FAQs

1. Competition Overview and General Information

2. Eligibility and Participation

3. Registration and Participant Accounts

4. Registration Fees, Payments, Receipts, and Refunds

5. Teams, Authorship, and Multiple Entries

6. Classifications, Project Types, Sites, and Scales

7. Required Files and Project Description

8. Poster Format, Layout, and Graphic Content

9. Anonymity, Copyright, Ethics, and Artificial Intelligence

10. Online Submission and Technical Problems

11. Jury, Evaluation, Results, and Appeals

12. Awards, Certificates, Publication, and Post-Competition Matters

 

1. Competition Overview and General Information

What is the International Aesthetic Design Competition (IADC)?

IADC is an international, single-stage, anonymously evaluated design competition for architecture, interior architecture, urban design, and related built-environment fields. It recognizes projects and ideas that demonstrate aesthetic excellence, creativity, contextual sensitivity, environmental responsibility, and strong design communication.

What is the main purpose of IADC?

The competition promotes aesthetics as an essential dimension of design rather than as decoration alone. It encourages proposals in which beauty, function, spatial quality, culture, technology, environmental performance, and human experience work together to create better built environments.

Is IADC a single-stage competition?

Yes. Eligible projects proceed through one anonymous jury evaluation stage unless the official announcement for a particular edition states otherwise.

Is the competition international?

Yes. Eligible participants may enter from any country or geographical region. A project's site may also be located anywhere in the world.

Which design fields are covered by IADC?

The principal classifications are Architecture and Urban Design. These broad classifications may include interior architecture, adaptive reuse, building envelopes, public spaces, neighbourhoods, regeneration, streetscapes, waterfronts, and other building- or urban-scale interventions.

Does IADC have the same theme every year?

The continuing focus is aesthetic design for better built environments, but the emphasis or wording of an edition may be updated. Participants should always check the current official call for the applicable theme and objectives.

What is the official language of the competition?

English is the official submission language. The project description, poster text, and information entered in the submission system should therefore be prepared in clear English unless the current call expressly permits another language.

Where can I find the official competition information?

Use the official IADC competition platform at https://competitions.iccaua.com/IADC. The current call, competition materials, registration page, submission link, deadlines, fees, awards, and official announcements should be checked there.

What happens if an FAQ answer differs from the current competition brief?

The current official competition brief, regulations, templates, and formally published announcements take precedence. This FAQ is a practical guide and does not replace the binding rules of a particular edition.

How should I ask a question that is not covered in the FAQ?

Send the question to the IADC administration through the official contact channel identified on the competition platform. Do not contact jury members, and do not rely on unofficial social-media replies or information from third parties.

 

2. Eligibility and Participation

Who may participate in IADC?

Architects, urban designers, interior architects, academics, professionals, eligible students, and teams working in closely related built-environment disciplines may participate, subject to the conditions of the current edition.

What academic or professional background is required?

At least one registered team member must be studying or hold a degree in architecture, urban design, interior architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, or a closely related built-environment field.

Can students participate?

Yes. Students may participate when they satisfy the category and supervision requirements published for the current edition. If the edition operates only a professional category, students should join a professionally or academically supervised team.

Is there always a separate student category?

Not necessarily. Category structures may change between editions, so participants must consult the current call before registering. The absence of a separate student category does not automatically exclude student participation.

Is there an age limit?

No general age restriction applies. Eligibility depends on the academic, professional, team, and category requirements rather than the participant's age.

Are participants from every country eligible?

Yes, subject to applicable law and the ability to complete the official registration and payment process. IADC is intended for international participation without geographical preference.

May I participate individually?

Yes. An eligible participant may submit a project individually and will be treated as a one-person team for registration and administration.

May I participate as part of a team?

Yes. A team may include up to four registered members. Every listed member must have made a genuine contribution and must consent to the submission.

Can an interdisciplinary team participate?

Yes. Interdisciplinary collaboration is welcome, provided that at least one member satisfies the required built-environment qualification and the project falls within an official IADC classification.

Can a previously developed, exhibited, or published project be submitted?

Built, unbuilt, academic, professional, and previously presented projects may be eligible if the team owns the necessary rights and no prior agreement prevents submission, publication, or exhibition. Any previous award or contractual restriction should be reviewed carefully before registration.

3. Registration and Participant Accounts

Is registration required before submitting a project?

Yes. Registration, payment, and project submission form one participation process. The required registration payment must be completed before the final project submission.

Is registration completed per participant or per project?

Registration is completed per project. One project requires one registration, whether it has one participant or a team of up to four members.

Does every team member need a separate project registration?

No. The team completes one registration for the project and lists all eligible team members in that registration. Separate individual fees are not required for members of the same project team.

Where do I register?

Use only the registration page linked from the official IADC platform. Avoid unofficial forms, copied links, or payment pages shared by third parties.

Do I need to create an online account?

Follow the instructions in the current online system. If an account is required, create it with an email address that you monitor regularly and retain the login details until all competition and publication processes are complete.

Which participant should complete a team registration?

The team should appoint one reliable representative to complete the registration, upload files, receive notices, and communicate with IADC. That representative acts administratively on behalf of all listed members.

What information should be entered during registration?

Enter accurate names, affiliations, contact details, project title, classification, and team information exactly as requested. Use each participant's preferred certificate-ready name and check spelling before submission.

Which email address should I use?

Use an active address that will remain accessible throughout the competition. Add the IADC contact address to your safe-sender list and check spam or junk folders for automated confirmations.

Can registration information be corrected after it is submitted?

Request corrections through the official contact channel as soon as possible and before the relevant deadline. Changes may be restricted after jury processing, certificate preparation, publication, or award administration begins.

How do I know whether my registration was successful?

Keep the payment receipt and any registration or submission confirmation generated by the platform. If no confirmation arrives within a reasonable time, check spam folders and then contact IADC with the project title, payer details, and proof of payment.

 

4. Registration Fees, Payments, Receipts, and Refunds

How much is the registration fee?

Fees may vary by edition, registration period, or participant condition. Consult the current official registration page for the applicable amount, currency, and deadline.

When should the registration fee be paid?

Payment must be completed before submitting the project. Participants should pay early enough to resolve any payment or receipt problem before the final submission deadline.

Does one registration fee cover the whole team?

Yes. One fee covers one registered project, regardless of whether it is submitted by one participant or a team of up to four members.

Do I need to pay again for a second project?

Yes. Every additional project requires a separate registration, payment, receipt, and submission. A payment made for one project cannot be reused for another entry.

Which payment methods are accepted?

Use only the payment methods displayed on the current official registration page. Availability may depend on the edition, country, currency, or payment service.

In which currency should I pay?

Pay in the currency stated on the official payment page in Euros. Any bank conversion fee, card charge, or exchange-rate difference imposed by a participant's payment provider is normally outside IADC's control.

Is a payment receipt compulsory?

Yes. The official payment receipt is one of the three mandatory submission components and must be uploaded with the project through the online system.

May another person, company, or university pay on my behalf?

Usually yes, provided the payment can be clearly matched to the registered project. Keep the complete receipt and enter any requested project or participant reference accurately.

Can I request an invoice or institutional payment document?

Follow the invoicing instructions on the official registration page or contact IADC before paying if your institution requires particular billing information. Requests made after payment may be subject to the payment provider's or organizer's administrative limitations.

Are registration fees refundable?

Refund conditions are governed by the current official registration and refund policy. A decision not to submit, an ineligible entry, disqualification, or disagreement with the jury does not automatically create a right to a refund.

 

5. Teams, Authorship, and Multiple Entries

What is the maximum number of team members?

A project may be submitted by one participant or a team of up to four registered members.

Must every team member contribute to the project?

Yes. Every registered member must have made a genuine contribution. Listing a person who did not contribute, or omitting a legitimate author, may constitute an authorship violation.

What responsibilities does the team representative have?

The representative verifies eligibility, registers the complete team, uploads the correct files, receives official notices, and communicates decisions to the other members. The team remains jointly responsible for the accuracy and legality of the submission.

Can one person participate in more than one team or project?

Yes. A participant may contribute to more than one project if each entry is independently eligible, registered, paid for, and submitted.

Can team members be added or removed after registration?

Do not change authorship informally. Contact IADC before the deadline with the reason and written agreement of affected members; changes may not be permitted after jury evaluation, results, or certificate preparation.

How should team-member names be ordered?

Use the order agreed by the team and enter it consistently in the registration system. Confirm spelling, titles, and affiliations because this information may later be used for certificates and publication.

Should a supervisor, consultant, photographer, or renderer be listed as an author?

List as team members only those who made an authorship-level design contribution and meet the registration conditions. Obtain permission and provide appropriate post-jury credit for other contributors where required, but never place identifying credits on the anonymous poster.

Who owns a team project?

Ownership remains with the legitimate author or rights holder under the team's agreements and applicable law. IADC does not resolve ordinary internal disputes over shares, credit, ownership, or prize distribution.

How is an award or monetary prize divided among team members?

The team is responsible for agreeing on distribution unless the current award rules state a specific method. IADC may administer payment through the registered representative or another verified recipient.

What permissions are required for a project created within a firm, university, or client commission?

The submitting team must obtain any necessary consent from employers, institutions, clients, collaborators, photographers, consultants, and copyright owners. Submission must not breach employment, confidentiality, commissioning, or publication agreements.

 

6. Classifications, Project Types, Sites, and Scales

Which submission classifications are available?

Projects are submitted under Architecture or Urban Design. Participants must select the classification that best represents the project's primary scale, purpose, and design contribution.

How do I choose between Architecture and Urban Design?

Choose Architecture when the principal contribution is building-, interior-, facade-, envelope-, or architectural-space based. Choose Urban Design when the principal contribution concerns public space, streets, neighbourhoods, districts, waterfronts, urban landscapes, placemaking, or other urban-scale systems.

Are interior-architecture projects eligible?

Yes. Interior architecture and spatial interventions may be entered under Architecture when they demonstrate a clear design concept and satisfy all submission requirements.

Are landscape architecture and public-space projects eligible?

Yes, when their primary contribution relates clearly to architecture or urban design. Public-space, streetscape, urban-landscape, waterfront, and regeneration proposals generally fit the Urban Design classification.

Are conceptual or unbuilt projects eligible?

Yes. Conceptual ideas, speculative proposals, academic projects, and unbuilt professional designs are eligible. They should communicate their intentions and level of resolution honestly and convincingly.

Are completed or built projects eligible?

Yes. Built projects may be submitted when the participant has the necessary authorship, client, practice, photography, and publication permissions.

Are adaptive-reuse, renovation, and regeneration projects eligible?

Yes. Adaptive reuse, renovation, heritage interventions, facade work, building-envelope improvements, and urban regeneration are eligible under the classification most appropriate to their scale.

Is any building or project type allowed?

Yes. Residential, cultural, educational, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, institutional, public, mixed-use, recreational, transportation-related, experimental, and other typologies may be submitted.

Is there a prescribed competition site?

No general site is prescribed. A project may use a real, existing, hypothetical, speculative, historical, urban, rural, natural, regenerated, or newly conceived context anywhere in the world.

Are there minimum or maximum limits for site area, floor area, height, or project scale?

No general dimensional limits apply unless a particular edition announces them. Select a site and scale that are appropriate to the concept and can be communicated clearly within the required poster.

 

7. Required Files and Project Description

Which files are required for a complete submission?

Each project requires three components: an English project description in Microsoft Word format, one A2 landscape project poster in PDF format, and the official registration-payment receipt.

In which format should the project description be submitted?

Submit the description as a Microsoft Word .doc or .docx file, following the official form or template when one is provided.

What is the maximum length of the project description?

The description must not exceed 200 words in English. Keeping it slightly below the limit helps avoid uncertainty caused by headings or formatting.

What should the project description explain?

Briefly explain the central concept, design intention, aesthetic approach, context, and principal design qualities. Focus on the ideas necessary for the jury to understand how the project responds to IADC's objectives.

Should the description repeat all text on the poster?

No. It should complement the poster by clarifying the main concept and design logic. Avoid unnecessary repetition, promotional language, or details that do not help evaluation.

May the Word description contain images, tables, or additional pages?

The description is intended as a concise text document, not as a second presentation board. Include only what the official template requests and do not use it to bypass the one-poster limit.

What format is required for the project poster?

The poster must be submitted as one PDF prepared at A2 size in landscape orientation. Other formats should not be uploaded unless explicitly requested by IADC.

In which format should I upload the payment receipt?

Upload the official receipt in a file type accepted by the online form. Ensure that the payment status, amount, date, and transaction reference are legible and that sensitive information not required for verification is not exposed.

May I upload supplementary files, portfolios, videos, or links?

Not unless the current official submission form specifically requests or permits them. The jury presentation must be understandable from the required poster and project description.

How should I name my files?

Follow the naming instructions in the current competition materials. Use neutral project-based names and never include participant names, initials, institutions, or company names in anonymous jury-file names.

 

8. Poster Format, Layout, and Graphic Content

What are the required poster size and orientation?

Prepare one A2 poster measuring 42 x 59.4 cm in landscape, or horizontal, orientation.

What is the maximum poster file size?

The PDF poster must not exceed 20 MB. Compress images carefully so that drawings and text remain clear when viewed on screen and printed at A2.

How many posters may be submitted for one project?

A maximum of one poster is permitted per project. Multiple PDF pages or separate boards should not be combined to circumvent this limit.

Must I use the official poster template?

Yes, when a template is included in the official competition materials. Preserve its page size and mandatory elements, especially the designated registration-number area.

May I change the registration-number area on the template?

No. The designated area at the bottom-right must remain unchanged and blank. It will be completed by the IADC administration where required.

Where should the project title appear?

Place the project title clearly within the upper section of the poster. You may determine its exact position and graphic treatment, provided it remains legible and does not compromise anonymity.

What content may be included on the poster?

You may use plans, sections, elevations, diagrams, maps, photographs, renderings, conceptual graphics, material studies, environmental analyses, existing/proposed comparisons, and concise explanatory text relevant to the project.

Are specific drawing scales required?

No general scale is prescribed. Select scales appropriate to the project and label them clearly where dimensional interpretation is important.

Are there required fonts, colors, backgrounds, or graphic styles?

No general visual style is prescribed. Use readable fonts, adequate contrast, consistent hierarchy, and a layout that remains legible at A2; embed fonts in the PDF whenever possible.

May the poster contain QR codes, animations, videos, or external links?

The poster should be self-contained and must not depend on external content for evaluation. Avoid QR codes or links that reveal identity, lead to changing material, or give some jurors access to information outside the official submission.

 

9. Anonymity, Copyright, Ethics, and Artificial Intelligence

What information is prohibited on the anonymous poster?

Do not include participant or team names, initials, affiliations, universities, companies, personal or practice logos, email addresses, social-media accounts, portraits, or any other information that could identify the authors.

Should identifying information be removed from file names and PDF metadata?

Yes. Remove names, initials, author fields, comments, hidden layers, and other identifying metadata from jury files. Enter identity only in the administrative registration fields requested by IADC.

Can the project title itself compromise anonymity?

Yes, if it is already publicly and uniquely associated with the author. Use a clear project title, but avoid wording or references that unnecessarily reveal the participant's identity during judging.

May institutional, company, client, sponsor, or personal logos appear on the poster?

No identifying participant, university, company, or practice logo may appear. Contextual marks should be used only when essential to explain the project and when they do not reveal the authors.

Must the submission be original?

Yes. The registered participant or team must be the author or legitimate rights holder. Plagiarism, unauthorized reproduction, false authorship, or deliberate misrepresentation may result in disqualification.

May I use photographs, maps, textures, fonts, models, or illustrations created by others?

Only when you have the necessary license or permission. Participants are responsible for lawful use and for any required attribution after anonymous evaluation.

Who is responsible for copyright and third-party claims?

The participant or team is responsible for securing rights and responding to claims concerning submitted material. IADC participation does not legalize unauthorized use of another person's work.

Is the use of artificial intelligence permitted?

AI, generative systems, parametric tools, and other digital methods may be used when human authorship and design responsibility remain clear. The submission must still represent a coherent original design rather than unsupported generated imagery.

Must AI-assisted content be disclosed?

Substantial generative-AI use should be disclosed as directed in the competition materials, identifying the tool, purpose, stage of use, and affected content. Participants remain responsible for accuracy, legality, originality, and ethical use.

What kinds of representation are considered misleading?

Do not present an unbuilt project as constructed, fabricated simulations as measured performance, manipulated data as evidence, or AI-generated scenes as factual site conditions. Conceptual, simulated, and built information should be labeled honestly.

 

10. Online Submission and Technical Problems

How do I submit my project?

Complete the submission through the official online system linked from the IADC platform. Upload the project description, poster, and payment receipt in the fields provided and complete all required project information.

Can I submit my project by email?

No. Projects sent by email, social media, cloud-storage links, or file-transfer services are not accepted as official submissions.

In what order should I complete the process?

First download and read the current competition materials; second complete the official registration payment; third prepare and submit the required files through the online system.

What should I check before clicking Submit?

Verify the classification, team information, 200-word English description, A2 landscape PDF, 20 MB limit, payment receipt, project title, blank registration-number area, anonymity, file readability, and third-party permissions.

Which deadline and time zone apply?

The exact deadline and time zone are those published for the current edition on the official platform. Do not assume that your local midnight applies, and plan to submit well before the closing time.

Can I replace or revise files after submitting?

If the online system allows changes before the deadline, follow its instructions carefully. Otherwise contact IADC immediately; after the final deadline, replacement or supplementation is normally not permitted unless requested for an administrative or technical reason.

What happens if I accidentally submit the same project twice?

Do not create duplicate entries. Contact IADC promptly with both submission references and identify the intended final version; the administration may retain only the most recent valid entry received before the deadline.

What should I do if a file will not upload?

Check the format, size, file name, browser, internet connection, and whether the PDF opens correctly. Try a current browser and a stable connection, document the error with a screenshot, and contact IADC before the deadline if the problem continues.

How do I confirm that my project was received?

Keep the on-screen confirmation, automated email, submission reference, and copies of the uploaded files. If the platform provides no confirmation, check your account and spam folder, then contact IADC with evidence of the attempted submission.

What happens if my files are late, corrupted, incomplete, or in the wrong format?

Late or materially non-compliant entries may be excluded. Participants are responsible for opening and checking every final file before upload and for allowing enough time to correct technical problems before the deadline.

 

11. Jury, Evaluation, Results, and Appeals

How are projects evaluated?

Eligible projects are evaluated anonymously by the appointed jury according to the published criteria. The quality of the design is assessed independently of the participant's nationality, institution, reputation, or professional status.

Which evaluation criteria are normally considered?

Core considerations include aesthetic excellence, creativity, conceptual strength, design coherence, cultural and contextual relevance, spatial quality, functionality, environmental responsibility, feasibility, resolution, and clarity of presentation. Consult the current criteria page for any official weights.

Are built and unbuilt projects judged fairly?

Yes. A conceptual project is not disadvantaged merely because it is unbuilt. The jury interprets feasibility and resolution in relation to each project's nature, scale, status, and stated intentions.

Will Architecture and Urban Design projects be evaluated in the same way?

They share the competition's core values, but the jury may interpret criteria in relation to the scale and purpose of each classification. Participants should choose the classification that best represents the project's principal contribution.

Does participant experience affect the jury's decision?

No. Anonymous evaluation is intended to prevent professional title, institution, nationality, age, or reputation from influencing the assessment.

May I contact a jury member about my project?

No. Participants must not contact, lobby, send materials to, or reveal their project identity to jury members before the official results are announced. Questions must be directed to the IADC administration.

How are jury conflicts of interest handled?

Jurors should disclose material conflicts and refrain from evaluating affected submissions. Participants should report a significant known conflict to IADC through the official channel rather than approaching the juror.

Are jury deliberations confidential?

Yes. Jury discussions and individual assessments are confidential unless IADC formally publishes a jury report or authorized statement.

Are jury decisions final?

The jury's professional judgment concerning design quality, ranking, awards, nominations, and special mentions is final. Disagreement with an aesthetic judgment is not a basis for appeal.

Can a participant report plagiarism or a procedural problem?

Yes. Submit a documented concern to IADC regarding eligibility, plagiarism, authorship, intellectual-property infringement, conflict of interest, or serious procedural irregularity. Provide verifiable evidence and avoid public accusations while the matter is reviewed.

 

12. Awards, Certificates, Publication, and Post-Competition Matters

What awards are offered?

Award titles, numbers, benefits, and any monetary values are published for each edition. Consult the current official awards page rather than relying on information from a previous competition.

When are winners announced?

The planned announcement date is stated in the current competition calendar. Organizational or jury circumstances may require an officially announced schedule change.

Will every participant receive a certificate?

Certificate eligibility depends on the current edition's rules and the status of the submission. Check whether certificates are provided for participation, eligibility, shortlisting, special mention, or awards.

Will every team member be named on certificates and publications?

Eligible registered team members are normally credited according to the verified registration record and applicable publication policy. Incorrect or unregistered names may not be added after production has begun.

Will submitted projects be published or exhibited?

Projects may be selected for the official website, online gallery, exhibition, results announcement, academic presentation, archive, social media, competition catalogue, or official competition book.

Is publication in the competition book guaranteed?

No. Inclusion may depend on eligibility, technical quality, publication requirements, editorial policy, and available space. IADC may make reasonable layout, caption, image-size, or typographic adjustments without changing the design itself.

Do participants keep copyright in their designs?

Yes. Copyright and authorship remain with the legitimate creator or rights holder. Entering IADC does not transfer ownership of the underlying design to the organizer.

What permission does IADC receive when a project is submitted?

Participants grant IADC a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to reproduce, display, archive, communicate, and promote the submitted material for legitimate competition-related publication, exhibition, results, academic, archival, and promotional purposes.

Will authors be credited after the anonymous jury process?

Where practicable and consistent with the publication policy, authors are credited once anonymity is no longer required. Participants should ensure that the registration record contains accurate credit information.

What should participants do after submission and after the results?

Retain the original files, payment receipt, permissions, confirmation, and correspondence; monitor the official platform for announcements; and respond promptly to verification, publication, certificate, or rights-related requests. Official amendments published by IADC form part of the competition process.