Best Overall Category Awards:

Best Overall Kitchen – $25,000

Best Overall Bath – $25,000

Category Awards

1st place:  $5,000

2nd place:  $3,000

3rd place:  $2,000

Specialty Awards

• Best Use of Smart Home Technology Sponsored and Judged by CEDIA
• Awarded to the Best Technology Integrator

Kitchen Categories:

• Kitchen – Small – under 300 sq. ft. 
• Kitchen – Large – over 300 sq. ft.
• Specialty Kitchen – i.e. dirty kitchen, caterer’s or scullery kitchens, Kosher kitchen, guest house kitchen, outdoor kitchen

Prizes | First: $5,000  Second: $3,000  Third: $2,000

Bath Categories:

• Powder Room (No shower or tub)
• Secondary Bath 
• Primary Bath 

Prizes | First: $5,000  Second: $3,000  Third: $2,000

Best Overall Category Awards

Best Overall Kitchen** – $25,000

Best Overall Bath ** – $25,000

Sponsored Specialty Awards

• Best Use of Smart Home Technology Sponsored and judged by CEDIA awarded to the best technology integrator.

See Entry Packet for details.

**Overall winners will be chosen from first-place winners of each category.

The competition entries will be scored based on the following core areas, click here for complete criteria and requirements.

• Creativity
• Presentation
• Design planning
• Elements and Principles of Design
• Safety and ergonomics
• NKBA Planning Guidelines (4th Edition)

Two rounds of judging will occur: 

Round 1  – Judges will review the projects on creativity, innovation as well as Wow factor.

Round 2  – The judging panel will be comprised of NKBA-certified designers. Those who move onto Round 2 will be notified in mid-August. Round 2 of the competition is tentatively set to run from August 25 through September 7.

• NKBA Members: First project entry is $175; Second project is $150 an each subsequent entry is $100 per project.
• Non-Members: First project entry is $225, while the second project submission is $200 and each subsequent entry is $175 per project.
• The individual entrant must be the Designer of Record on each project. There is a maximum of two co-designers for each project.
• If the entrant is not the owner of the business that billed the project, owner approval is required for eligibility.
• The project(s) submitted must have been installed between January 1, 2024 and July 25, 2025.
• Enter the project into the one category for which it is best suited, based on size and style. You may enter as many projects as you would like that fit into the various categories.
• A new entry form is required for each project submitted and is to be completed in full. Each entry requires a separate fee.
• Entries must be received in their entirety by August 17, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET with the entry fee paid in full.
• All identifying design/firm information must be removed or blacked out from photographs, floor plans, elevations and design statements.
• All required materials must be received digitally and labeled according to NKBA directions.

1. Review the 2025 Design Competition Entry Packet and Kitchen & Bath Guidelines
2. Register for an account on the awards platform.
3. Complete Online Entry Form
   • Select “Start entry” at the bottom of the page.
   • Create a Project ID, including the category-specific abbreviation (e.g. An entry in the Specialty Kitchens category would be SPK – Name of Entry).
   • Enter all required information, clicking “Save + Next” as you complete each tab.
   • Include any co-designers if applicable.
   • Click “Submit Entry” to proceed to payment.
4. Upload 2 “Wow Factor” Photos
   • Submit two (2) high-resolution (300 dpi) color photos, approximately 8” x 10”.
   • Professional photography is highly recommended.
   • Do not include images that identify the project location or individuals (e.g., clients, children, site workers).
5. Design Description
   • Submit a two-sentence design description.
6. Photography release form (not seen by judges)

1. Upload Additional Photos
   • Submit up to eight (8) more high-resolution (300 dpi) color photos (for a total of 10).
2. Full Design Statement
   • A 200-400 word narrative detailing the project.
   • Include a bulleted list of key features and highlights.
   • Do not include identifying designer or firm information.
3. Drawings (Construction, Floorplans, Elevations)
   • Scale MUST be ¼”, ½” or 1:20 metric scale.
   • Drawings must be cleanly labeled with dimensions.
   • Identifying designer and firm information must be removed.
4. Client property release form (not seen by judges)
5. Business owner form (not seen by judges)
6. Headshot & Bio (not seen by judges)

Please use this as a guide when preparing your design statement.

• All design statements must be typed.
• Do not include any identifying member information such as:
  • Client name
  • Client address
  • Business name
  • Business address

• Statements should be 200-400 word statements that outline the client needs, objectives, design philosophy, challenges, solutions and special circumstances (think of the design statement you’d pitch to a magazine).
• Objectives: Outlines criteria to be met by your design solution
  • Create casual dining for large family.
  • Update to contemporary tastes of clients.
  • Provide healing options for a sick family.
  •  Create multigenerational kitchen.
• Design Challenges: Describe fixed elements or special circumstances
  • Design space around support posts, air ducts, plumbing, etc.
  • Include client’s sports souvenirs collection.
• Design Solutions: Describe how you creatively solved the challenges, for example:
  • Used negative space between air ducts and created storage space.
• Special Features: Highlight design elements that are unique or notable, for example:
  • Technology and voice activation.
  • Repurposed wood from the dance studio where client danced as a child.
• To present your entry in the best way, please use the above guidelines to assist in creating a concise, effective design statement. This will help to ensure that the judges have a good understanding of your project. It can be written as a narrative, a  comprehensive bulleted list or a combination of both.

• Any materials are omitted or if the required criteria is not met, the entry will be disqualified. No notification will be given. NKBA reserves the right to disqualify a project, pre, during and after the contest judging. Entry fees will not be refunded.
• You state you are an NKBA member and we find this to be false.
• Your submission is not received by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 17, 2025. Incomplete entries will be disqualified. 
• You do not adhere to all competition guidelines, requirements and deadlines.
• You do not submit all documentation in one digital submission.

To enter your project(s) in the 2026 NKBA | KBIS Design Competition, click here.

To view the 2025 NKBA Professional Design Competition Award Winners, click here.