The Judging Process
The IALD Awards judging process ensures a double-blind evaluation of every entry using a standardized rubric. An international panel of seven volunteer judges consists of renowned lighting designers, architects, and other industry professionals, each possessing extensive expertise and experience in their design discipline.
In the first round of judging, the panel reviews project posters accompanied by a short brief, voting to advance entries to the next round. A supermajority (five of seven) must vote in favor of a project for it to proceed to the second round of judging.
During the second and final round, the panel reviews all submitted project materials, including photographs, renderings, technical drawings, and videos, as well as a detailed brief wherein entrants describe their design process, explain their specifications, and clarify what each piece of media intends to convey. Judges score these finalists quantitatively on ten criteria:
- How does the project's outcome support the stated design concepts?
- How does the design achieve harmonious composition within its context?
- How does the lighting design express the characteristics of light (intensity, shadow, contrast, distribution, color, quality, etc.)?
- How does the lighting design (integration, detailing, luminaires, controls, etc.) enhance the built environment?
- How does the lighting design demonstrate skillful mastery over the challenges (aesthetic, technical, financial, environmental, etc.)?
- How does the design incorporate sustainable solutions or show regard for the project's environmental impact?
- How does the lighting design demonstrate innovative (creative, original, imaginative, etc.) thinking and challenge industry norms?
- How does the lighting design demonstrate artistic expression?
- How does the lighting solution affect people and create an experience?
- How does the lighting design demonstrate excellence and raise the profession's standard?
Selected projects can earn the IALD Award of Excellence, IALD Award of Merit, or an IALD Special Citation. The entry with the highest point score for the year earns the IALD Radiance Award for Lighting Design Excellence.