International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa 2027
Dezeen Competitions: the 2027 edition of the International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa asks participants to create presentation boards to spotlight their innovative wooden furniture designs.
This is the 13th edition of the competition, which focuses on originality, quality and functionality.
Organiser: IFDA Organizing Committee
Competition: International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa 2027 (IFDA2027)
Judges:
- Jin Kuramoto, product designer (chief judge)
- Tsuyoshi Tane, architect
- Ronan Bouroullec, artist and designer
- Cecilie Manz, designer
- Tetsuya Fujita, chair of the IFDA Organizing Committee
Submission deadline: 11 December 2026
Winner announcement: 19 May 2027
Prizes: the first place winner will receive 3,000,000 JPY, the second place winner will receive 500,000 JPY and the third place winner will receive 300,000 JPY. Four special judges' awards will also be granted, with a prize of 100,000 JPY each
Competition overview
The International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa (IFDA) was established in 1990 and is held every three years. Over the past 12 editions, the competition has received a total of 10,084 entries from 79 countries and regions.
The theme for IFDA 2027 is Origin. Designers are invited to propose innovative wooden furniture that explores the future of furniture design through the three key evaluation criteria: originality, quality and functionality.
One of IFDA's distinctive features is that shortlisted designs are manufactured as full-scale prototypes with the support of local furniture manufacturers in Asahikawa.
The final judging is conducted using these completed pieces rather than drawings or digital renderings alone.
Visit the website for more details.
Eligibility and judging criteria
The competition is open to individuals, teams, and companies worldwide. There are no restrictions on nationality or age.
Applicants must submit one A3 landscape presentation board (single-sided, PDF format, maximum 5 MB).
The presentation board should include:
- the project title
- a description and concept of the design
- visual representations of the proposal using photographs, illustrations, or CG renderings
- submissions may be prepared in Japanese or English
The presentation board must not contain any names, logos, symbols, or identifying marks that could reveal the applicant's identity.
Entries will be evaluated according to the IFDA 2027 theme, Origin, with particular emphasis on originality, quality and functionality.
The jury will look for proposals that present compelling visions for the future of wooden furniture, considering perspectives such as materials, manufacturing techniques, regional identity, culture and contemporary lifestyles.
The preliminary judging will be based on the submitted presentation boards, while the final judging will evaluate the full-scale prototypes produced by local manufacturers.
How to enter
Click here to enter and here to read the terms and conditions.
Submission deadlines
The entry period is from 1 July to 11 December 2026.
Preliminary judging is from mid-January to February 2027, and final judging is on 18 May 2027.
Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 19 May 2027, with an exhibition taking place at the Asahikawa Design Center from 19 May 2027.
About the IFDA Organizing Committee
The IFDA Organizing Committee, led by the Asahikawa Furniture Industry Cooperative, plans and manages the International Furniture Design Competition Asahikawa (IFDA).
The competition aims to discover emerging designers while promoting the creativity and craftsmanship of Asahikawa's wood furniture industry to an international audience.
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