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Rising Stars 2024 – entries now closed

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Are you a brilliant early-career design professional? We want to recognise your potential

We are on the hunt for the movers and shakers of tomorrow. Check back at ribaj.com/rising-stars for this years shortlist and winners. 

RIBAJ, in association with Origin, is scouting for the built environment’s Rising Stars – those early-career professionals making things happen.

Have you founded a practice on fresh ideas? Have you used your zest for life to open up new sectors of work? Have you squeezed the most out of your bidding process? Have you pioneered using generative AI? Have you equipped the team to reduce net zero carbon? 

Whether your talents lie in design, management, clear-sighted thinking or working with teams on site, in education or in forging your own collaboration network, we want to hear from you. Entry is free. 

ENTER HERE

Deadline Wednesday 4 September 2024, 2pm BST

Winners will be profiled in the RIBA Journal and on ribaj.com and be invited to an exclusive Class of 2024 roundtable.

 

COMPETITION CONDITIONS

1. Competition promoter

The competition is being run by the RIBA Journal.  

2. Eligibility

To be eligible, UK architecture graduates need to have completed either RIBA Part 2, or equivalent, within 10 years of Wednesday 4 September 2024. Other professions and architects outside the UK need to have completed their professional qualifications within 10 years of 4 September 2024.

No member or employee of the promoting body, the evaluation panel or any partner, close associate or employee of these is eligible to compete or assist a competitor.

3. Competition format

The competition is single-phase. 

A cohort of between eight and twelve Rising Stars will be selected. Names and information of shortlisted and longlisted entries will also be published.

4. Acceptance of competition regulations 

By entering, entrants agree to abide by the competition conditions. The decision of the evaluation panel is final. 

All images should be saved using the format: surname initial number.

Please note the details entered in the captions and credits will be used as the credits in publication and promotional activity so please ensure they are accurate.

5. Evaluation panel

Martyn Craddock, chief executive, United St Saviour's Charity

Peter Laidler, founder and director, Structure Workshop

James Purkiss, retrofit manager, Cambridge City Council and 2023 RIBAJ Rising Star

Fiona Scott, founder and director, Gort Scott

RIBAJ Journal, editor, Eleanor Young (chair)

In the event of an evaluation panel member being unable to continue to act through illness or any other cause, the RIBA reserves the right to appoint an alternative panel member.

6. Competition timetable

The anticipated programme, which may be subject to variation, is as follows:

Competition launch

Friday 24 May 2024

Submission deadline

Wednesday 4 September 2024 by 2pm

Evaluation of entries with panel and winners agreed

Wednesday 18 September 2024

Shortlist announced

Tuesday 1 October 2024

Results announced on ribaj.com and published in the RIBA Journal with email notification to entrants

Tuesday 22 October 2024

 

7. Disqualification

Submissions shall be excluded from the competition:

  • If received after the deadline of Wednesday 4 September 2024 14hr BST
  • If, in the opinion of the evaluation panel, it does not fulfil the requirements of the competition brief
  • If any of the mandatory requirements of the competition brief and conditions are disregarded

8. Submission requirements

The following elements must be submitted:

  • Biography of entrant, 50 words maximum
  • Personal statement from entrant, 400 words maximum
  • Referee statement, 100 words maximum
  • Two to five images and drawings of work referenced
  • One portrait of entrant
  • Answers to questions, 100 words maximum each (for publication only)

9. Submission method

Each submission should be uploaded before Wednesday 4 September 2024 14:00hr BST.

Late entries will not be accepted and the digital entry system will not permit uploads after the deadline. You are strongly advised to allow adequate time for your submission material to successfully upload.

10. Evaluation criteria

Entries should demonstrate:

  • Agility, ability to adapt to changing circumstances
  • Original thinking in problem-solving through design or management or other means
  • Leadership from above, below or alongside
  • A collaborative approach
  • Sheer graft
  • Outcomes and impacts.

We welcome entries that focus on one particular achievement or initiative as well as those that detail a wider breadth of activities. Don’t forget to tell us how you personally contributed to the achievements you mention.

11. Notification of result/publication and publicity

The competition results will be published as entrants are notified. 

Entrants should note that by entering the competition they are expected to honour the request for confidentiality to prevent information on individuals who have been longlisted, shortlisted or selected as winners being leaked to other press before any official announcement is made.

The RIBA reserves the right to publicise the competition and the result, using any materials submitted, in any promotional activity, including on all social media channels, as it considers fit.

You and your collaborators also grant the RIBA permission to reproduce the material supplied in all formats, in all media and all platforms in perpetuity, in whole or in part – either separately or together with other designs, with or without explanatory text – without payment.

Authors will credited and recognised in all associated media and publicity. This information will be taken from the file names of entered images so please ensure the details are accurate.

12. Enquiries

All enquiries relating to the competition should be directed to:

risingstars.ribaj@riba.org

Members of the evaluation panel should not be contacted for information as this may lead to disqualification from the competition. 


RIBA Rising Stars is produced in association with Origin Doors and Windows

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