I’ve been asked this question a lot throughout the nine–or is it 10–years I’ve hosted the awards. With the conclusion last night of this year’s competition, I thought today would be a good time to provide advice for how to submit projects that catch the judges’ eye.
Whether you’re new to the competition, or submit projects annually, I always tell people to begin by reading through the submission details on our website and adding important dates, from deadlines to announcements, to their calendar. The competition is an almost year-long process, so knowing ahead of time what to expect helps lessen the chance that you’ll miss an important deadline. We also make slight tweaks to the competition, for instance to our list of categories, so reading the fine print is helpful. To make it easier for you to stay up to date, we now send timely emails with news about the awards, so be sure to sign up for those, too.
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I encourage people to start planning even before the announcement of the judges’ panel in August, and summer is a good time to think about which rooms or houses could be photo-ready by the October submission deadline. Organizing a professional photo shoot is an investment of time and money, but I can’t over emphasize the role that quality photos play in the judging process. When photos are delivered in the correct size and format, they allow our judges to view your work as you intend it to be seen. Remember that the judges access your submissions through an online portal, so what they see and read from you is what they use to score each project. In addition, the images run large in print so it’s important that they be high quality. As for the copy, keep it short and to the point, but make sure that special elements, tricky design challenges, and other important details are highlighted at the top of the caption.
Lastly, don’t forget to get creative with your submissions. A category such as Powder Room or Traditional Kitchen are perennial favorites, and typically receive a hefty number of entries. Does your powder room or kitchen project feature great color? An interesting use of fabric or wallpaper? How about window treatments? We offer categories in these areas, too, so you might consider how to strategically place your work and submit it to less popular or obvious categories. And, crediting the appropriate talent on each project submission ensures that our editorial coverage is complete and correct.
Hear more of Veronica’s tips on the House of Lou podcast.
