Editor’s Information: 7 Ideas for Making a Profitable A+Awards Submission
The 10th Annual A+Awards is ramping up towards its conclusion, with a huge number of extraordinary projects and portfolios already submitted. Architizer is thrilled with the engagement for this year’s program, and is looking forward to reveal the world’s best designs once the Finalists are confirmed! There is still time to enter, but that time is running out — make sure your firm completes its submissions before the Final Entry Deadline on January 28th, 2022:
Winning an A+Award is about more than merely submitting a beautiful project. It ultimately comes down to the way a project is packaged to tell its story. Submissions should contain a comprehensive assemblage of elements that fully represents the project, from detailed photography to thorough descriptions. Both the jury and public voters should be able to understand the essence of a project in an instant.
When it comes to the A+Awards, little details matter. As we swiftly approach the Final Deadline of the 10th Anniversary A+Awards, Architizer’s editorial team has put forward 7 tips to maximize your chances of success this season.
Every A+Award Winner gets featured in the next edition of “The World’s Best Architecture”, a stunning hardbound compendium published by The Monacelli Press.
1. Invest in Professional Photography
You should acquire the services of a photographer or get your hands on some great camera equipment in order to celebrate your project in its best light. We get many submissions with weak images that don’t do justice to the projects they portray, and it’s worth noting that high quality images are required for winning projects to be included in “The World’s Best Architecture” book. Once you have your photographs, ensure that you submit a variety of exterior and interior shots, and consider including close-up details if there is a particularly unique architectural element or space that sets your project apart.
Quadrant House, Popular Vote Winner in the Residential-Private House (XL >5000 sq ft) category in the 2019 A+Awards.
2. Include a Mixture of Mediums
Don’t be afraid to use a variety of mediums to communicate your project. While high quality photographs are key, it’s also possible to submit videos, drawings, animations, graphics and diagrams. Consider how each asset can help the jurors and the general public better understand a proposal.
The Lowline Lab by Raad Studio, winner of three 2016 A+Awards in the following categories: Architecture +Self Initiated Projects and Architecture +Technology.
3. Consider Entering a Best Firm Category
This season, the new Best Firm Categories present a new way for architecture firms to win. Firm Categories celebrate the breadth of a firm’s achievement by showcasing a portfolio of projects, allowing you to submit built works that were completed up to 10 years ago. Firm Type categories honor overall excellence for firms of different sizes, specializations and geographies, providing a unique chance for practices to earn recognition for their mission and evolution as well as individual projects.
Community Center of Sandu Poetic Residence by QIYUE Architects, 2020 A+Awards Jury Winner in the Architecture +Community category.
4. Submit in More Than One Category
You can increase your chances of being recognized for an award by submitting to more than one category. If your project qualifies, you could submit it within a typology category, such as residential, commercial or cultural, and also enter it into a Plus category, giving you the possibility of winning up to four A+Awards (a Popular Choice award and a Jurors award in each category).
Museum of Forest Finn Culture in Svullrya, Norway by Lipinski Lasovsky Johansson, winner of a 2018 A+Award in the Unbuilt Cultural category.
5. Craft a Great Project or Firm Description
This sounds obvious, but a well written, well edited project or firm description is crucial in helping jurors decide. For project categories, architects are encouraged to think beyond purely technical descriptions and include emotive words that illustrate how a building makes the occupant feel, or how its atmosphere changes throughout the day, for example. For firm categories, think about how your firm’s overriding design philosophy translates into the built projects that accompany your submission, creating a compelling story about your practice.
CURA pop-up COVID–19 clinic by Carlo Ratti Associati, 2020 A+Award Jury Winner in the Architecture +For Good category.
6. Highlight the Positive Impact of Your Work
In 2022, it’s not enough to create a beautiful building — architects must consider complex challenges pertaining to climate, health and social impact when designing their projects. To boost your chances, submit projects with features that have a positive impact on the wider world, and make sure to highlight these in your project descriptions. Submissions that clearly express the ways in which their project responds to our rapidly evolving environment have a great chance of success.
House 3000 by Rebelo de Andrade, Portugal, 2019 A+Award Winner in the Architecture +Color category
7. Look to Past Winners for Inspiration
Refer to previous years’ winners for inspiration and best practices for submitting. Winners of last year’s A+Awards not only wowed us with their breathtaking projects, but also the ways in which they packaged their work, ideas, processes, and more. It’s also worth checking out our extensive range of A+Awards-related content for more case studies of past winners, as well as further tips and tricks on perfecting your submission.
Now you have the knowledge, you’re ready to submit your best work for an A+Award to be in the running for international publication by The Monacelli Press, huge online exposure and the iconic A+Awards trophy!
Enter the 10th Annual A+Awards
Top image: Tagh Behesht by Rvad Studio, 9th Annual A+Awards Jury Winner in the Unbuilt Commercial category.