IDC is seeking members from the fields of interior design, education, media, manufacturers and materials suppliers, small and large firm, business owners, and related professional fields to join the roster of judges for three award programs – Value of Design Awards (VODA), Innovation in Design Thinking: Student Competition, and Innovation Awards.
If you are interested in the opportunity to participate as a judge, please complete the form below by April 17, 2026.
Value of Design Awards (VODA)
The Value of Design Awards (VODA) shine a spotlight on Canadian interior designers by providing a forum to showcase the benefits of design thinking: an empathetic, inventive, and iterative process focused on the human experience within interior spaces.
VODA demonstrate the positive human and business impact of design thinking for the people and companies who hire a professional interior designer. By measuring the benefits and outcomes of design, IDC is showcasing the true value of design in Canada and beyond our borders.
Learn more about last year’s VODA winners and judges.
Innovation in Design Thinking: IDC Student Competition
Established in 2021, the IDC Student Competition provides students with a national platform to demonstrate the value of interior design and illustrate the positive impact design has on the users of the spaces, supported by evidence-based research.
The potential of design to positively change and add value to our lives is the focus of this recognition. As designers, we are trained to use design thinking processes to better understand the people for whom we are designing.
Learn more about last year’s Student Competition winners and judges.
Timeline for VODA and Student Competition juries:
- March – Submissions open
- April – Judges selected and announced
- May – Submissions close, review process begins
- June – Judges meet virtually to deliberate (if necessary)
- June/July – Winners notified
- Oct. – Winners honoured at IDC Awards
Innovation Awards
First introduced in 1984, the IDC Innovation Awards are exclusive to IDC Industry Partners and these awards recognize outstanding achievements in product design and showroom innovation. Submissions are evaluated against key criteria including problem-solving, budget, strategy, sustainability, and marketing impact.
Learn more about last year’s winners and judges.
Timeline for Innovation Award jury:
- March/April – Submissions open
- April – Judges selected and announced
- June – Submissions close, review process begins
- July– Judges meet virtually to deliberate (if necessary)
- July/Aug. – Winners notified
- Oct. – Winners honoured at IDC Awards
For more information, contact communications@idcanada.org.
