Organizer Information
The awards are organized by the Laka Foundation, a Polish nonprofit and non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing architecture and design discourse through international competitions, publications, and educational initiatives. The foundation is closely associated with the platform Design Educates Awards, which focuses on highlighting design practices that go beyond aesthetics to deliver measurable social, environmental, and educational impact.
The organization operates internationally and collaborates with designers, architects, educators, and institutions to promote projects that demonstrate “added value” in design thinking. Its mission emphasizes the role of architecture and design as tools for solving contemporary global challenges, including sustainability, urban complexity, and social well-being.
Title & Description
Design Educates Awards 2026 (DEAwards)
The Design Educates Awards 2026 is an international design and architecture competition that recognizes innovative projects in Architecture and Design for Impact. Organized by the Laka Foundation, the competition seeks proposals that go beyond aesthetic and technical excellence, focusing instead on the broader educational, social, and environmental value of design.
Participants are invited to submit architectural works, conceptual projects, product designs, and interdisciplinary proposals that demonstrate meaningful contributions to society. Eligible submissions may include built environments, public installations, housing solutions, urban interventions, and non-architectural design systems that address real-world challenges.
The competition is open globally and encourages participation from students, emerging designers, independent practitioners, and established studios. Projects are evaluated based on their capacity to provide long-term value, educational insight, and contextual relevance.
Selected works are showcased in an international exhibition in Warsaw, Poland, and featured in the official Design Educates yearbook. Winners also receive recognition across multiple prize tiers, including Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Special Mentions, with additional distinctions for student work under the “Emerging Designer” label.
Categories
- Architecture
- Design for Impact
- Industrial Design
- Interior Design
- Urban Design
- Public Art
- Environmental Design
- Installation
- Research-based Design
- Conceptual Design
Eligibility
- Open to international participants worldwide
- Individuals, teams, studios, and companies may apply
- Students, emerging designers, and professionals are all eligible
- No age restrictions (minors must apply via legal guardians)
- Projects must be submitted in English
- Works must not be older than 5 years
- Participants involved in the organization or jury (and their relatives) are not eligible
- Multiple submissions per participant or team are allowed
Program Benefits & Awards
- Certificates and official winning labels
- Inclusion in the printed “Design Educates” yearbook (ISBN registered)
- Exhibition participation in Warsaw, Poland
- Invitation to the official awards ceremony
- Media and press exposure through partner networks
- Permanent listing in the Winners Gallery on the official website
- Promotional visibility through international design channels
- Special awards including: Winner of the Year, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Special Recognition, and Honorable Mention
- “Emerging Designer” label for top student project
Application Fee
- Students: €50
- Individual professionals / companies (<10 employees): €175
- Companies (11–100 employees): €350
- Companies (100+ employees): €650
- 25% discount for submitting to a second category
- Fees support the nonprofit activities of the organizer
Application Requirements
- Up to 5 JPG images of the design (200 dpi, RGB)
- One featured header image (2000 × 1000 px, horizontal JPG)
- Project description (max 1500 characters)
- Team description (max 250 characters)
- All materials must be in English
- Submissions after the deadline are not accepted
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 03 July 2026
- Jury Deliberation: July 2026
- Winners Announcement: August 2026
- Awards Ceremony: 16 October 2026 (Warsaw, Poland)
Location
Warsaw, Poland
Additional Details
The competition emphasizes design with “added value,” meaning projects must demonstrate meaningful impact beyond aesthetics. Both conceptual and realized works are accepted, with separate evaluation criteria for each category.
Projects are assessed based on innovation, educational potential, social relevance, and long-term contribution to society and the environment. The jury’s decision is final, and selected works are promoted through publications, exhibitions, and international media partners.
Participants retain full moral rights while granting the organizer a non-exclusive license for promotion and publication purposes. The organizer is required to credit authors whenever their work is used.