In the end, the quality of your project is what matters most, but how you present your entry could make a difference in how much attention it attracts from the judges. Building your entry as a PDF makes it easier for judges to review your projects, but however you submit your entry, there are some steps you can take to improve your chances of winning.
As you get ready to prepare your entry, remember this:
The judges' time is limited. They have hundreds of entries to get through in a short period of time. Make it easy for them to understand your project.
The judges are visual people. They are all architects and professional designers who like to look at photos. Telling the story of your entry in photos helps the use their limited time to best advantage.
The Judges don't like puzzles. Even if they do, they don't have time to figure out your project. Is a detail is repeated throughout the project, for example, don't make them hunt for it. Instead, put several examples on a single page. Be logical. Be specific. Draw attention to the things that matter. Don’t make the judges work too hard.
The examples below are taken from award-winning entries, and include many elements that make for a strong entry.
Create an Eye-Catching Opening Page
This example uses a large photo to highlight the strongest elements of the project. It even includes a headline - "Small Sized with a Big Surprise" - like you might see in a magazine article. Both of these tactics will help catch the judges' attention and encourage them to give attention to the pages that follow.
Tell a Story … with Lots of Pictures
This entry uses 5 pages to tell the story of the design problem and solution. That seems like a lot, but because they use large Before and after photos and a minimum amount of text, the judges don’t get bogged down reading.
Tip: Try to pair up Before and After images taken from the same vantage point. This makes it a lot easier to quickly see how the design improved the existing condition.
Show Before & After Floor Plans Together
Floor plans are a quick, easy way for judges to grasp the scope of the project and understand what the design problems were and how you solved them. But flipping back and forth is difficult and frustrating, so put Before and After plans on the same screen. Use multiple pages if everything won't fit on one page.
Put the Boring Stuff at the End
The specs, the dimensions, the list of products - it’s all important. But the judges make their initial decisions based on the images and brief captions. Later in the process, when they are trying to pick a winner from among a handful of contenders, that’s when they consult the detailed specs and other supplemental material. Provide what you think they need, tell them how to find it, but save it for the end.
For more help with your entry, see Tips for Putting Together a Great Entry.