The brief
The brand, operator or owner who commissioned the space and set the ambition for it.
National Association of Shopfitters and Interior Contractors
Design Partnership Awards
Three parties. One room.
The return of the awards programme whcih recognises the client, the designer and the contractor who made an outstanding interior together.
- Award evening
- October 2027
- Entries open
- Spring 2027
- Who can enter
- Members and non-members*
*non-members will be charged a category fee
Who it recognises
Everyone who made the room gets the credit.
A great interior is the work of three parties. The awards name all three, and all three are credited when a project wins.
The drawing
The architect, interior designer or design practice who turned the brief into a space.
The build
The shopfitter or interior contractor who made it real, on site and on programme.
One entry, three names. Designer and contractor enter jointly, and the client is named alongside them.
Categories
Eight ways to win.
Five project awards, two awards for people, and one overall winner chosen from the category winners.
Project awards
RPY
Retail Project of the Year
Shopfitting and fit-out delivered through a designer and contractor partnership in a retail environment.
HLY
Hospitality & Leisure Project of the Year
Restaurants, bars, hotels, leisure and experiential spaces.
WCI
Workplace & Commercial Interiors Project of the Year
Office and commercial fit-out.
SFO
Sustainable Fit-Out Award
Circular, low-carbon and reuse-led design and build.
SPA
Small Project Award
Smaller projects, with the budget threshold announced when entries open.
Awards for people
RTA
Rising Talent Award
An individual designer or tradesperson on the way up.
OCI
Outstanding Contribution to the Industry
An individual or company recognised for a long-term contribution to shopfitting and interior contracting.
Overall
GPX
Grand Prix
The overall winner, chosen from the category winners.
Judging
Judged on the work, not the name.
An independent panel assesses every shortlisted project, and the project speaks before the company does.
Anonymised shortlisting
Panel members review entries without company names attached where practical.
Site visits
Shortlisted projects are visited in person, to check the quality of the work and how the partnership functioned.
An independent panel
Judges come from design, architecture and the client side, and are not drawn only from NAS membership.
Open to everyone
You do not need to be an NAS member to enter.
What the panel looks at
- Design quality
- Execution and craft
- Partnership working
- Environmental approach
Timeline
From entry to award evening.
Judging and site visits sit between the close of entries and the evening itself.
Entries open
Designers, contractors and clients can start entering.
Entries close
Final date for joint entries.
Judging and site visits
Shortlisting, then in-person visits to finalist projects.
Finalists announced
The shortlist is published.
Award evening
Winners announced and the Grand Prix presented.
Dates are provisional and will be confirmed when entries open.
Partners
Back the awards.
Sponsorship funds the programme and puts your brand in front of designers, contractors and clients in one room.
One available
Title sponsor
- Naming rights: “Design Partnership Awards, in association with you”
- The largest branding package
- A guaranteed table
One per category
Category sponsor
- Naming rights to one award category
- Branding on category materials and at the award evening
- A table allocation
Supporting sponsor
- Logo placement across event materials
- A display opportunity on the night
- Discounted tickets
In-kind partner
- Provide goods or services such as print, AV, drinks reception or trophies
- Branding in exchange
Be first to hear when entries open.
Contact NAS to register your interest as an entrant, a sponsor or a judge.