SheDesigns – WADE National Competition 2026
WADE ASIA / MATECIA.
📌 About the Event
SheDesigns is a premier national platform organized by the WADE initiative (Women Architects & Designers Events). It is dedicated to celebrating the innovation, technical mastery, and artistic voices of Indian women across Architecture, Interior Design, Fine Arts, and Photography.
The competition serves as a springboard for both established professionals and emerging student talents. Beyond just an awards ceremony, WADE provides a significant networking ecosystem where participants present their work to a jury of legendary architects and design icons, shaping the future of the built environment in India.
ℹ️ Event Overview
- Category: Architecture, Interior Design, Art, and Photography.
- Organizer: WADE ASIA / MATECIA.
- Format: National Competition + Exhibition.
- Target: Indian Women Professionals and Students.
- Exhibition: Eligible Product Designers get space at the MATECIA Exhibition.
📅 Crucial 2026 Timeline
- Registration Status: Open.
- Event Dates: Typically aligned with the MATECIA Exhibition (Check official portal for specific submission cut-offs).
- Status: Active Phase.
🏆 Why Participate?
- National Visibility: Recognition on one of India’s largest stages for women in design.
- Expert Feedback: Present projects directly to industry leaders and gain critical insights.
- Community: Access to a high-powered network of female design professionals.
- Storytelling: A platform not just for the final product, but for the “creative journey” behind the design.
🎯 Competition Categories
The awards are divided into eight primary pillars:
- Young Architect of the Year: For visionary architects under the age of 40.
- Young Interior Designer of the Year: For innovative designers under 40.
- Categories of Excellence: Spanning Residential, Commercial, Hospitality, Retail, Public Buildings, Healthcare, and Landscapes.
- Special Technical Awards: Best Use of Color and Best Use of Lighting in Interiors.
- Sustainability: Awards for Most Sustainable Design and Healthy & Safe Interiors.
- Student Category: A dedicated platform for architecture and interior design students.
- Artist – Painting: Celebrating original visual storytelling by Indian women artists.
- Photography: Highlighting aesthetic vision in capturing spaces and people.
✨ Special Opportunity: Product Designers
WADE offers a unique Display Opportunity for product designers. Shortlisted designers don’t just win an award; they receive physical exhibition space at the MATECIA Exhibition to showcase their products to industry leaders and potential collaborators.
🛠️ Submission & Participation
- Select Your Category: Review the specific criteria for “Young” vs. “Excellence” categories.
- Prepare Your Portfolio: Focus on high-quality visuals, sustainability metrics (where applicable), and the narrative of your design process.
- Apply Online: Use the official WADE ASIA portal to submit project details and high-resolution images.