A bright modern Fabuwood kitchen with warm wood cabinetry, a marble waterfall island with bar stools, herringbone flooring, and natural light from tall windows.

Fabuwood Emerging Designer Competition

Take your work out of the portfolio

Design a buildable Fabuwood kitchen vignette for the chance to see it featured at KBIS 2027.

$1,000

Travel stipend toward flight and hotel for the first-place designer.

KBIS 2027

The winning vignette may be produced and featured at the Fabuwood booth in Las Vegas.

One entry

Open to eligible solo designers and teams.

From concept to show floor

A real brief with a real production payoff

Design an original vignette for a defined space inside the Fabuwood booth. Use current products, solve the practical constraints, and make the result distinctly yours.

The winning design may be fabricated and displayed at the Fabuwood booth during KBIS 2027 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A crowded Fabuwood booth at KBIS with The Sound of Home display, ring chandeliers, and attendees throughout the show floor.

The brief

Design for impact and buildability

The strongest entries unite a clear point of view, the assigned footprint, and current Fabuwood product. Entries are judged on creativity, buildability, and brand alignment.

Create a clear design point of view

Make the space memorable and give every choice a reason to exist.

Work within the assigned footprint

Dimensions of the space are a 14' x 14' L-shaped design with a height of 12'.

Use real Fabuwood product

Specify current cabinetry, door styles, finishes, and approved applications.

Eligibility and requirements

What every entry needs

Open to current students in a university, college, or design program, and to anyone who graduated from one in 2025 or 2026. Keep it original, buildable, and grounded in the competition brief.

Original work
Your entry must be your own and must not infringe any third-party rights.
Existing product
Use current Fabuwood cabinetry, door styles, finishes, standard modifications, and accessories.
A technical file
Include a SketchUp or STEP file that demonstrates how the concept can be built.
Proof of eligibility
Submit an entrant profile and proof of current enrollment or 2025 or 2026 graduation.
The assigned footprint
Dimensions of the space are a 14' x 14' L-shaped design with a height of 12'.
Human-led design
Supporting visuals are welcome, but AI-generated images alone do not qualify.

Prizes

Recognition beyond the rendering

The first-place concept may move from design file to the Fabuwood booth at KBIS 2027.

The Fabuwood KBIS booth featuring The Sound of Home display, ring chandeliers, piano-key wall, and Design Studio samples.

First place

Possible fabrication and display at KBIS 2027
$1,000 travel stipend toward flight and hotel
Commemorative trophy
Recognition across Fabuwood channels

Second and third place

Trophy or certificate
Promotional recognition
Publicity across Fabuwood channels

Timeline

From entry to KBIS

Dates are expected and may shift. Fabuwood will keep entrants informed throughout the process.

August 2026

Portal opens

The submission portal opens in August and closes September 14, 2026.

Mid-September 2026

Judging and selection

Every eligible entry is reviewed and the winning concept is selected.

February 2027

KBIS 2027

The winning design may be produced and featured at the Fabuwood booth in Las Vegas.

FAQ

Questions, answered

The essentials to review before you submit.

Who can enter?

Current students in a university, college, or design program, and anyone who graduated from one in 2025 or 2026.

Can teams submit?

Yes. One entry is allowed per person or team, and entrants cannot compete both solo and on a team.

What is the assignment?

Design a kitchen cabinetry vignette for the Fabuwood booth at KBIS 2027. Dimensions of the space are a 14' x 14' L-shaped design with a height of 12'.

Can I design custom cabinets?

No. Use existing Fabuwood products, door styles, finishes, dimensions, standard modifications, and accessories.

What file types are required?

A SketchUp or STEP technical file is required to demonstrate buildability.

Can I submit an AI image?

Not on its own. Visuals can support the concept, but the technical file must demonstrate human design and buildability.

How are entries judged?

Entries are judged on creativity, buildability, and brand alignment.

What does first place receive?

Possible fabrication and display at KBIS 2027, a $1,000 travel stipend, a trophy and promotional recognition.

Legal

Terms and conditions

Review the official competition terms before submitting an entry.

Emerging Designer Contest terms and conditions

These Terms govern the 2026-2027 Emerging Designer Contest. By entering, participants agree to be bound by them. The Contest is sponsored, organized, and administered by Fabuwood Cabinetry Corporation (“Fabuwood” or “Sponsor”), which has sole and absolute discretion over all aspects of the Contest, including eligibility, rule interpretation, judging, winner selection, and any modifications to submissions or contest structure. All Fabuwood decisions are final, binding, and not subject to appeal.

1. Overview

The Contest invites eligible student designers to submit an original kitchen vignette design. The winning design may be fabricated and displayed at the Fabuwood booth during KBIS 2027 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

2. Eligibility

Open to current students enrolled in an accredited university or design program, and to individuals who graduated from such programs in 2025 or 2026. Entries may be individual or team. Applicants must submit a brief entrant profile and proof of enrollment or graduation. Employees of Fabuwood and its affiliates are not eligible. Fabuwood determines eligibility at its sole discretion.

3. Entry requirements

Designs must be based on the specific booth location, blueprint, and dimensions provided by Fabuwood's Creative Designer; must use only existing Fabuwood cabinetry products, door styles, and finishes (no custom cabinetry); and must include a 3D design file (SketchUp or STEP) demonstrating buildability. AI-generated images without supporting technical files or manual design proof are strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification. Entries must be submitted through the landing page form or the designated Contest email address. One submission per individual or team; entering both individually and as part of a team is not permitted.

4. Timeline

Portal expected to open August 2026 and close September 14, 2026. Judging and selection expected mid-September 2026. Winning design may be displayed at KBIS 2027 in February 2027. Fabuwood may modify the timeline at its discretion.

5. Prizes and selection

First place may receive the opportunity for design fabrication and display at KBIS 2027 (subject to modification for feasibility); a $1,000 total travel stipend toward flight and hotel (one total award per entry, regardless of team size); and a commemorative trophy. Second and third place may receive a commemorative trophy and promotional recognition. Entries are judged on creativity, buildability, and brand alignment. Fabuwood reserves the right not to select a winner if entries do not meet Contest standards.

6. Intellectual property and publicity

By entering, participants grant Fabuwood a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, modify, display, reproduce, publish, and distribute all submitted materials for marketing and commercial purposes, and agree to execute further documents if needed to effectuate these rights. Fabuwood retains final authority over design modifications for engineering, cost, production, safety, or logistical reasons. Participants grant Fabuwood permission to use their name, likeness, school affiliation, and submitted materials across social media, press, event materials, and promotional content. Participants are encouraged to follow Fabuwood and post about their entries.

7. Warranties and liability

Participants warrant that their design is original, infringes no third-party rights, and complies with applicable safety standards, and agree to indemnify Fabuwood against claims arising from a breach of these Terms or related IP violations. Fabuwood is not responsible for technical failures or damages arising from participation or prize-related travel. Aside from the first-place travel stipend, all costs of submission, participation, and additional travel are the participant's responsibility.

8. Governing law

Governed by the laws of the State of New York; disputes resolved exclusively in New York courts, without any form of class action.

Ready to put your idea on the floor?

Have your entrant profile, proof of eligibility, concept visuals, and SketchUp or STEP file ready before you begin.

The application opens in a new tab. Questions? Email Marketing@Fabuwood.com.