The Community Services category was introduced in 2021 to acknowledge the positive impact interior design and architecture have had on our community or not-for-profit sectors.

To be eligible for this award, the constructed project or interior:

• must have been completed between January 2020 and June 2023
• must have been delivered as a pro bono service or at a significantly reduced fee,
• must demonstrate a long-term, positive impact on individuals and/or groups that are community based, not-for-profit or high risk; and/or
• must demonstrate that the project benefits users that wouldn’t normally have access to design expertise.

As part of their application, entrants will be asked to provide a 300-word description of how the project benefited the community, high risk groups and/or neighbourhood.

Judges will be looking in particular at the contribution of the architect or designer in delivering the project.

All entry fees for this category will be donated to the charity nominated by the winning practice or studio.

This category is awarded to the submission that the jury believes demonstrates the most outstanding use of colour in a project. The winner will be the project that is deemed to have used colour, including black and white, to the best possible outcome – whether for aesthetics, form delineation, utility or brand presence. As appropriate to the project, colour used in wall, floor, ceiling, interior, exterior, furnishings, lighting, objects and art will all be considered, as will balance, fluidity and relevance of colour use. Originality will also be considered.

Submissions to this category must also include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

Pop-up shops, theatrical staging, exhibitions, marquees and other temporary installations-cum-event spaces are eligible for entry into this category. While clever, readily demountable design is likely to dominate here, the manner in which it contributes to the experience of the event or business itself is of course absolutely key. Considerations include: brief, concept, spatial acumen, parameters, decoration, sustainability, innovation and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

Cafés, bars, restaurants, spas, gyms, wellness centres and hotels are eligible for this category. Functionality and smart planning are important considerations for the jury here, but just as important will be the ways in which the design works with the program and personality of the venue to deliver that all-important memorable experience, drawing the clientele back for more. Considerations include: brief, concept, functionality, character, clarity, spatial acumen, parameters, decoration, lighting, sustainability, innovation and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

This category is open to any interior design projects funded by a public body and/or that are dedicated to public care. Projects suitable for inclusion are institutional buildings such as schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, medical centres, aged care facilities, nursing homes and prisons.

Given the wide variety of typologies this category governs, submissions will be judged on case-by-case criteria with regards to how they have acquitted their stated brief. Considerations include: brief, concept, ability to engage and serve the general public, spatial acumen, parameters, decoration, lighting, sustainability, innovation and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

This award recognises Australian design excellence in the interior design of a project overseas. Qualities under consideration include decoration and spatial acumen as integral to the ‘look and feel’ of the design. The selection of lighting, fixtures, fittings, hard and soft furnishings etc comes into play here, but the handling of space, light and structure is also of key concern. Hence, designs that demonstrate a totality (architecture and interior) will be highly regarded. Any project an Australian practice has been involved with overseas is eligible. Considerations include: brief, concept, spatial acumen, parameters, decoration, lighting, sustainability, innovation and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

This category serves as a showcase of the best Australian furniture and lighting design. Work submitted to this category will be judged on form and function; however, objects that demonstrate genuine innovation (be it in terms of materials, manufacturing, distribution or functionality etc) will be highly regarded. Please note student projects and/or prototypes are not eligible for this category. Considerations include: brief (if applicable), functionality, aesthetic, concept, parameters, sustainability, innovation, material consideration and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

This category will serve as a showcase of the brightest rising stars of Australian furniture and lighting design. The work submitted to this category will be judged on form and function; however, objects that demonstrate genuine innovation (be it in terms of materials, manufacturing, distribution or functionality etc) will be highly regarded. This category is specifically for students or recent graduates (less than three years since graduating). You can have already set up your own business though. Considerations include: brief (if applicable), functionality, aesthetic, concept, parameters, sustainability, innovation, material consideration and originality of design outcome.

This category is open to any interior design projects funded by a public body and/or that are dedicated to public use. Projects suitable for inclusion are foyers, malls, airports, transport centres, churches, temples, entertainment venues, reception/event venues, libraries, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, museums, galleries, community centres, retirement villages, boarding houses, law courts, law enforcement offices, parliamentary buildings, mortuaries, cemeteries and parks. Given the wide variety of typologies this category governs, submissions will be judged on case-by-case criteria with regards to how they have acquitted their stated brief. Considerations include: brief, concept, ability to engage and serve the general public, spatial acumen, parameters, decoration, lighting, sustainability, innovation and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

This category is all about how residential interiors are curated to enhance the experience of inhabitation. Unlike the other two Residential categories, Residential – Interior Curation is concerned purely with qualities brought to an existing dwelling by an interior designer who had no input into its architectural elements. Projects in which the interior architect or designer adapted, modified or contributed to the interior architecture of the residence should be entered into the Residential Single or Residential Multi category.

The selection, customisation and curation of furnishings, both soft and hard, colour, surfaces and fixtures and fittings are all of key importance in this category. As is the selection of finishes, fabrics, lighting, rugs, accessories, artworks and unfixed furnishing. Considerations include: brief, concept, parameters, design totality, flow and focus, overall aesthetic and originality of design outcome.

As this category considers the design totality of an interior, it also recognises the important contribution stylists make to a completed project and, in particular, its photo shoot. If you worked with a stylist on the project entered, their name must be included, so we can recognise them alongside your studio.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

This category relates exclusively to designs for multi-unit residential complexes; i.e. interior designs that apply to more than one dwelling. Much like the Residential Single category, spatial planning and programming, and their relationship to the ‘look and feel’ of the design are critical. Importantly though, the design will also be considered with regards to the structures of multi-unit, template-based design. In this respect, attention will be paid to qualities of modularity and economy of construction and how the design contributes to the rationing and exploitation of space and the provision of amenity. Absolutely essential to this will be an understanding of how the design reflects its target market demographic. Considerations include: brief, concept, spatial acumen, parameters, decoration, lighting, sustainability, innovation and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

This award recognises excellence in the interior design of a single dwelling. Qualities under consideration include spatial planning and programming, and their relationship to the ‘look and feel’ of the design. The selection of lighting, fixtures, fittings, hard and soft furnishings etc comes into play here, while the handling of space, light and structure is also of key concern. Hence, designs that have been dealt with in this respect as a totality (interior architecture and interior design) will be highly regarded. Single apartments, townhouses, terraces and standalone dwellings are all eligible. Considerations include: brief, concept, spatial acumen, parameters, decoration, lighting, sustainability, innovation and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

Submissions to this category denote retail fitouts that demonstrate a good understanding of all the things that contribute to making a shopper’s visit to a store a memorable one (and, of course, a profitable one for the store in question). Considerations include: brief, concept, product display, brand translation, experiential quality, spatial acumen, parameters, decoration, lighting, sustainability, innovation and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

A category for large commercial office designs, over 1000 square metres in size. Key considerations here include how a commercial fitout has been designed to enhance the efficiency of the workplace, not just from the perspective of user productivity, but also with regards to comfort and happiness. Considerations include: brief, concept, projection of company brand and ethos, support of workplace culture, where applicable client ease of use, spatial acumen, parameters, decoration, lighting, sustainability, innovation and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.

This category is for the smaller, more bespoke office solutions, under 1000 square metres in size – with often concomitantly more tightly constrained budgets. Considerations include: brief, concept, projection of company brand and ethos, support of workplace culture, where applicable, client ease of use, spatial acumen, parameters, decoration, lighting, sustainability, innovation and originality of design outcome.

Submissions to this category must include a separate Sustainability statement to be considered for the Sustainability Award.