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THE AWARDS

WHY ENTER THE AWARDS?

The [d]arc awards is a unique concept utilising arc and darc magazines’ reputation as being the most widely read and respected lighting design publications in the world. In collaboration with creative consultants Light Collective, we have created a unique opportunity to get every practice involved in the awards process.

Anyone can enter (lighting designers, architects, interior designers or manufacturers), but here’s the exciting bit – once the shortlist has been chosen by an international jury of lighting designers – we invite independent lighting designers, architects, interior designers and product designers to vote on their favourite projects and products making this the only truly peer-to-peer lighting design awards in the world.

All eligible submissions are published on the website and entrants also benefit from a free [d]arc awards directory company profile – a comprehensive online lighting design resource that can be used by designers and clients for inspiration.

Entrants are invited to attend the awards party [d]arc night scheduled to take place in April 2026 in London, where we will announce the winners.

ENTRY GUIDELINES

For lighting projects, light art installations, events and products to be eligible for [d]arc awards 2025 they must have been completed/launched after 1 January 2025.

Important dates:

  • Entry deadline – 11 December, 2025
  • Early bird offer – 22 September, 2025
  • Jury shortlisting – January, 2026 (our independent judges will shortlist the projects after the entry period has closed, in advance of the peer-to-peer voting).
  • Voting opens – February, 2026
  • [d]arc night awards party – April 2026 (we will reveal the winners in a live presentation in London)

Who can enter the awards?

Anyone can enter an award, but wherever possible we strongly recommend that the principal lighting designer, interior designer or architect responsible for the lighting scheme enters a Project category. Manufacturers are advised to enter the Product categories or, if entering a Project, to credit the designers and any other manufacturers involved.

What material should I supply?

  • The entrant must supply a maximum 500 word statement / design narrative
  • The entrant must supply a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 10 high resolution photographs (jpegs no bigger than 10MB). We recommend where possible to provide landscape images.
  • Renderings and collage images are not permitted (we reserve the right to omit images and withdraw entries that do not meet the criteria).
  • A maximum of 2 video links can be included (videos must be hosted on YouTube or Vimeo)

What is the cost to enter?

  • £120 + VAT (per entry) – early bird offer ends 22 Sep 2025
  • £150 + VAT (per entry) – standard price
  • Entry fees may be paid by credit card only and must be paid online at time of completing submissions. If your submission/s have not been paid for at close of entry they may not be included for judging.
  • All eligible submissions will be published on darcawards.com
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