IA 2026 Submission - Non-Members $65

The local IES Raleigh Section would like to invite you to participate in the Section Illumination Awards (IA) open to all NC designers.  This is a great way for the local community to see what our lighting designers, architects, designers and engineers have been working on the past two years and a great way to showcase the project you’re considering submitting to international IES 2027 IA open December 1 through February 11th. Note: This is the official IES Section Awards submissions site for all North Carolina IA submissions (ies-raleigh.org/Illumination_Awards)

IES Members Fee: $35.00     IES Non-members Fee: $65.00     Project Submission Due Date: Nov 30th   

Applicant Information

  Yes
  No
  Yes
  No

If yes to joining IES, become a member (https://www.ies.org/) or contact Membership Chair ([email protected]).

Eligibility and Entry Rules

  1. Anyone (except manufacturers); IES members or nonmembers (with the exclusion of IES staff and IES Board of Directors), may enter a project for an IES Raleigh Section Illumination Award. Agents may also submit.
  2. Project submissions of prior recipients of Illumination Award from IES or IES Raleigh Section are not eligible. Prior submissions are eligible if they meet all other Eligibility & Entry Rules.
  3. Registration fees are non-refundable.
    1. Submission Deadline: November 30, 2026 by 11:59PM EST (Fee: $35 for members & $65 for non-members)
  4. The installation must have been completed during the 24 months prior to this submission date.
  5. Projects may be entered only once using online submission via: https://ies-raleigh.org/Illumination_Awards
  6. Different areas of the same project may be submitted as separate lighting or controls project entries. Each of these entries must have its own distinguishable title and additional entry fee. Each of these entries will be judged separately.
  7. IES must inform the owner and all others involved or associated in the project design, of participation in the program and that the entry may be published in LD+A. The owner’s name and location may be withheld for privacy reasons.

Additional IES Raleigh Section: Eligibility and Entry Rules

  1. NC business or residential address (no PO Box) or membership in NC IES Section
  2. Raleigh IA Chair will aggregate entries and distribute to local judges anonymously.  Global IES IA portal is not used for this program though entrants are encouraged to prepare for Society awards program concurrently.
  3. Entrant must inform owner and others involved of intent to submit to this program.  The owner’s name and location may be withheld if desired and as noted.  IES Raleigh may publish in IES Raleigh newsletter, website and social media (such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, etc)
  4. Judging will be completed by IES Raleigh Section Judges and section members.
  5. Award recipients for each category will announced and recoginized at January 2027 Awards Luncheon and receive paid registration ($320) to the 54rd Annual National/International IES Illumination Awards due February 11, 2027.  

Since, this is the local IES Raleigh Illumination Awards we want this to be fun so do not let the rules above discourage you from entering.  Please follow the rules as much as possible but we are here to help you get your project ready for global Society IA. 

If you have any questions, please contact Illumination Awards Chair ([email protected])

Project Submission

IES IA Categories and Project Information

(see Program Categories from https://ia.ies.org/)
  Interior Lighting (A)
  Outdoor Lighting (B)
  Energy/Environment (C)
  Lighting Controls (D)
  Experiential Lighting Design (E)

The Design Team

  Yes
  No
  Yes
  No

Project Submittal

Prepare your submittal(s). PDFs are encouraged but not required and each project entry must include:

  • Project Summary
    Up to a three hundred (300) word maximum narrative is allowed to present a project. PLEASE NOTE: The names of the designers, the name of the design firm, equipment manufacturers or specific brands is not allowed anywhere in the narrative. Any reference or endorsement of a commercial product is not allowed. Submittals with this information will be dismissed. However, proper names of places (i.e., Waldorf Astoria, Verizon, Target) in each photograph narrative is admissible. 

    TIP–it’s beneficial to address criteria from the specified category award score sheet. For example, address Energy and Budget if this was a significant challenge or accomplishment. Commenting on these and other factors can help you present a compelling project
     
  • Images
    Up to 10 high-resolution images (photos, sketches or renderings) per entry will be accepted. Multiple images per slide are allowed, but each image will count towards the maximum allotment of 10. Digital renderings that are identified as such are acceptable—if they are accompanied by a photograph of the actual installation, to demonstrate the actual design and installed results. Each rendering and accompanying photographs will be counted individually. Images must be in JPEG format and at least 1024px wide and 768px high.
    PLEASE NOTE: Fill light is prohibited. Images modified or digitally enhanced are prohibited.

    TIP–Don’t include 10 images if they don’t help tell a compelling project story; sometimes less is more.
    TIP–Photos taken during daylight hours may not adequately present the lighting design.
     
  • Image Narratives
    Each image can be described in a 25-word narrative that explains that particular image. This narrative is in addition to the introductory summary for each project.
    TIP–Use this to tell the judges what they are seeing. An image without a narrative is difficult to judge.
     
  • OPTIONAL: Video Submission
    Video submission must NOT contain any narrative (written, spoken or music). Total video length allowed is a maximum of one (1) minute. Video must be a mov, m4v or mp4 format. Still images as a slide show are not accepted as a video and will be disqualified. You may describe the video in up to 25 words in the video narrative.
    TIP–Watch for flicker in your video, which could jeopardize your chance of receiving an award. A video of simple color-changing lighting can appear pretty amateur if it appears more like ‘chase’ lights.

Project Summary

Disclaimer and Signature

I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. 

Debit or Credit Card Payments

After clicking Submit below, you will be prompted to pay via credit card. 

Additional Payment Options

Please contact IES Raleigh Chapter Treasurer ([email protected]) for additional payment options.

Thanks To Our Gold Sponsors

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Learn more