The competition has by the Uruguayan Chamber of Design (CDU), the Uruguayan Association of Professional Interior Designers (Addip),UTU, the Uruguayan Chamber of Industries (CIU), the Uruguayan Association of Wood and Related Industries (Adimau), and theUruguay Construction Fair.
Networking
The day began with a networking session that brought together participants, contest organizers, academic leaders, and key figures from the industry and the design world. The event provided opportunities for discussion, the sharing of experiences, and the forging of connections among the various stakeholders in attendance.
The event also provided an opportunity for dialogue amonghigh school students, college students, professionals, and industry representatives—the various categories of participants in the competition.
Contest Overview
The presentation was given by Pablo Pirotto, assistant academic coordinator of the Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design, who welcomed the attendees and highlighted the potential of Uruguayan design to expand into international markets.
During his remarks, he reflected on the role of globalization and on how fields such as industrial design, interior design, and carpentry can contribute value from Uruguay to the world—a vision that is one of the contest’s main objectives.
During his presentation, Pirotto highlighted the contest’s growth since its launch: it has grown from 51 entrants in its first edition, in 2025, to 90 participants today.
He also acknowledged the collaboration of Adimau, an association that brings together micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the timber sector and works to promote and strengthen the national timber industry.
Another issue discussed was the composition of the jury. Pirotto explained that, unlike the previous edition, when the jury members remained anonymous, this year the decision was made to have a completely open selection process.
The jury is composed of Pedro Laprovitera, founder of Dominar Studio; Pablo Soca, commercial director of Pronto Maderas; Carlos Nicola, consultant and member of the executive team of the Uruguayan Chamber of Design; Leslie Novick, interior designer and president of Addip; and Ana Olivera, a member of the Department of Innovation and Design within the Technical Directorate of Academic Management at UTU.
Finally, the coordinator announced another new feature of this year’s competition: the launch of an official Instagram account for the contest, designed to allow participants to share the development process of their projects, tag the contest, and help promote the designs through social media.
The main goal of this contest is to promote design. I want you to share your work, tag yourselves, showcase what you’re doing, collaborate with other designers, and be inspired to create beyond your own ideas and limits.
During the launch, the competition was also highlighted as a platform to help the projects developed through it expand into other fields and international competitions.
As an example, Pablo Pirotto cited the case of Matías Prieto, who works with Equipo Benteveo and helped create the Barcelona table, a collaborative workstation for six people equipped with swivel platforms and built-in connectivity to facilitate the exchange of information.
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The project gained international recognition after being selected as a finalist in the Salão Design competition, one of Brazil's most prestigious design competitions.
"The Brazilian industry is a huge market, and it's incredibly important to us, so we're trying to break into it—it's very close, yet at the same time very far away," said Prieto, to whom Pirotto had given the floor.
The event also featured Pablo Soca, who highlighted the longstanding relationship between Pronto Maderas and ORT’s School of Design—a partnership that began in 2010 and has led to the development of various design-related initiatives.
In that regard, he emphasized the company’s commitment to promoting Uruguayan design and supporting students, professionals, and entrepreneurs in the sector as a way to strengthen the domestic industry.
The final presentation was given by Michelle Assumpção, a partner and owner of DRM Export and a representative of Guararapes, a company she has been working with for over a decade.
During his presentation, he emphasized the importance of new generations of designers combining creativity, sensitivity, and innovation with the exploration of new materials and processes in order to develop designs that stand out in increasingly competitive markets.
Finally, a brief relaxation and breathing exercise was conducted to help release tension, stimulate creativity, and foster a sense of trust among the participants.
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Ideation Workshop
Following the presentation, an ideation workshop was led byMaximiliano Izzi, an industrial designer and professor at the School of Design.
The workshop proved to be an essential forum for participants to begin the process of conceptualizing their projects for the competition.
Contest Rules and Conditions
During the presentation, the contest rules were announced; the contest aims to promote the design and production of furniture through the use of digital technologies and industrial manufacturing processes.
The proposal involves designing a seat that reflects Uruguayan cultural identity, taking into account a specific user and a specific context of use.
Projects must incorporate criteria related to identity, functionality, and economic viability, aligned with real market opportunities.
One of the main new features of this edition is the freedom to choose materials, allowing participants to use wood, metal, glass, textiles, or other combinations depending on the characteristics of each proposal.
This initiative aims to encourage collaboration with various industries and expand design possibilities.
The competition schedule includes a first phase focused on the conceptual development of the projects and a second phase dedicated to mock-ups and prototyping. The high school and college categories will have an extended deadline for submitting their conceptual phase entries.
The final event, which will bring together all categories, will conclude with an awards ceremony and an exhibition of the selected works in November.
Among the prizes is a full scholarship to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design at the Universidad ORT Uruguay, intended for the pre-university category. University students will be eligible for professional memberships and cash prizes or gift cards for materials.
Meanwhile, the professional and industry-business categories will compete for trips to Brazil to tour the Guararapes industrial plant, as well as memberships, exhibition spaces at the 2027 Construction Fair, and cash prizes.
New this year is a special award for the promotion of design, which will recognize those who promote their projects through social media using audiovisual content and outreach initiatives.