2026 Design Awards Student Submission 1
The AIANS Design Awards Student Edition is limited to enrollees of NJIT and Kean University.
Please note: Only faculty from NJIT and Kean University may select the six entries from their respective schools. Faculty must provide a list of entering students via email prior to official submission: [email protected]. Once AIANS has acknowledged receipt of names, students may submit their projects on their own. No exceptions.
Submission deadline is August 24, 2026 at 11:59pm!!
Please contact Director Robert Epstein if you run into any issues uploading your material: [email protected]
Rules & regulations
- Open to students of NJIT and Kean University who are currently enrolled in the architecture program or graduates pursuing licensure.
- Limited to 6 entries from NJIT and 6 entries from Kean University.
- Must have been completed within the last calendar year.
- Under the direction of a studio professor (not as an independent initiative).
- Submissions must be selected by the school’s faculty as exemplary projects.
- Not limited to a particular cohort or level.
- Group projects are permitted so long as participating members are all identified and are all primarily involved.
- May be of any size or building type.
- Must mention the studio professor (student's name first then professor's name).
submission guidelines
- Submissions are to be formatted for printing on 40” x 40” boards
- The printing of boards is required and will be presented at the awards ceremony.
- The entry must be submitted as JPG documents in 2 separate files. Files must be titled with the version name:
- “Jurors’ Version” must have all names or references to the student and school removed.
- “Presentation Version” should have the name of the student and school name located in the bottom 2” of the board.
- All versions of boards should feature:
- Name of the project
- If it's built or un-built
- Location
- Description of the project
- Text as to the unique challenges and response
- Dates of construction or design
It is strongly recommended (but not required) to limit text and focus on descriptions of the design challenge and the architect’s specific response - avoid text focused on marketing. Boards are most successful when they are accompanied by site and floor plans, conceptual diagrams, sections, select details, and (if possible) photographs. (Provide credits for all photographs.) Colored CAD drawings are customary, but hand drawing, paintings, models and renderings can help set projects apart.
JURORS AND JUDGING
The jury shall be comprised of distinguished professionals from around the region or the country. All jurors shall recuse themselves if they have prior prejudicial knowledge of the project or student responsible for the design. The jury shall be sent the “Jurors’ Version” of all the projects electronically. The deliberations will be moderated by the Design Awards chairperson who will provide basic guidelines. The criteria for awards will be left to the jurors’ experience and discretion.
AWARDS
Cash prizes will be awarded.
FORM
