FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS®)
Tovi Spero
tovi@awfs.org (323) 215-0311
www.awfs.org
AWFS® Launches 2026 Design-it-Digital Student CAD Competition
Online Challenge Connects Students to Real-World Wood Industry Design & Manufacturing
Anaheim, CA — March 1, 2026
The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS®) has officially launched the 2026 Design-it-Digital Student Competition, an online CAD design challenge engaging middle school, high school, and post-secondary students across the United States and Canada.
Owned and operated by AWFS®, Design-it-Digital introduces students to the real-world constraints designers and manufacturers face in the woodworking industry. Participants respond to a hypothetical client brief by designing a wood product solution using industry-standard 2D or 3D CAD and rendering software. Entries are evaluated entirely online by a panel of industry professionals.
The competition supports AWFS®’ workforce development mission by exposing students to careers in CAD, engineering, manufacturing, design, and related technical fields within the wood industry.
2026 Theme: Tables
This year’s competition centers on Tables, with progressively complex design briefs:
Each design must:
Key Dates
Winning entries will be professionally printed and displayed at the Fresh Wood Booth during the 2027 AWFS® Fair, July 13–15, 2027, in Las Vegas, NV, offering national industry exposure.
Eligibility
The competition is open to:
There is no entry fee. Schools must register for student entries to qualify for submission. All submissions must be in English, and students and instructors must certify originality.
Industry-Driven Judging
Entries are scored on a 32-point rubric assessing:
An additional $100 AI Innovation Bonus will be awarded to 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 receive a Dust Deputy Low-Pro Deluxe courtesy of Oneida Air Systems.
Industry Sponsorship
The 2026 Design-it-Digital Competition is supported by industry sponsors, including INNERGY (Platinum Sponsor) and Oneida Air Systems (Materials Sponsor).
About AWFS®
The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS®) is a national trade association representing manufacturers and distributors of machinery, hardware, software, lumber, and related products and services used in home and commercial furnishings manufacturing. Through educational initiatives and the biennial AWFS® Fair, AWFS® connects industry and education to strengthen the future workforce of the wood manufacturing sector.
For complete rules, eligibility requirements, and registration details, visit:
subscribepage.io/design-it-digital-2026
For industry members interested in sponsoring the competition, visit: