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AWFS has opened entries for its 2026 Design-it-Digital Student Competition, an online CAD design challenge for middle school, high school and post-secondary students across the U.S. and Canada. The program is designed to introduce students to real-world constraints in woodworking and manufacturing — asking participants to respond to a client-style brief with a wood product solution created in 2D or 3D CAD and rendering software.
Owned and operated by the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS), the competition is judged entirely online by a panel of industry professionals. AWFS says the initiative supports workforce development by exposing students to potential careers in CAD, engineering, manufacturing, design and other technical roles within the wood industry.
2026 theme: Tables (three design challenges)
This year’s briefs are centered on tables, with increasing complexity by age group:
- Design Challenge A (Middle School only): Coffee table with integrated board game storage
- Design Challenge B (High School; Middle School optional): Dining table seating six adults
- Design Challenge C (Post-secondary; High School optional): Expandable dining table seating six, expanding to ten adults
Submission requirements
Each design entry must:
- Include at least 67 percent wood products
- Be manufacturable in a standard professional woodworking shop
- Provide a Bill of Materials, labor-time estimate, and pricing structure
- Be presented on a 24” x 36” print-ready digital Presentation Board
Key dates
- Entries open: March 1, 2026
- Submission deadline: November 1, 2026
- Winners announced (virtual event): December 31, 2026
Winning designs will be professionally printed and displayed at the Fresh Wood Booth during the 2027 AWFS Fair, taking place July 13–15, 2027 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Eligibility and entry details
The competition is open to:
- Middle and high school students (grades 6–12)
- Post-secondary students (full- or part-time), maximum age 35 as of Dec. 31, 2026
- Students in accredited programs related to woodworking, architecture, design, engineering, or similar disciplines
There is no entry fee, but schools must register for student entries to qualify for submission. Submissions must be in English, and both students and instructors must certify originality.
Judging criteria + AI Innovation Bonus
Entries are evaluated using a 32-point rubric that includes:
- Technical CAD drawings
- 2D/3D renderings
- Manufacturability
- Client definition
- Design innovation
- Efficiency and functionality
- Cost realism and documentation
AWFS also announced a $100 AI Innovation Bonus for the submission demonstrating the most effective and innovative use of AI within the design process.
Prizes
Middle School only division
- 1st: $400 | 2nd: $200 | 3rd: $100
Middle/High School division
- 1st: $600 | 2nd: $500 | 3rd: $300
Post-secondary division
- 1st: $1,000 | 2nd: $800 | 3rd: $500
All winners will also receive a Dust Deputy Low-Pro Deluxe courtesy of Oneida Air Systems.
Sponsors
The 2026 competition is supported by industry sponsors including INNERGY (Platinum Sponsor) and Oneida Air Systems (Materials Sponsor).
Visit here for complete rules, eligibility requirements, and registration details.
