Tell Your Lab’s Story: A Guide to the Design Excellence Awards
The Design Excellence Awards, presented annually by Lab Design, celebrate outstanding innovation and achievement in laboratory design. The program recognizes projects that push the boundaries of functionality, sustainability, and user experience in lab environments. Whether you’re an architect, lab planner, facility owner, researcher, or a supplier of equipment, casework, or furniture, this competition welcomes anyone involved in the design, build, or renovation of laboratory spaces.
Winners will be honored at the 2026 Lab Design Conference in Orlando, FL, taking place May 11–14, 2026. Entries are due no later than December 5, 2025.
Crafting a strong entry is about more than showcasing a finished space—it’s about telling the full story of your project, its impact, and what makes it exceptional. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you submit an entry that stands out. Visit awards.labdesignconference.com for more information and to enter!
1. Tell a compelling story
Every lab has a story. Start by explaining why the project exists—the mission it serves, the problem it addresses, or the research it enables. Walk the judges through the design journey, highlighting planning, challenges, and collaboration among team members. Most importantly, emphasize innovation and creativity. What makes this lab unique? Why is it memorable or groundbreaking?
2. Show impact on users and research
The best lab designs prioritize the people who use them. Describe how your project benefits researchers, technicians, and staff. Demonstrate how the design supports collaboration, safety, and workflow efficiency. Include end-user feedback and explain how it shaped design decisions or improvements throughout the project.
3. Highlight design excellence by category
The Design Excellence Awards feature four distinct categories to recognize excellence in laboratory design. Entrants are welcome to submit their project in one or more categories, depending on how it aligns with the judging criteria. When entering a category, it’s important to clearly explain why your lab belongs in that category, highlighting the features, innovations, and design strategies that make it a strong fit. Support your entry with data, metrics, and clear explanations to demonstrate the project’s impact, functionality, and success. For complete submission guidelines, visit awards.labdesignconference.com.
Whole Building/Holistic Design
Showcase integrated systems, workflow efficiency, flexibility, and adaptability.
Explain how the building as a whole supports research goals, sustainability, and user needs.
Demonstrate a balance between aesthetics and functionality—beautiful spaces that work as well as they look.
Sustainable Design
Detail energy efficiency measures, material choices, and overall environmental impact reductions.
Highlight innovations in water, waste, or energy management.
Explain how sustainability is embedded throughout the project, both in lab and non-lab spaces, rather than applied as a checklist.
Interior Design
Focus on ergonomics, visual comfort, and overall user experience.
Show how non-lab areas foster collaboration and wellness.
Highlight creative or unique design elements that enhance the work environment.
Small Projects (under $20M USD)
Emphasize smart, cost-effective solutions that maximize value.
Showcase efficient use of space and resources without compromising quality.
Demonstrate creative problem-solving in tight budgets or limited footprints.
4. Use strong visuals
Include high-quality renderings, photographs, and diagrams to clearly illustrate your design. Floor plans, before-and-after comparisons, and workflow diagrams help tell the story. Use visuals to highlight sustainability features, collaboration areas, and lab functionality. Be sure to offer clear captions and obtain photographer credit.
5. Be clear and concise
Keep your submission focused, organized, and easy to read. Make sure every section directly addresses the competition criteria, and provide clear explanations and supporting data for all key features and design decisions. Judges should not be left with questions—they should be able to fully understand the project’s impact, innovation, and success without having to dig for details or interpret missing information.
6. Demonstrate innovation and problem solving
Highlight unique solutions to design or construction challenges. Share lessons learned, compromises made, and creative approaches that distinguish your project from others. Clearly explain why your lab is innovative or superior in its approach, design, or performance, and how your decisions addressed specific problems or constraints. Show how your lab pushes the boundaries of traditional design, demonstrates forward-thinking solutions, and improves workflow, safety, sustainability, or user experience. Wherever possible, support your claims with data, metrics, or examples that clearly illustrate the impact of these innovations.
7. Include metrics and evidence of success
Quantifiable evidence strengthens your entry and helps judges understand the real-world impact of your project.
Sustainability: Include energy savings, LEED certifications, reductions in water or material use, or other measurable outcomes. Explain how these metrics compare to benchmarks or prior facilities to show meaningful improvement.
User Experience: Include workflow improvements, safety metrics, post-occupancy feedback, or user satisfaction surveys. Highlight how design changes positively affected productivity, collaboration, or staff well-being.
Overall Impact: Quantify space efficiency, collaboration gains, or improvements in research output or productivity. Contextualize these numbers to illustrate the tangible benefits of your design decisions.
Where possible, use visuals, charts, or tables to make metrics easy to interpret and to tell a compelling story. Clear evidence not only validates your design choices but also demonstrates why your project deserves recognition.
8. Make it memorable!
Finally, craft a narrative that stays with the judges. Highlight signature features or “wow” moments in the design. Ensure your submission reflects the passion, creativity, and dedication behind your project. A memorable entry tells not just what was built, but why it matters.
By following these tips, you can ensure your Design Excellence Awards submission not only highlights the technical and aesthetic achievements of your project but also tells the full story of its impact, innovation, and lasting value in the laboratory community.
Remember—entries are due December 5, 2025, and winners will be celebrated at the 2026 Lab Design Conference in Orlando, FL. Visit awards.labdesignconference.com for more details and to submit your project. Good luck!
