IWF Atlanta
IWF West
Recognizing Future Talent
The Design Emphasis Showcase is a “must see” at the International Woodworking Fair. Furniture pieces designed and built by students from colleges and universities throughout the United States are on display at IWF. Over $10,000 in prize money is awarded and presented during a special ceremony on the show floor.
What Is Design Emphasis?
Design Emphasis is the industry’s most prestigious furniture design competition for college and university students. It is open to any undergraduate student enrolled in an accredited university or technical school program offering design, product design, or wood products courses.
During the spring of 2026, eligible students submit images and descriptions of their projects for preliminary judging by a panel in early May.
Finalists are chosen and invited to display their projects on the exhibit floor at IWF, in the Design Emphasis Gallery in Exhibit Hall C. Here, final judging by a panel of industry experts takes place.
The winners will be announced, and prize money awarded during show hours in the Design Emphasis Gallery.
The competition recognizes and rewards advanced-level designs in five categories:
Got what it takes?
This is a great opportunity to demonstrate your talent to furniture industry designers, manufacturers, retailers and members of the trade press. Be sure to complete the Student Entry Form by May 1, 2026.
Complete the form once for EACH project you plan to enter. After you complete the form, further entry instructions will be emailed to you within 7 days. Note that in order for your entry to be accepted, your school was required to register to participate by February 27, 2026.
Design Emphasis
Design Emphasis
To qualify students for the competition, interested schools and instructors were required to register their school by February 27, 2026.
Details on student project entry were emailed to the attention of instructors or schools who registered by the deadline.
There are proven rewards for being a Design Emphasis winner! See how it impacted previous winners’ careers.
If you are interested in participating in future competitions, please contact Liz Hosp: LCH@iwfatlanta.com
Latest Competition
Explore winners from the latest edition of the industry’s most prestigious furniture design competition for college and university students.
Thank you to the fantastic panel of judges from the 2024 competition!
The caliber of…Design Emphasis entries was, unquestionably, the highest quality overall that I’ve observed over the past decade. These rising furniture designers delivered products developed with a keen awareness of today’s consumer lifestyle in outstanding execution. The attention to detail in the finished samples as well as the presentation boards are superb.
Jaclyn C. Hirschhaut
Kelly Peterson
404-693-8333
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