A NEW DAWN OF DESIGN EXCELLENCE
The Illuminate Design Awards competition and gala, held biennially in Jacksonville, aim to acknowledge local design achievements and inspire innovative ideas for interior spaces. The IIDA NFL is committed to enhancing interior design knowledge among professionals and fostering general public awareness and appreciation for interior design. This event showcases design excellence within local firms and has been a prominent fixture since the establishment of the North Florida chapter. Local design firms submit project entries that are evaluated by a selected group of professional IIDA members from outside the North Florida region.
2026 Illuminate Awards Gala
Date: MAY 15, 2026
Location: phx JAX - Emerald station south
Time: 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Event tickets
Our 2024 gala was nothing short of amazing with a vibrant gathering of talented individuals, industry leaders, and passionate supporters under one roof.
To check out the 2024 winners, images, + sketches, head to our Past Events.
EVENT SPONSORSHIP OPTIONS
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
PRIMARY CATEGORIES
COMMERCIAL WORKPLACE (COM)
Small (<7,500 SF)
Medium (7,500- 20,000 SF)
Large (>20,000 SF)
HEALTHCARE (HEA)
Small (<7,500 SF)
Medium (7,500- 20,000 SF)
Large (20,000 - 60,000 SF)
X-Large (>60,000 SF)
SENIOR LIVING (COM)
EDUCATION & RESEARCH (EDU)
HOSPITALITY (HOS)
INSTITUTIONAL & GOVERNMENT (GOV)
HISTORIC REVITALIZATION (HIS)
RESTAURANTS (RES)
RETAIL (RET)
UNBUILT (UNB)
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (SFR)
MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (MFR)
VENDOR CATEGORIES
Entries must be submitted by the manufacturer, vendor representative, or brand owner responsible for the work.
PRODUCT PLACEMENT
CREATIVE INSTALL
PRISM CATEGORIES
All projects entered into a general project category may also opt into one or more Prism Categories:
BRANDING EXCELLENCE (BRD)
SUSTAINABILITY (SUS)
DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion)
Radiance Award Nominations
The Radiance Awards are the highest individual honors presented by the IIDA North Florida Chapter. These awards recognize professionals who demonstrate outstanding design excellence, leadership, advocacy, and service to the North Florida design community.
Nominations are submitted through a public portal and are open to the design community and general public.
Designer of the Year
Industry Champion
Emerging Professional
NOMINATIONS OPEN APRIL 6TH - APRIL 30TH
people’s choice voting
The People’s Choice Award allows the public to rank their top three favorite projects during the voting period. Each person may submit one ballot. The project with the highest public ranking receives the award, reflecting strong community support.
VOTING OPENS APRIL 6TH
SUBMISSION PROCESS
registration vs. submission deadline
The awards program follows a two-step entry process: registration/payment and final project submission.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Registration is when you officially enter your project and submit payment. Your fee is determined by when you register and pay, not when you upload final materials.
FINAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE
After registering and submitting payment, entrants may prepare their project materials. All final submission materials must be uploaded by March 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Registering early locks in lower pricing while still allowing time to complete your submission. No extensions will be granted after the final deadline.
how to enter
Determine how many projects you plan to submit and select categories.
Register each project and submit payment.
Receive confirmation and start your submissions
Upload all final materials by March 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM
project entry rules & requirements
To ensure a smooth review process and maintain fairness and anonymity during judging, all entrants must comply with the following requirements. Submissions that do not meet these standards may be disqualified.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Category
Enter the project in the single category that best represents its primary function.
Project Name & Location
Use the official project name. List City and State only. Do not include firm names, client names, or identifying information.
Project Completion Date
Projects must be substantially complete after January 1, 2023. Substantial completion is defined as the date the space was ready for occupancy or use.
Construction Type
New Construction – Ground-up or newly built projects.
Renovation – Improvements or redesigns to an existing structure.
Tenant Up-Fit – Interior build-outs within an existing shell or leased space.
Square Footage
Enter total interior square footage of the designed areas only. This is used for category classification and does not affect judging.
PROJECT NARRATIVES
Project Statement (50 words max)
Provide a brief overview of the project’s purpose, users, and overall design intent. Think of this as the project’s elevator pictch.
Challenge Statement (250 word maximum)
Describe the key challenges that shaped the project, such as site conditions, budget or schedule constraints, and programmatic or user requirements.
Solution Statement (250 word maximum)
Explain how the design addressed those challenges, including planning strategies, material and spatial decisions, and relevant sustainability, wellness, branding, or DEI considerations
PROJECT ENTRY FEES
EARLY BIRD ENTRY PERIOD (Feb 16 – Mar 10)
Members: $125 | Non-Members: $175
GENERAL ENTRY PERIOD (Mar 10 - Mar 30)
Members: $150 | Non-Members: $200
*Multiple entry discount applies to members & non-members: first entry is full price; each additional entry received $25 off.
*Active IIDA membership is required for member pricing (member name & member ID are required at registration.
*Credit cards are the only accepted form of payment. Confirmation and receipts are automatically sent via email after registration.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
Color Images (5-7 Total)
Images must be high-resolution color files in JPG or PDF format.
Each entry must include 5–7 images. One exterior image is permitted. Images must be named in order of importance (IMG-01, IMG-02, etc.).
Text overlays, borders, composite layouts, watermarks, and identifying signage are not permitted. Files that do not follow naming or formatting requirements may be rejected by the submission system.
Floor Plans (1-3 Total)
All floor plans must be named in order of importance (FP-01, FP-02, etc).
Remove all firm identifiers and title blocks.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The following materials are collected for award recognition, event materials and promotion only (not visible to the jury).
Design Team List
Provide a complete list of contributors. List the team by level of contribution. Include only individuals who contributed directly to the design work.
Required Information:
Full Name, Professional Title / Role, Firm Name
Photographer Credits
Entrants must provide complete photographer credit information for all submitted images. Entrants confirm all usage rights and permissions are secured. Photographer details must not appear in image files or filenames.
Required Information:
Photographer Name & Company Name
Preferred Credit Line