Design Awards FAQ

Here are the most commonly asked questions.


Who can submit a project?

Businesses or individuals who have specified and/or designed and constructed for a project using polytec products may enter the polytec Design Awards.


Do I have to pay to enter the Design Awards?

Entry to the polytec Design Awards is completely free!


How many awards are to be won?

There are a total of four awards.

  1. Excellence in Design
    • Businesses/individuals who designed and/or specified for the project.
    • State based project with Finalists and a Winner for each category.
    • Categories: Residential and Commercial
  2. Excellence in Design Build
    • Businesses/individuals who designed or specified, and constructed the joinery within the same business for the project.
    • State based project with Finalists and a Winner for each category.
    • Categories: Residential and Commercial
  3. National polytec ByDesign Award
    • Decided as overall Winner between Winners from awards 1 and 2. Winner will feature on Australia ByDesign Architecture. Airing on Network 10, Australia ByDesign Architecture is a highly successful series that uncovers the outstanding projects in Australian architectural design.

      Being architecturally designed is not a prerequisite for an entry being featured in the series.
  4. People’s Choice Award
    • Peers vote for their favourite entries from all projects entered.
    • State based with a Winner for each category.
    • Categories: Residential and Commercial

What’s the difference between Residential and Commercial categories?
Residential (designed for people to live in):
  • Houses
  • Units
  • Display homes
  • Includes apartment high rises
Commercial (anything not residential):
  • Health
  • Hospitality
  • Retail
  • Workplace
  • Education
  • Sporting
  • Public spaces e.g. foyers

Can I include products other than polytec in my submission?

Yes, however, polytec must be used in majority of joinery in the project.


How do I submit a project?

To submit a project, you must first sign up for a Business Account. Once verified and approved, you may begin submitting projects. Be sure to read the prompts.


Can I submit a project over multiple entries?

Each project needs to be submitted as one entry, not over several entries, regardless of application. For example, if one residential project is submitted in segments, e.g. bathroom and kitchen, this will be rejected. The project must be entered as a whole.


Do my photos need to be of a specific quality?

All submitted photography must be of professional quality, high resolution Jpeg (min 1100x1100px and no larger than 10MB) and must not be watermarked. Please see the winners from the polytec Design Awards 2023 here for examples of image quality.


Why was my project rejected?

Your project may have been rejected due to low image resolution, poor image quality, lacking in information or if no polytec products were evident in the submission. If you believe this was done in error, please contact us.


How long will it take for my account to be approved?

Your account should take no longer than 1 business day to be approved. If it takes longer than this, please contact us for assistance via online chat.


How many projects can I submit?

Project submissions are uncapped, so feel free to upload as many as you like!


When does voting open for the People’s Choice Award?

Voting for People’s Choice Award opens 1st July 2024 and closes 18th October 2024.


How many times can I vote for People’s Choice Award?

Voting is only open for the People’s Choice Award. You can vote a total of 12 times, which must be equally divided between Residential and Commercial projects.


Can I vote for my own project?

If you are logged in to a business account attached to your projects, you cannot vote on them.


Can I still vote if I am logged into my business account?

Yes, you will receive votes in your business account, rather than signing up for an individual voter account.


Can I remove my votes?

Yes, these can be removed/edited from projects in ‘My Account’.


What are the important dates that I need to know about?

polytec Design Awards 2024 Submissions Open: 5th February 2024

polytec Design Awards 2024 Submissions Close: Midnight 16th June 2024

People’s Choice Award Voting Open: 1st July 2024

People’s Choice Voting Closes: 18th October 2024

People’s Choice Award announced: 25th October 2024

National polytec ByDesign Award announced: 28th October 2024