Organizer Information
TABU S.p.A. is an Italian industrial company headquartered in Cantù (Lombardy, Italy), internationally recognized for its expertise in natural wood dyeing and multilaminar wood technology. Its products include dyed wood veneers, multilayered wooden surfaces, and decorative wood elements used in furniture and interior design. The annual IDEAS4WOOD
competition—supported by ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale), FederlegnoArredo, FSC® Italia, and PEFC—is designed to promote innovative, sustainable design using wood as a primary material. The contest also aims to strengthen knowledge of wood’s aesthetic and functional potential in contemporary design practice.
Title & Description
IDEAS4WOOD 2025/2026 – International Design Contest
This is the 8th edition of the IDEAS4WOOD international competition organized by TABU Spa. The call invites
designers and students to propose original design concepts focused on decorative or functional wood surfaces and products. Themes include geometric, organic, or hybrid wood decorations for veneers, inlays, 3D relief surfaces, and wooden flooring panels. Projects may also involve Artificial Intelligence (AI) for creative support, provided that the use of AI is indicated and documented. Submissions are evaluated on originality, aesthetic quality, technical feasibility, and sustainable use of materials—including certified woods like FSC® and PEFC.
Categories
- Surface & Pattern Design: geometric, organic, mixed decorations
- Material Innovation: multilaminar and dyed wood veneers
- 3D Surface Design: embossed or bas-relief panels
- Architectural & Furniture Elements: wall coverings, floors
- Designer + AI-assisted Work (if declared)
Eligibility
- Professionals Category: Designers of any nationality and age not enrolled in academic programs; formal design qualifications are not required.
- Students Category: Students enrolled in universities, design/architecture/engineering schools, and art & design academies worldwide.
- Participation Mode: Individuals and groups (with a designated group leader).
- Max Projects: Each participant or group can submit up to 2 projects within this competition’s categories.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Professionals Category – 1st Prize: €5,000
- Students Category – 1st Prize: €5,000
- Carpanelli Award (Professionals): €3,000
- Carpanelli Award (Students): €2,000
Additional Awards & Mentions
- FSC® Mentions: for designs showing strong attention to sustainable practices.
- PEFC Mentions: for consideration of responsible forest certification criteria.
- IQD Magazine Special Award: Publication + one‑year subscription for outstanding architectural vision.
- RodaForYou Special Award
- Sherwin-Williams Special Award
- Carpanelli Special Award: For furniture/objects using Tabu’s surfaces.
In addition, TABU may produce prototypes of submitted projects with royalty agreements if put into production.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Annex A (completed and signed; available in Documents on the contest site).
- A ZIP folder per project (max 10 MB) containing a single PDF with up to 4 horizontal A3 tables including:
- Concept, mood board, inspiration, materials, application context
- Technical drawings and materials details
3–4. Project renderings and summary visuals
- Language: Projects and submissions must be in Italian or English.
- Anonymity: No personal data on the graphic project files to avoid disqualification.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 5 June 2026
- Award Ceremony: Second week of July 2026 in Milan, Italy
Location
Milan, Italy
Additional Details
- Training events and webinars may be offered to support participants.
- Submission projects may be exhibited publicly and published in catalogues and media with author credit.
- Jury decisions are final and unappealable.
- Participants retain ownership of their works while granting TABU usage rights for one year for promotional and exhibition purposes.
