IDG Starts Design for a Difference Contest

January 29, 2014  by in Designer Weekly   

The contest includes more than $25,000 in goods and services.

The contest was created in 2013 to encourage interior designers to give back to their local communities through design makeovers for local charities, and provides winners with the products and services to fulfill their design vision for a local nonprofit and make an impact.

IDG, along with Design for a Difference spokesperson Mark Brunetz from "Clean House", is encouraging design professionals and students from the U.S. and Canada to enter.

One winner will earn the grand prize: $25,000 in retail goods & services, the opportunity  to collaborate  and  co-host with Brunetz; a  professionally produced video will be provided to winner and winning charity for use to promote their work; and inclusion in IDG marketing materials.

Additionally, four regional prizes to include an all-expense paid trip to the grand prize city while participating in the project; the opportunity to be a part of the makeover team along with the winner and Brunetz; and a $2,000 prize package from the local IDG Showroom to support the makeover for their nominated charity will be awarded.

"We know that the design community is very generous and that so many designers already give of their time and talents to worthwhile causes. This contest continues to give us a chance to celebrate the talents of designers and help raise awareness of the non-profit organizations that bring hope and help to the local communities where we do business," said Krista Eliason, IDG president. "We believe that design has the power to impact and enhance lives, and we witnessed just  how transformative design can be with last year's winner."

A video of last year's winning project and makeover is available online.

"Design for a Difference is more than a name; it's a mission to unite a community of designers and leverage their ability to change lives, one space at a time.  And when it's a space at a charity, it becomes the gift that keeps on giving," Brunetz said. "It's so important to give back, and this contest makes it so much easier for philanthropic designers to do so."

Contest entries will be accepted online until June 1. The contest is open to interior designers, architects and design students. Winners will be announced August 1.