We can’t solve problems with the same kind of thinking we used to create them.
– Einstein
For our fifth cycle of this important industry competition recognizing and inspiring innovation, we are having the student portion kick off first, while school is in session, creating two Next Work Environment Competitions in 2024.
Our Next Work Environment Competitions continue to be one of the only outlets for those inside the workplace industry and outside, to lend their most forward thinking ideas or share their innovation successes in an effort to make work better, everywhere. Our global competition following consists of designers, problem solvers, and strategic thinkers in a society that is looking for something that may not yet exist. The 2024 Next Work Environment Competitions are the chance to explore innovative thoughts and ideas that will define the path forward for the future of work.
Our Global, Innovation Competitions:
- Uniquely positions your brand alongside leading insights and the push for innovation
- With opportunities to connect with our rock star jurors, this competition provides exceptional connections to Senior Leadership to otherwise unreachable organizations
- Is the only effort that earns the support through promotion, of the leading industry organizations*
- Inspires innovation from everywhere, with the potential to positively affect work everywhere!
Since I’m new to commercial industry and wasn’t sure if this is the right path for me, this award has been encouraged me to have self-confidence in what I choose to do. Also, I feel great that I’ve already made good connection with good people through this competition that I’m going to work with in the near future.
Student Competition Timeline
December – March: Outreach to professors
Last week of April: Virtual Q&A with a Jury Member
March 29 – May 10th: Submission Period for Individual Students
May 21st: Final virtual jury call
Friday, May 31st: Together with sponsors, we’ll call to share the good news
Entire month of June: Celebration of winning submissions with custom articles & interviews with the winners; WDM generated press release are shares with all the universities / programs of the winning students; celebratory digital kits created for each winner.
It’s a great privilege to be next to companies and professionals recognized worldwide.
-the GBARQ team from Lima-Peru
Professional Competition Timeline
May: Marketing Begins
June 3rd – July 19th: Submission Period for individuals or teams of up to 6
July 24th-August 22nd: Judging
August 16th: Finalists announced
August 22nd: Virtual Call with Jurors
August 29th/30th: Live reveal on a Special Edition of the Workplace Innovator Podcast
Entire month of September: Celebration of winning submissions; WDM generates press release to share with all the organizations; celebratory digital kits created for each winner/winning team.
Here are ways we can make work better, together.
Professional Competition: Premier Sponsor
- Prominent, Permanent Exposure: In all Promotions, Edit and Social Media for the Professional Competition + Supporting Sponsor recognition on the Student Competition
- Own the Greatest Impact Award (GIA)
- Jury Membership & participation of final selections of the GIA winner
- Your Brand Innovation Story – told through a custom article or 1 year worth of digital ads on workdesign.com – your choice (Value: $5000+)
Total Cost of Sponsorship: $30,000 + prize
Professional Competition: Supporting Sponsors
- A minimum of 6 months* worth of recognition in event promotions & competition edit (*with a commitment by March 25th 2024)
- Promotion of your brand’s Innovation in Action
- Behind the scenes updates and early access to data findings
- Your Brand Innovation Story – told through a collective article (Value: $1800)
Total Cost of Sponsorship: $6,000
Student Scholarship Competition: Premier Sponsor
- Elevated exposure in all Promotions, Edit and Social Media related to the student competition; plus consistent exposure in the professional competition marketing efforts
- Participation in Jury Process (optional)
- Co-lead zoom calls awarding winners
- Live presentation during IFMA’s World Workplace conference in Fall 2024
- Your Brand Innovation Story – told through a custom article or ad products – your choice (Value: $3000)
Total Cost of Sponsorship: $10,000 + scholarships | SOLD
Student Competition: Supporting Sponsors
- A minimum of 6 months* worth of recognition in event promotions & competition edit (*with a commitment by October 31st, 2023)
- Behind the scenes updates and early access to data findings
- Your Brand Innovation Story – told through a collective article (Value: $1800)
- Join us for zoom calls awarding winners
Total Cost of Sponsorship: $5,000 + minimum of $1,000 to be awarded directly to student winners
Sponsor Visibility in 2024
Workdesign.com: Logo recognition on up to 30 articles (100,000+ views in GA4)
Dedicated eBlasts + Promotions in eNewsletters: up to 26
Social Media: 90 posts across WDM: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter/X, TikTok & more
Reach from our Market Partners’ efforts: over 300,000 additional impressions
Sponsor FAQs
Q: How is the 2024 Competition different than the prior four cycles?
A: The biggest change is having the student portion take place during the more tradition school cycles allowing us (and our sponsor partners) deeper coordination with professors and students. For submitters, we always freshened up the categories with highly relevant category ‘challenges’ with a larger scholarship pool and awards for the professionals. In terms of marketing – we are super fortunate to have market partners – look for the list to continue to grow from past years. For Sponsors, the promotional alignment period can be much longer, as much as 10 months depending upon the level of sponsorship and more engagement with our juries!
Q: Can our employees still submit or be part of a team submission?
A: Yes! We encourage innovation from everywhere and submissions come through unbranded to the jury.
Q: How can I promote our involvement?
A: The WDM will supply assets throughout the competition for you to copy, paste and use or readily share far and wide.
Q: What is needed from sponsors?
A: A shared passion for advancing the human work experience. Plus your logo, billing contact email, and assistance in sharing news of the competition far and wide.
2023 Jurors (Look for a few new ones in 2024)
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- Kay Sargent, Senior Principal, Director of WorkPlace, HOK
- Airason Heard, Director of REWS Business Partnering, Salesforce
- Jennifer Ingram, CEO and Founder, Calibrated Lens
- Rex Miller, Author, Speaker, Principal and Thought Leader, Go mindSHIFT
- Frank Cottle, Founder and CEO, The Alliance Group / Allwork.Space
- Ben Waber, Co-Founder & President, Humanyze; Visiting Scientist, MIT Media Lab
- Ken Wilson, Principal, Interior Design Director, Washington, D.C., Perkins&Will
- Kimberly Lewis, Executive Vice President, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)
- Hassan Shaikh, Senior Manager Workplace Strategy, Boehringer Ingelheim
- Peter Van Emburg, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Real Estate, CBRE
- Yasmien Fadl, AVP, Head of Workplace Design & Experience, Enterprise Real Estate, TD Bank
- Primo Orpilla, Principal and Co-Founder, Studio O+A
- Ebbie Wisecarver, Global Head of Design and Development, WeWork
- Carly Klaire, Lead Designer, Acrylicize,
- Steven McCollom, Global Design Strategy Lead, People + Places, Intuit
- Gina Hermida, Director, Global Design, Royal Bank of Canada
- Antonia Cardone, Americas Lead, Client Solutions, Total Workplace, Cushman Wakefield
Past Competition Market Partners
ACT • Allwork • ASID • BIFMA • CIDA • CIDQ • GCUC • IFMA Foundation • IIDA • Workplace Evolutionaries (WE) and more!
Want to learn more?
Contact Michelle Weiss or Katie Sargent today to hear more details!
