2026 STUDENT PINNACLE AWARDS®

Description

John Conrad Student Competition
Guidelines for Entry
The International Society of Furniture Designers Board of Directors initiated the John Conrad Student Pinnacle Awards Competition to fulfill our mission to inspire, educate, and connect the home furnishings designers of today and tomorrow.
Competition RulesThe competition is open to students majoring in Furniture or Industrial Design at an accredited college or university.Seniors graduating in May, 2026 are eligible. Graduate students are eligible.All entries must fully be the work of the entering student.- Concepts created via artificial intelligence will not be considered- Entrants are strongly encouraged to include a process book (a pdf documenting their design journey from original sketch to finished piece) with their entry.- Entry should demonstrate knowledge of how the piece would be builtAny entry which does not meet ALL competition rules will not be judged.Incomplete packages will not be considered.All decisions of the judges are final.Winning entries and contestant's identity, including photographs, may be used for publicity by ISFD or the Competition sponsors.ISFD will assume no responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen entries.The judges reserve the right not to issue an award if they do not feel the quality of work meets their design standards.
Entry RequirementsStudents - Must meet all Competition Rules, as stated above- Are limited to a total of one (1) entry in the competition- Must completely fill out and sign the Competition Entry FormDescriptive Data/Product Information:Include a typed description of the product, including noteworthy features and materials.The project may be hand drawn, completed with computer aided design, or a harmonious combination of both. A final rendering must be submitted.Entries must be received on or before 11:59pm EDT, Friday, July 31, 2026.
Product CategoriesStudents may enter any piece from their body of work, including bedroom, dining room, or home office furnishings, an occasional table, seating, storage piece, or entertainment system, as well as a textile design.
Judging CriteriaEntries will be judged on the following criteria of design excellence:
Aesthetics: Do the elements of the design (scale, proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis, and unity), including its finish, materials, and hardware, create a visually appealing composition?Design Originality: How fresh and original is the design?Functionality: How well does the product's function fit its intended use?Presentation: Is the presentation attractive, well organized, and interesting?

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Entry Process Tutorial

Here is a quick video tutorial you can watch to help you with the submission process.

Questions? Contact DAVID BLAIR at (336) 307-0999 david.blair@isfd.org