Header: “The Grand Courtyard and Pavilion at the OWO by ” Architectural Design of the Year at the LIV Awards 2024 Photo credit: Kyungsub Shin
The new year is here, and we know all you can think of is the next designs and projects you’ll work on, but what about the past ones? Why not pick your favorites and send them to some of the best awards out there? We can even provide you with a list.
The 3C Awards is an organization dedicated to recognizing and promoting excellence in global design, which is done by curating competitions spanning various creative disciplines. This provides a platform for professionals and emerging talents to showcase their work, connect with industry leaders, and gain global recognition—professionals from over 65 countries want to join this community annually, so why not join them?
Founded by Hossein Farmani and Astrid Hébert, the 3C Awards operates under the larger 3C Group, based in Switzerland. The group specializes in awards, marketing, media, and events, serving as a sister company to the Farmani Group, which has been promoting photography, design, and architecture since 1985. The many awards under the 3C umbrella include the SIT Furniture Design Award, LIT Lighting Design Awards, BLT Built Design Awards, LIV Hospitality Design Awards, FIT Sport Design Awards, and Global Footwear Awards, each targeting a specific creative sector and offering designers opportunities to gain exposure, connect with peers, and elevate their work to an international audience.
SIT Furniture Design Award
The SIT Furniture Design Award focuses on innovation and strategic thinking in furniture design, highlighting the work of designers, manufacturers, and emerging talents that redefine functionality and aesthetics. An integral part of this award is the “Innovation Center”, a digital initiative that annually tackles a specific challenge in furniture design, and 2025 will see it focusing on smart furniture. The professional winner receives a $3,000 cash prize to develop their prototype or begin production and emerging designers and students are supported through exposure, professional recognition, and career-building opportunities, making this award a must for designers to have under their belt.
LIT Lighting Design Awards
The LIT Lighting Design Awards celebrate the art (and science) of lighting design, recognizing product innovation and the creative implementation of lighting in various contexts. The competition recognizes the need for energy-efficient and sustainable lighting, so professionals and students from across the globe are encouraged to submit work that combines functionality with aesthetic value and sustainability. The winners receive extensive benefits, such as the LIT trophy, global media exposure, and even a feature in the annual LIT Book of Design, but there’s more. Emerging designers also gain access to mentorship programs to enhance their skills and knowledge, making this a competition worth entering for any designer, no matter where they are in their career.
BLT Built Design Awards
The BLT Built Design Awards recognize outstanding achievements in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and construction products, celebrating the efforts of architects, designers, manufacturers, and other professionals involved in realizing truly great projects. Submissions can include conceptual designs, projects in progress, or completed works as long as they have been developed within the last five years. Winning projects and products are shared with an international audience, providing participants with exposure and recognition within the industry. Categories include Architectural Design of the Year, Interior Design of the Year, Construction Product of the Year, and Landscape Architectural Design of the Year, each focusing on a specific aspect of the built environment.
LIV Hospitality Awards
The LIV Hospitality Design Awards focus on the hospitality sector, celebrating architecture and interior design that redefine living and dining spaces and highlighting those made in response to changing societal needs. The program is divided into two main categories: living spaces, meaning accommodations such as boutique hotels and co-living spaces, and eating spaces, like restaurants and bars. The categories are open to both professionals and students, with winners receiving the LIV trophy, the publication of their projects in the annual LIV Book, and promotion to a global audience of design professionals and potential clients. The judging process evaluates designs’ impact on guest satisfaction, functionality, aesthetics, and integration into their local context.
FIT Sport Design Awards
The FIT Sport Design Awards recognize innovation in sports equipment and apparel design, putting a spotlight on products that enhance performance and comfort while focusing on sustainability. Open to companies, brands, independent designers, and students, the competition looks for designs that address the needs of athletes and casual users alike, with winners receiving the FIT trophy, extensive media coverage, and professional opportunities. Emerging designers benefit from masterclasses and portfolio reviews that can help them refine their skills and navigate the competitive sports design industry. The awards also include a Lifetime Achievement Award, which honours individuals with a minimum of 40 years of experience who have made significant contributions to the field.
GFA Global Footwear Awards
The Global Footwear Awards celebrate creativity, innovation, and sustainability in footwear design, with categories spanning fashion, sports, and conceptual designs. The competition gives a platform for professionals, brands, and students to showcase their work, with the winners receiving the GFA trophy, significant media exposure, and opportunities to connect with industry leaders. This year is the awards’ 5th edition, so there’s a special twist: participants are invited to reimagine iconic shoe designs by blending traditional elements with contemporary trends and technologies. Emerging designers benefit from mentorship sessions and masterclasses that offer both guidance and insight into the footwear industry, and there’s also a Lifetime Achievement Award for individuals who have made important contributions to the field.
Each of these awards offers a special platform for professionals and students alike, recognizing and celebrating their work while promoting innovation and opportunities. As we all know, design has proven to be crucial in addressing global challenges, and these awards contribute to the growth and evolution of this creative industry.
