The Concept Categories

• The Vision Awards Jury and Architizer’s Editorial Team will evaluate the Concept Categories based on the following criteria:

• Ideation
  At the core of every unbuilt project is an idea—an architectural vision that addresses a specific problem or opportunity. Judges will assess how original, provocative, and clearly defined that idea is. Submissions should clearly articulate the driving concept, what issue or future condition it responds to, and why it matters. Whether rethinking housing models, climate adaptation strategies, or mobility networks, the best entries will demonstrate intellectual rigor and design foresight.

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• Form & Function
  Judges will examine how the design brings the central idea to life through architectural form, spatial logic, and functional strategy. Successful submissions will show how structure, circulation, materiality, and environmental context support the project’s larger vision. Entries should communicate not only how the building looks, but how it works and feels to inhabit. Jurors will look for diagrams, renderings, or annotated visuals that effectively clarify the spatial and experiential qualities of a project.

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• Impact
  Visionary work must challenge the status quo and suggest new trajectories for the built environment. Judges will evaluate the potential of the project to influence future design discourse — whether by addressing systemic issues like climate change, technological advancements, urbanization, or other global challenges. Submissions should convey how architecture can act as a catalyst for broader societal change. Projects that demonstrate bold thinking, conceptual clarity, and a provocative narrative will leave a lasting impression.

The Vision Categories

• The Vision Awards Jury and Architizer’s Editorial Team will evaluate the Vision Categories based on the following criteria:

• Communication
  The most important quality of an architectural image or video is its ability to communicate the design intent and narrative behind a piece of architecture. A good image or video will form a visual story about architecture and its surrounding context, revealing something about the lives of those who inhabit it. The image or video can communicate many different things and focus on one or more of the following aspects: People, light, shadows, mood, atmosphere, weather, spatial layout, details, materials, connections between architectural elements, relationship to context, the transition between spaces, and more.

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• Aesthetics
  A beautiful architectural image or video is undeniably appealing, but in the realm of architectural representation, aesthetics are about more than just beauty. They convey the essence of the architecture they depict, the atmosphere or emotional power of a space, and a strong sense of place. At their best, images and videos can reveal something about architecture that speaks to the wider cultural, societal, economic or political context of its location. Aesthetics may also concern the portrayal of an untidy, chaotic or even “ugly” brand of architecture that form the reality of certain environments.

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• Impact
  When communication and aesthetics are perfectly combined, they can produce an impactful image or video that is eagerly shared among a global, design-oriented community. While impact is not an exact science, experts in architectural representation understand the bold qualities that make an image memorable and shareable. The ingredients of an impactful architectural image or video include but are not limited to: Bold geometry, unusual angles, rich color combinations, sharp contrasts, rhythmic patterns, movement and strong legibility.

The Visionary Categories

• The Vision Awards Jury and Architizer’s Editorial Team will evaluate the Visionary Categories based on the following criteria:

• Mission
  A strong portfolio reflects a clear and consistent creative mission. Judges will look for entrants who demonstrate intentionality and purpose in their work — whether exploring social narratives, spatial justice, ecological design, or architectural theory through visual media. Submissions should reveal how the entrant uses representation not just to illustrate buildings, but to investigate architectural ideas and contribute to critical conversations in the AEC industry. Submitted work should be tied together through stylistic, social, or cultural threads to tell a larger story about an entrant’s ideology.

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• Innovation
  Creativity in architectural media is constantly evolving. Judges will reward entrants who demonstrate originality in both thought and technique — whether through experimental workflows, novel use of software or analog tools, the integration of AI, or storytelling through emerging media. The best portfolios will show a willingness to challenge conventions, demonstrate an evolving or distinctive visual language, and expand the possibilities of architectural communication. Versatility across mediums and typologies will be a strength.

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• Impact
  Impact in this context refers to the resonance of the entrant’s work within the profession and creative community, and how it captures the imagination of the wider public. Judges will assess whether the portfolio sparks curiosity, shifts perspectives, or adds new value to how architecture is understood and appreciated. Entrants will be judged on the way in which their work impacts the wider world, be it through visual storytelling, social commentary, or design manifestos for the future of the build environment. Submissions that show clear authorship, cultural sensitivity, and a distinct voice — while advancing architectural discourse — will stand out.