AWFS® launches 2026 Design-it-Digital Student CAD Competition: A hands-on challenge for aspiring woodworking designers
The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS®) has officially kicked off its highly anticipated 2026 Design-it-Digital Student Competition, inviting middle school, high school, and post-secondary students across the United States and Canada to participate in an exciting online CAD design challenge. This competition serves as a platform for students to gain hands-on experience with the technical design challenges faced by woodworking professionals, preparing them for future careers in design, engineering, and manufacturing.
The competition allows participants to create innovative wood product solutions by responding to a hypothetical client brief, all while utilizing industry-standard 2D or 3D CAD and rendering software. The entries will be judged entirely online by a panel of respected professionals from the woodworking industry. Through this initiative, AWFS® aims to highlight the diverse career opportunities within the woodworking industry and support its ongoing workforce development efforts.
2026 Theme: Tables – A Focus on Innovation and Functionality
For 2026, the competition theme revolves around tables, with participants asked to design solutions for progressively complex challenges:
- Design Challenge A (Middle School Only): A coffee table with integrated board game storage.
- Design Challenge B (High School; Middle School Optional): A dining table seating six adults.
- Design Challenge C (Post-Secondary; High School Optional): An expandable dining table seating six and expanding to ten adults.
Each of the designs must meet several specific requirements. At least 67% of the product must be made from wood materials, and the designs must be manufacturable in a standard professional woodworking shop. To ensure practicality, the entries must also include a Bill of Materials, a labor time estimate, and a pricing structure. Students are required to present their design on a 24” x 36” print-ready digital presentation board to showcase their creative and technical abilities.
Key Dates and Submission Guidelines
- Entries Open: March 1, 2026
- Submission Deadline: November 1, 2026
- Winners Announced (Virtual Event): December 31, 2026
Winning entries will not only receive exciting cash prizes but will also be professionally printed and displayed at the Fresh Wood Booth during the 2027 AWFS® Fair, held in Las Vegas from July 13–15, 2027, providing students with significant national industry exposure.
Who Can Participate?
The competition is open to a broad range of students from across North America:
- Middle and high school students (grades 6–12)
- Post-secondary students (maximum age 35 as of December 31, 2026)
- Students enrolled in accredited programs related to woodworking, architecture, design, engineering, or other relevant fields
There is no entry fee for the competition, and participating schools must register their students to qualify for submission. Entries must be submitted in English, and all designs must be original.
A Rigorous Judging Process
Entries will be evaluated using a 32-point rubric based on a variety of criteria, including:
- Technical CAD drawings and 2D/3D renderings
- Manufacturability and adherence to the client brief
- Design innovation, functionality, and cost realism
- Efficiency and detailed documentation
In addition, an AI Innovation Bonus of $100 will be awarded to the submission that most effectively incorporates AI tools within the design process, further emphasizing the competition’s focus on blending traditional woodworking skills with modern technological advancements.
Prizes and Sponsorship
The Design-it-Digital competition offers substantial prizes for the top three winners in each division:
- 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
In addition to the cash prizes, all winners will receive a Dust Deputy Low-Pro Deluxe courtesy of Oneida Air Systems.
The 2026 Design-it-Digital Student CAD Competition is proudly supported by major industry sponsors such as INNERGY (Platinum Sponsor) and Oneida Air Systems (Materials Sponsor), ensuring that students have the resources and exposure necessary to succeed in the woodworking industry.
For complete rules, eligibility requirements, and registration details, visit:
subscribepage.io/design-it-digital-2026
For industry members interested in sponsoring the competition, visit: subscribepage.io/awfs-design-it-digital-sponsorship