Need some help?
Greenspring Media/Midwest Design Awards: 612-371-5855
General Program Questions, Entry Portal Questions and Issues can be emailed to marketing@greenspring.com
GENERAL INFORMATION
HOW TO ENTER
Begin by visiting MidwestDesignAwards.com and creating an account for your organization. If you had created an account for the 2024 year, please use the same log-in information. If you have forgot your password, hit the reset password button and follow the prompts. Once an account has been created, and after you’ve signed in, click the “New Entry” link and fill out the form with your project details and attach your images. Remember to save your entry. You may revisit and submit as many entries as you wish until 11:59p.m. on July 31, 2025. Once you’ve entered all of your projects, use the “Submit and Pay” link to check out and finalize your submissions.
PROJECT IMAGES
Each entry must be accompanied by at least one (1), but no more than eight (8), high-resolution image(s). Image(s) submitted must be about 8 x 10 inches, at 300 dpi minimum (any image that does not meet this requirement will not be accepted). The acceptable format is JPG, with a size limitation of 50MB per image. Please see our Photography Terms section. Although not required, we recommend submitting one horizontal image, as these are often used in the awards program for winning projects.
Please upload your images via the online submission form.
DEADLINE
All entries must be submitted, and paid for in full, via web form, by July 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
FEES
- 1-3 entries: $100 each
- 4-6 entries: $75 each
- 7+ entries: $50 each
Entry fees are payable via our online entry form, which accepts PayPal, Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Fees are non-refundable. Please note that these charges will show on your financial statement as “Hour Media.”
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY
50% of your entry fee will be rebated as a voucher toward the purchase of a print advertisement in the Spring 2026 issue of Midwest Design.
For advertising opportunities, contact Lori Miller (612-371-5880 or lmiller@greenspring.com)
PHOTOGRAPHY TERMS
Entrants must secure and submit royalty / reuse-free photos from their photographer before submitting images (to be used during the Midwest Design Awards Gala and published by Greenspring Media and its affiliates at no additional charge). All photography submitted may be published free of charge by Greenspring Media with free usage in print and online for one year from the announcement of the award winners at the Midwest Design Awards Gala. It is the entrant’s responsibility to inform the photographer of these terms.
If you are listing your photographer’s name and that photographer took photos that you are entering in more than one category, please list your photographer’s name / company the same way throughout.
PROJECT CONCEPT / DESCRIPTION
Please provide a typed overview (100-250 words) detailing significant aspects of the project. The statement should discuss design challenges, location (city name), design solutions, and other pertinent aspects, but must NOT mention firm name, nor individuals involved. Entrants must include the year the project was completed. Design projects more than five years old will not be accepted. If submitting the same project in multiple categories, we suggest editing the description for each to be specific to that particular category. Projects should be submitted via the entry submission form at MidwestDesignAwards.com.
BEST IN SHOW
All projects submitted will be entered into the Best in Show award category, which is awarded to the singular project with the highest average score.
JUDGING
An independent panel is selected to judge. Judges are drawn from national media, respected academic institutions, and private practice, and include nationally recognized names from design and architecture along with Midwest Design’s editorial team. Their expertise reflects a broad spectrum of related professions, including architecture, building, remodeling, interior design, and landscape design. All judges’ decisions are final.
ELIGIBILITY
Previous first-, second-, and third-place winning projects in the Midwest Design Awards are not eligible to enter in the same category in which the entry previously won. Entries that have won in, or were submitted to, competitions other than the Midwest Design Awards are allowed. The address of the project or company must be in the state of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, or South Dakota. Projects must have been completed within five years of July 31, 2025. Midwest Design reserves the right to disqualify any entries.
GUIDELINES / ADDITIONAL TERMS
Projects may have an entrant, and up to two co-entrants. Additional contributors, such as designers, architects, etc. will not be listed on the award, mentioned at the awards ceremony, or listed in the magazine, unless listed as a co-entrant.
Only one physical award will be produced for winning projects. It will list the entrant, and the co-entrants, in the order they were entered. Additional awards may be purchased following the gala.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If you list a co-entrant on an entry, the co-entrant’s name will appear as a co-winner with your company name in the magazine and on the award if your submission is selected as a winner. There is a separate opportunity on the submission form to list others who contributed to the project; this area is optional and those you list here will NOT receive an award if your entry is selected as a winner. Their names, however, may be featured in the Midwest Design magazine editorial.
Failure to comply fully with contest rules may result in disqualification. Entry fee is non-refundable and will not be returned (even if entry is determined to be ineligible or disqualified). Greenspring Media is not liable for lost, stolen, ineligible, misdirected, damaged, mutilated, or postage-due entries.
Winning submissions become the property of Greenspring Media. Greenspring Media retains legal / publishing rights through one year after publishing of the Spring 2026 Midwest Design magazine. If a category does not receive enough entries, the project entries in that category will be declined and fully refunded.
QUESTIONS?
Greenspring Media/Midwest Design Awards: 612-371-5855
General Program Questions, Entry Portal Questions and Issues can be emailed to marketing@greenspring.com
DATES TO REMEMBER
July 31, 2025: Submission and fee deadline
October 2025: Finalists notified and Midwest Design Award Gala tickets on sale
December 3, 2025: Midwest Design Awards Gala
February 2026: Midwest Design issue with Midwest Design Awards winners