Students and young designers are encouraged to apply, for a chance to be awarded the title of Emerging Lighting Designer of the Year. This prize is awarded to the student who has demonstrated devotion to elevating the art of Lighting Design.

The recipient will receive the coveted LIT Awards trophy and a cash prize of CHF 1,000.00, the project will be showcased to a global audience, be featured in the LIT Awards annual Book of Design, and be given the opportunity to share more of their vision and project in winner’s interviews. Other benefits included:

• Inclusion in the winning media campaign, targeting industry professionals and potential clients worldwide
• Feature in the LIT Awards newsletter sent to over 100,000 design professionals and leading architectural and interior design firms
• All-year-round profile in the LIT Awards online architecture directory, making it easier for clients to find and contact your company
• A digital Winner Certificate and a badge of  achievement – to add to your professional signature and throughout your printed material

Thanks to our partner the “Silhouette Awards (SA)“, the “Emerging Lighting Designer of the Year” will receive 6 months of mentorship by one of the esteemed SA judge Mentors to enhance their skill set, progress their career ambitions, and add real value to the creativity of the industry, raising the bar for talent to steer and lead the industry in years to come.

CATEGORIES:

• Agricultural Lighting
• Ambient Lighting
• Artisan Glass Blown Lighting
• Bar and Restaurant Lighting Design
• Bridges and Public Infrastructures Lighting
• Community Building Lighting
• Conceptual Designs-Projects in Development
• Cultural Building Lighting Design
• Daylighting
• Energy Saving Lighting Systems
• Exterior Architectural Illumination
• Fashion Design Lighting
• Healthcare Lighting Design
• Heritage Lighting Design
• Horticultural Lighting Design
• Hospitality Lighting Design
• Industrial Building Lighting Design
• Interior Architectural Illumination
• Landscape Lighting Design
• LED Exterior Lighting Design
• LED Interior Lighting Design
• Low Carbon Lighting
• Public Building Lighting Design
• Religious & Spiritual Site Lighting Design
• Residential Lighting Design
• Retail Lighting Design
• Spectrum Lighting
• Street Lighting Design
• Visitor Experience & Museum Exhibition
• Workplace Lighting Design
• Other Lighting Designs

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SUBMISSION DETAILS

Entries can be submitted as conceptual designs, in progress, or as completed projects. The only restriction is that entries or completed projects must be no more than 5 years old. Submissions can be made as a Professional or as a Student.

Winners are chosen based on a single project – not for a body of work.

Download our LIT Awards Entry Guide 2025, and read all about the registration process and benefits of joining the LIT Lighting Design Awards.

ELIGIBILITY

The LIT Design Awards competition is open to anyone aged 18+ residing anywhere in the world. Professional entries will be judged against other professionals and student entries against other students.

For more information please check the FAQ page.

JUDGING CRITERIA

The evaluation process for entries to the LIT Lighting Design Awards is based on various judging criteria that are constantly adapted to new technical, social, economic, and ecological requirements. These criteria are not comprehensive and not all criteria apply to each product. They simply provide an orientation framework and basis for judging, which is complemented by each juror’s expertise and socio-cultural background.

Each member of the Jury is passionately committed to providing a fair evaluation. Jury members are assigned categories based on their specific backgrounds and expertise. All projects are viewed and judged randomly and anonymously to ensure unbiased and fair judging.

The judging criteria include the following:

• Innovation — does the product provide something new to the market or supplement/improve an existing product?
• Aesthetics — form, shape, color, texture, finishing, the material used, etc.
• Functionality — ease of use, safety, maintenance, etc.
• Ergonomics — the product’s interaction with the user
• Durability — the quality and longevity of the design
• Impact — the benefit delivered to the user and/or society by the product
• Utility — does the product meet the intended purpose and needs of the user?
• Ecological compatibility — potential environmental and/or ecological impact
• The reality of production — how realistic is it, technically and economically, to develop and market this product large scale?
• Emotional quotient — in addition to fulfilling its practical purpose, does the product create a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction?

SCORING BOARD

The LIT Lighting Design Awards use a Scoring System between 10-100 points.

ENTRY FEES: LIT DESIGN AWARDS 2025

• Professional CHF 230 incl. Swiss VAT (approx.: US$250)
  Same Product in additional categories at a 50% discount
• Student CHF 100 incl. Swiss VAT (approx.: US$115)
  Same Product in additional categories at a 50% discount

No Further Fees: Unlike some other design awards and competitions, there are no further fees for winning the award and everything listed in the winner’s benefits will be provided free of charge.