The iWISE Olympiad aims to give students the opportunity to explore new concepts, ideas, and techniques without the fear of making mistakes. We encourage experimentation, curiosity, and creative risk-taking as essential parts of the design process.
We are looking for a clear and consistent aesthetic rhythm throughout each student’s portfolio, while also celebrating a diverse range of approaches and areas within the field of architecture. The portfolio should demonstrate both creative exploration and a thoughtful, cohesive visual language.
Encourage Creative Exploration Without Fear
- Create a supportive space where students feel free to experiment, take creative risks, and explore ideas without fear of failure.
- Emphasise the design journey and development of ideas, rather than focusing solely on the outcome.
- Encourage students to develop new concepts, techniques, and ways of thinking through experimentation and iteration.
- Recognise that mistakes are a natural and valuable part of the design process, providing opportunities for reflection, learning, and growth.
Cultivate a Distinct Aesthetic Identity
- Encourage students to explore how their individual design philosophy can be expressed across different scales, contexts, materials, and forms.
- Expose students to a broad range of architectural sub-disciplines from urban planning and architecture to interiors, product, and furniture design while encouraging a cohesive visual and conceptual identity throughout.
- Celebrate portfolios that demonstrate both versatility and consistency, showing how a student’s unique perspective can adapt to different design challenges without losing its sense of identity.
Build Confidence in Presenting Work
- Help students overcome apprehension around critique and public scrutiny by gradually moving from private exploration in sketchbooks to confident public presentation.
- Encourage students to view presentation as an extension of the design process an opportunity to communicate their ideas, decisions, and creative journey clearly and effectively.
- Provide practical experience in developing and curating a professional design portfolio, building skills that are valuable for future academic applications, competitions, and professional opportunities.
- Empower students to take ownership of their work and develop confidence in articulating their ideas, responding to feedback, and presenting their creative process with clarity and purpose.
Provide Meaningful Recognition and Networking
- Give students meaningful recognition within the architectural and creative fields by having their work reviewed and celebrated by a panel of multidisciplinary experts.
- Create opportunities for students to engage with practicing professionals, educators, and fellow young creatives, expanding their understanding of the diverse pathways within design and architecture.
- Foster a supportive community where students can share ideas, exchange perspectives, and learn from one another, encouraging connections that extend beyond the Olympiad.
- Build a platform that helps emerging creatives gain visibility, confidence, and meaningful relationships that can support their future academic, creative, and professional growth.
Poster Requirements
- The poster must be created on a white A2 sheet measuring 42 × 59.4 cm (16.5 × 23.4 inches).
- Acceptable drawing and painting media include pencils, crayons, sketches, pastels, watercolours, poster colours, and other traditional art materials.
- The complete artwork must be presented on a single, flat sheet of paper.
- Each poster must include a title or slogan of no more than two words, written in English.
- National flags are not permitted on the poster.
- The poster must not represent or promote any specific individual, organisation, political party, or brand, and must not contain religious themes or imagery.
- The poster must be the equivalent of a single-sided, one-sheet artwork.
Originality & Ownership
- The artwork must be the student’s own original design and creation.
- Submitted artwork becomes the property of the organisation.
- By submitting an artwork, participants grant the organisation permission to display, reproduce, and publish their work at events and in electronic formats, including on the organisation’s website.
- Any poster containing offensive, inappropriate, or unsuitable material for public display may be excluded from the competition. The organisation reserves the right to withdraw any submission at its discretion.
Participant Details
- The participant’s name, country, email address, and other required details must be clearly written on the back of the poster.
- All participant information must be provided in English.
Global Round
- Participants who qualify for the Global Final must bring a physical copy of their artwork with them.
- Each participant must submit only one artwork for the Global Final. However, even if multiple submissions qualify in the Qualification Round.
Judging & Disqualification
- Judges will be appointed by the competition organisers, and their decision will be final.
- Submissions that do not comply with the competition requirements may also be excluded from judging
- Click on the Registration Tab
- Select one of the Virtual Rounds
- Fill in your details.
- Fill in your selected category details on the corresponding form.
- Select your available time for the Judging process.
- Submit your zoom judging session.
- Proceed to payment.
- Complete your submission.
Judges will assess each student’s portfolio across the following key areas:
- Originality & Creativity: The uniqueness of the student’s ideas, creative thinking, and innovative application of architectural concepts.
- Consistency of Design Philosophy: The presence of a clear, recognisable, and repeatable aesthetic rhythm throughout the portfolio, demonstrating a personal design language and philosophy.
- Quality of Execution: The technical skill, craftsmanship, and attention to detail demonstrated across drawings, models, sketches, and visualisations, with consideration for the effective use of diverse media from hand-drawn work to digital renderings.
- Communication of Vision: The clarity and effectiveness with which students communicate their design intentions, processes, ideas, and solutions, both visually and verbally.
- Diverse Application: The ability to apply a consistent design sensibility across a range of scales, contexts, and architectural disciplines, demonstrating versatility without losing a distinct creative identity.
Requirements for Virtual Finals:
Poster must be on a white sheet of A2 size (42 x 59.4 cm/16.5 x 23.4 inch).
Written Abstract. (Written Summary of Project)
3 Clear Pictures of architectural drawing.
Pictures can be presented in a PowerPoint Presentation or
Pictures can be saved in as a PDF document that must be sent to judges via Zoom Chat
No theme for this category.
Group submission is up to 3 participants
Requirements for Global Finals:
Written Abstract
Poster must be on a white sheet of A2 size (42 x 59.4 cm/16.5 x 23.4 inch).
Prototype (If Applicable)
PowerPoint Presentation (Optional)
No theme for this category
Group submission is up to 3 participants.