mention in inside magazine’s shortlist edition.

It’ll also be eligible for full editorial coverage from the editorial team on Australian Design Review and inside.

By entering a project in IDEA, you’ll also be eligible for four special awards – Designer of the Year, Emerging Designer of the Year, Overall Winner and the Sustainability Award, which are chosen by our jury of seven industry leaders along with the 14 category winners.

You’ll also be considered for the Editor’s Medal, chosen by Australian Design Review and inside editor, Elisa Scarton

All IDEA winners receive a bespoke trophy designed by Axolotl, a feature in inside‘s winners edition, a certificate and an invitation to speak at our IDEA Designer Speaker Series to be held in 2022.

Keen? Here are the key dates for this year’s competition:

26 February 2021

IDEA 2021 opens for entries. Make sure you’re subscribed to the IDEA newsletter to receive updates!

2 May 2021

Early entry deadline. If you want to save money, submit your entry before this date.

11 June 2021

Entry deadline. This is your last chance to enter!

September 2021

This is when we’ll publish the 2021 shortlist. Every shortlisted project gets its own page on the IDEA website. It also gets its own dedicated write-up in the inside magazine shortlist edition, so be sure to pick up a copy!

See the 2020 shortlist

October 2021

This year’s jury of industry leaders meet to discuss the shortlisted projects and pick the 14 category winners, as well as the Overall Winner, Designer of the Year, Emerging Designer of the Year and Sustainability winners.

Meet the 2020 jury.

November 2021

Time to celebrate the best architecture, interiors and design projects and studios of the year! We announce the winners of IDEA 2021.

Questions?

If you have any questions about IDEA 2021 you can email us at idea@niche.com.au.