The KBDi Awards program has been a feature of our organisation for a decade or so. Over this period, we’ve worked hard to refine the program to ensure we have the fairest playing field for all entrants and the most straightforward entry process.

In this article, we’re sharing ‘the fine print’ that often goes unread. The following extract is a direct cut and paste from our readily available entry guidelines document and answers some of the most frequently asked questions.

General Conditions

1. Entry is open to all current financial KBDi Certified Designer, Designer and Associate Members.
2. All designs submitted must be for projects undertaken within Australia and completed during the period of 26 April 2022 to 26 April 2024.
3. You may only enter projects into the KBDi Design Awards once. For example, a project submitted in 2023 will not be accepted in 2024.
4. Designers may enter their projects in the state (chapter) in which they are a Member only.  (Note:  Members may only maintain Membership of a single chapter at any one time, with the condition that they live, or that the majority of their work, is in that state chapter.)
5. Please also refer to Entry Guidelines specific to each category.
6. Entries must be submitted by one of the following rulings:

Individual Entry:

• The entrant must be the Principal Designer of the project and must directly control and participate in preparing the entry (see Declaration, included in Entry Form).
• The entrant must hold a current KBDi Membership for the duration of the Awards program.

For those holding an individual KBDi Membership:

• Certificates and Awards related to the entry will refer to the Designer’s name and the trading name nominated by the individual Member in their entry form.
• Consumer-targeted web, social and print marketing will refer to the trading name nominated by the individual Member in their entry form. (Note: the entrant must be able to provide evidence of their relationship/engagement with the nominated business.)

For those holding a KBDi Business Membership:

• Certificates and Awards related to the entry will refer to the Designer’s name and the trading name of the KBDi Membership holder.
• Finalists and/or Winners entering as a Business Member will receive one framed certificate and one unframed certificate. Only one trophy will be awarded.
• Consumer-targeted web, social, and print marketing will refer to the business’s trading name, as indicated in the entry form.

Collaborative Design Partnership:

• Two individual designers (both with current financial KBDi Membership) from two separate entities or the same firm, who’ve taken equal responsibility as co-designers of a project, may enter in this joint ruling.
• Both designers must hold a ‘design’ category Membership (i.e. Certified Designer Member, Designer Member or Associate Member) either individually or as part of a Business Membership.
• Where more than two individual designers from one firm have collaborated on a design, the business entity (with a current financial KBDi Business Membership) may enter as a collaborative design partnership, and the winner will be identified with the business name only.
• Collaborative entries are not permitted in the Certified Designer of the Year category.
• Finalists/Winners will be referred to in associated certificates and trophies as follows:

Annie Crab (ABC Architects) + Danny Elephant (DE Designs) or
Fran Grant + Helen Innes (FG Studio) or
HI Design.

• Consumer-targeted web, social and print marketing will refer to the trading names of the businesses, as indicated in the entry form.

Project Categories: Guidelines and Criteria

With respect to project categories, we’ve set out the guidelines AND judging criteria for each of the entry fields in our Entry Pack. If you’re thinking about entering, we encourage you to download the Pack here and explore the criteria applicable to your project.

Remember, no question is silly when it comes to entering our Awards Program, and we’re always available to answer your questions. If you have a Q that needs an A today, drop your query in the comments field below, and we’ll share the answer ASAP.