Retail Design Institute 54th International Design Competition

Retail Design Institute 54th International Design Competition is now open for entries!

Retail Design Institute 54th International Design Competition : The 54th Annual International Design Competition has been recently organised by Retail Design Institute, continuing its more than 50-year tradition of recognizing excellence in retail design.

➜ Short description

The Retail Design Institute is very proud to announce its 54th Annual International Design Competition, welcomes entries from contract design firms, in-house retailer design teams, and now allied trades and suppliers from around the globe.

For more than 50 years, the Institute’s annual competition has celebrated outstanding and innovative retail spaces that encourage new techniques in planning, design, graphics, lighting, and visual merchandising.

This year’s competition introduces the following changes:

➜ Expanded Eligibility: For the first time, general contractors, allied trades, fixture manufacturers, and material suppliers may enter the competition with consent from the designer or design firm responsible for the overall design of the project.

➜ Enhanced Submission Platform: A new submission portal offers improved functionality, allowing entrants to save progress, receive better communications and updates, and navigate a more intuitive submission process.

➜ Refined Categories: The competition features newly clarified submission categories that better reflect today’s diverse retail landscape, including Activations, Softline Stores, Hardline Stores, Large Format Stores, Service Retail, Grocery & Supermarket, Food & Beverage, Restaurant, Med-tail, Beauty & Fitness, Hospitality & Entertainment, and Commercial Development.

➜ Outstanding Merit Awards: Previously known as Innovation Awards, the revamped Outstanding Merit Awards recognize excellence in specific design elements including Architectural Elements, Community Activation & Engagement, Sensory Engagement, Signature Moment, Store Planning & Circulation, Storytelling & Brand Communication, Strategy & Ideation, Sustainability & Wellness, Technology, and Visual Merchandising & Display.

The Institute is accepting submissions for retail projects completed between 1 January 2024, and 31 December 2024.

Projects of all formats are eligible, from traditional department stores to specialty apparel shops, restaurants, kiosks, and pop-up experiences.

Finalists will be notified in the late Summer/early Fall of 2025. Winners will be honored at the International Design Awards Celebration in New York City on Thursday, 9 October 2025, where the prestigious Store of the Year will be revealed.

➜ Submission requirements:

➜ Written narrative in various lengths

- The narrative should cover the project’s scope, goals, objectives, customer journey, and branding. The text should also outline store planning, design, materials, lighting, sustainability efforts, and visual merchandising.

- 750 words for judging​
- 250 words for the awards presentation
- 150 words for social media

Judges do not have access to view the "awards presentation" and "social media" narratives. These narratives are only viewable to the Institute's Administrators and will only be utilized if your project is a winner.

➜ Photos with captions

- Specialty Stores - 8 Images Maximum
- Department/Big Box/Mass Merchant Stores - 12 Images Maximum

➜ Video (optional but recommended)
➜ Floor plan
➜ Listing of the project's general contractor, suppliers, additional consultants and contractors, and equipment and decor vendors.​

➜ Who may enter?

The competition welcomes entries from contract design firms, in-house retailer design teams, and now allied trades and suppliers from around the globe.

➜ Prize:

Winners will be honored at the International Design Awards Celebration in New York City on Thursday, 9 October 2025, where the prestigious Store of the Year will be revealed.

➜ Entry fees:

Entry fees are $250 USD for Institute members and $375 USD for non-members, with an optional $50 USD add-on fee for Outstanding Merit Award consideration.