SEVENTH ANNUAL
GRAY AWARDS
INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION
See the
Sixth Annual
GRAY Awards
Winners
GRAY AWARDS: AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION CULMINATING WITH THE INDUSTRY’S MOST EXCITING CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR
Recognizing creative excellence in the fields of ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS, LANDSCAPE, PRODUCT DESIGN, AND FASHION, and spanning 10 judges categories, up to 20 honorable mention categories, “Design For Good,” and one Legacy Award, a GRAY Awards trophy is the one of the most prestigious to receive.
SEVENTH ANNUAL
JUDGING PANEL
T O B E A N N O U N C E D
It is our privilege each year to welcome an international group of distinguished creatives to the
GRAY Awards judging panel. Each working at the top of their game, these professionals now focus
a discerning eye on determining who walks away with the coveted GRAY Awards trophies.
JUDGES
CATEGORIES
T R O P H Y W I N N E R S
ARCHITECTURE
commercial
ARCHITECTURE
residential
INTERIOR DESIGN
commercial
INTERIOR DESIGN
residential
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
commercial / residential / civic
PRODUCT DESIGN
lighting, furniture
PRODUCT DESIGN
other
WILD CARD
open category
GRAY
CATEGORIES
DESIGN FOR GOOD
Project or product that has made a positive impact through design on a humanitarian, community, or environmental issue.
+NEW
BREAKOUT
CATEGORIES
COLLABORATION
Collaborative design such as collections or brand collaborations between makers, product designers, artists, etc. For example: a fashion designer collaborated with a luxury hardware company to design a line of drawer pulls.
VISIONARY
completed or conceptual
Focusing on a project/product or person that stepped outside the boundaries and created or spearheaded a product, service, initiative, etc. which changed the way we think about design.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Any building, interior, or product designed to improve the environmental, economic, and/or social resources on a global, national, and/or individual consumer level.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Products or spaces designed for achieving health and wellness or restoring enhanced sense of well-being including medical equipment, workout wear or gear, tech gadgets, spas, gyms, lighting systems.
WORKSPACE / HOME OFFICE
Any commercial or residential space specifically designated for official business purposes.
KITCHEN
Any residential or commercial kitchen space of any size including residential open concept kitchen, recreational vehicle kitchen, outdoor kitchen, restaurant or office kitchen, etc.
BATH
Any residential or commercial bathroom of any size including en suite, powder room, spa, sauna, steam room, outdoor shower, hospitality or office washroom, etc.
THE LEGACY AWARD
This lifetime achievement recognition is reserved for a designer based in the Pacific Northwest.
SMALL-SCALE LANDSCAPE
Any private, business, civic, hospitality, or cultural landscape designed small area including courtyards, rooftops, balconies, patios, public gardens, etc.
SMALL SPACE
Any private, business, civic, hospitality, or cultural architecturally or interior designed space including tiny houses, condos, dens, powder rooms, office spaces, ADUs, out buildings, nooks, etc.
SKYSCRAPER
completed or conceptual
The architecture or interior spaces of any building 40 stories tall or more.
MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT
Any building which serves more than one objective such as a structure with housing above and retail or restaurants below.
HISTORIC RESTORATION / RENOVATION
Refurbishment or adaptive reuse of any existing structure or space that retains or revitalizes its historic value.
OUTDOOR LIVING
Products or spaces designed for use outdoors such as pots, planters, furniture, kitchens, showers, lighting, fixtures, etc.
GUEST ROOM
Any private or commercial hospitality guest room, ADU, guest suite, etc.
BAR OR LOUNGE
Residential or commercial architecture or interior space which includes a counter or structure used as a bar for serving food/beverages.
TRANSPORTATION
Private or commercial vehicle/vessel specifically designed to travel such as an automobile, boat, airplane, train, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.
SURFACE MATERIAL
Material or product such as flooring, countertops, tile, architectural cladding, siding, etc.
TEXTILES, WALLPAPER, & RUGS
Decorative, patterned, or textured materials including cloth or woven fabric, linen, paper, cotton, etc such as bedding, linens, window coverings, wall coverings, upholstery, pillows, throws, rugs, etc.
FOOTWEAR
Garments designed to be worn on the feet such as shoes, boots, sandals, etc. which serve a decorative purpose, and/or may include technological or ergonomic advances.
ON THE BOARDS
conceptual only
Projects or products that are slated and funded, illustrated with renderings
All entries must be realized works completed within 2 of years at time of entry (4 for landscape projects), with the exception of Wild Card, Student, Visionary, Skyscraper, and On the Boards categories which can include conceptual work.
THE AWARDS PARTY
A game-changer in and of itself, the GRAY Awards Party is the design industry’s version of the Oscars and Vanity Fair’s after-party rolled into one. The guest list for this black-tie event includes a dynamic cross-section of international design elite who come to Seattle to find out who won, and they stay for the surprise-filled experience.
CHARITY PARTNER
GRAY Awards continues to support The BLOCK Project, an initiative by Seattle-based non-profit Facing Homelessness, that place 125-sq-ft homes in the backyards of single-family lots to build community around individuals afflicted with homelessness. Each is an off-grid, self-sufficient, and amenity-rich dwelling. “By saying, ‘Yes, in my backyard,’ The BLOCK Project nurtures the empathy needed to catalyze a global movement.” Learn more on their site.
THE VIDEO
Along with the party, the winners will be featured in a video presentation with appearances by the judges. The video will be published on our YouTube channel, website, and IGTV. Each winner will receive a version clipped to their big moment, sponsor recognition included in all.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2022
SPONSORS + PARTNERS
SPONSORS
At Marvin, we are driven to imagine and create better ways of living. With every window and door we make, we strive to bring more natural light and fresh air into homes, and to create deeper connections with the natural world. We put people at the centre of everything we do by designing for how people live and work, and imagining new ways our products can contribute to happier, healthier homes.
As a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated company, Marvin fosters a culture committed to living our values. Our commitment to doing the right thing, working stronger together, and thinking differently inspires us to be better every day. Made with exceptional skill, our products deliver quality you can see, touch, feel, and offers performance that stands the test of time.
Driven by a spirit of possibility, our commitment to people goes beyond the products we make. We commit to long-lasting and trusting relationships with our employees, customers, channel partners, and communities.
LEARN MORE AT marvin.com
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SUPPORTERS
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HOW TO ENTER
JUDGES CATEGORIES
+DESIGN FOR GOOD & LEGACY AWARD WINNER
WINNERS RECEIVE
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The seventh annual GRAY Awards trophy
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Announcement/recognition during the GRAY Awards Party and video
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Announced in press release
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Digital badge: "Winner"
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Featured online after GRAY Awards Party
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Editorial coverage in the 2024 spring/summer issue of GRAY magazine
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Recognition of winning project and firm on GRAY’s digital and social media channels, with additional exposure through the GRAY Awards media and industry partners, press releases, and more!
FINALISTS RECEIVE
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Two (2) tickets to personally attend the GRAY Awards Party on February 29, 2024 in Seattle
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Digital badge: "Finalist"
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Recognition during the GRAY Awards Party and video
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Announced in press release
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Exposure/coverage across GRAY’s social channels
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Editorial consideration for an upcoming issue of GRAY magazine
HONORABLE MENTION
CATEGORIES
WINNERS RECEIVE
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Announcement/recognition during the GRAY Awards Party and video
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Announced in press release
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Digital badge: "Winner"
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Featured online after GRAY Awards Party
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Recognition of winning project and firm on GRAY’s digital and social media channels, with additional exposure through the GRAY Awards media and industry partners, press releases, and more!
FINALISTS RECEIVE
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One (1) ticket to personally attend the GRAY Awards Party on February 29, 2024 in Seattle
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Digital badge: "Finalist"
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Announced in press release
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Editorial consideration for an upcoming issue of GRAY magazine
ALL ENTRANTS RECEIVE
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A 1-year subscription to GRAY magazine. Offered to new subscribers only, limit one per address. Mailing name and address must be specified on entry form. By entering GRAY Awards, you are requesting a 1-year subscription unless GRAY is otherwise notified.
GUIDELINES
ELIGIBILITY
The seventh annual GRAY Awards are open to each of the following:
1) Projects must be less than two years old (completed after June 2021) to qualify. Due to the timeline necessary for landscape projects to mature, Landscape Design projects may be up to four years old (completed after June 2019).
2) For the categories of Architecture, Interiors, Landscape, Fashion, and Product Design: Projects must be completed/built/fabricated, not concepts. For Student Design and Wild Card categories, concept renderings or drawings are suitable for submission.
3) Students must be enrolled, or just graduated, in 2022/2023 design or architecture programs.
JUDGING CRITERIA
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AESTHETIC QUALITY: Does it have elevated visual quality? Does it defy the status quo? Does it raise the standards of its category of design in some way? Has it been professionally photographed, and will the images look stunning in print?
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OVERALL CREATIVITY AND FUNCTION: What problem is it solving? How well does it work? How original is the idea?
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INNOVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND SOCIAL GOOD: Are any or all materials from sustainable sources? If it’s a commercial building, does it contribute positively to the fabric of the community where it’s located? Are there any conceptual or material innovations that make this project exceptional?
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
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Must be eligible (see ELIGIBILITY above).
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Entries must be submitted and received via the online entry system.
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Full payment must be received by the submission deadline or the submission will not be eligible for judging. Payment is only accepted online through the submission portal.
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Images: You may submit up to 15 images and/or drawings/renderings per entry. Entries with images that do not meet the following specs will be disqualified.
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.jpg format, at least 300 dpi
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Horizontal images: at least 17” wide x 11" tall
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Vertical images: at least 8.5" wide x 11" tall.
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Do not include any firm names or logo watermarks on images.
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Single images only. Collages or multiple photos submitted together in one file will not be considered/used.
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Name image files: “Project Name_Photographer Name_Image Number.” If it is a rendering and does not require attribution, name it “Project Name_Rendering_Image Number.”
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You may include video in .mov or .mp4 as part of your image bank.
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See FAQs for more about photography.
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Project Description: Fill out the entry form, detailing the “who, what, where and why” of your project. Consider sharing the process, materials, design challenges, innovative solutions, and significance in the big picture of design. NOTE: This is the only source of information GRAY will refer to for editorial coverage, so please be as detailed as space allows, and include all other firms or sources that should be credited.
FEES
BLITZ - ONE DAY ONLY!
2023 Blitz entry portal date to be announced
Submit as many entries as you'd like across any categories in a 24-hour period for one flat fee!*
*Entries must meet above requirements and may be submitted in any or all relevant categories. Entries covered by the flat fee include those made by one submitter/firm (PR firms may enter on the behalf of their client, but the fee must be paid per eligible client, not as a bulk rate).
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$1000 per submitter/firm - UNLIMITED ENTRIES
STANDARD DEADLINE:
2023 entry portal date to be announced
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$370 for first entry, $270 for each additional entry;
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Student category $185 each.
LATE ENTRY:
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$570 for first entry, $470 for each additional entry;
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Student category $320 each.
NOTE: If you are submitting multiple entries (either in one category or in multiple categories), you must enter the project's information and pay entry fees each time you complete a submission (except for entries made on BLITZ day). Please contact awards@graymag.com if you would like to submit more than five standard entries in one category.
Prices shown in US dollars.
TERMS + CONDITIONS
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Only complete entries will be considered. Incomplete or ineligible entries will be disqualified without notice or return of payment.
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By entering, the submitter authorizes GRAY Media, LLC to publish the project in print and digital editions of GRAY magazine and across our digital and social media platforms, and share with any media and/or industry partners affiliated with the GRAY Awards, with photographer attribution. The entry may be reproduced, in whole or in part, for editorial and promotional purposes. Photography fees and publication rights are transferred via the submitter only, and GRAY will not be held responsible for obtaining photography usage rights by any means. For winning residential projects, homeowners must be willing to sign an agreement allowing GRAY to publish their home (unless directed otherwise, GRAY will keep clients/residents anonymous).
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GRAY Awards judges reserve the right to not award a winner in a category and/or to reassign an entry to a different category as they deem necessary.
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No refunds will be issued under any circumstances.
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