Don't just enter.
Develop. Compete. Earn.
ADA rewards designers who consistently develop their abilities. Complete design tests, participate in challenges, document your academic design work, advance through the ADA tiers, and earn eligibility for scholarships and competitions.
🎓 Scholarships
Earn support for your education through demonstrated design development.
🏆 Competitions
Earn your place among ADA's top designers and compete for the annual Grand Prize.
Take Design Tests
Design tests establish and measure your design ability.
"Design tests measure your ability. Challenges measure your consistency. Your school work shows your development. Your tier represents your position within ADA."
Complete Daily Challenges
Daily Challenges are short design exercises designed to keep designers actively practicing.
"Design improves through repetition. Daily Challenges keep you designing, thinking, and creating consistently."
Complete Monthly Challenges
Monthly Challenges are larger and more demanding design problems.
"Monthly Challenges test how you apply your design thinking to more substantial problems."
Post Your School Work
Students must document qualifying design work during the academic semester.
"ADA wants to see designers developing in real academic environments—not only inside ADA challenges."
Advance Your Tier
ADA uses performance and participation to determine a designer's tier.
"Your tier represents your position within ADA. Higher tiers unlock eligibility for scholarships and competitions."
You Don't Enter the Grand Prize.
You Earn Your Way Into It.
ADA's annual Grand Prize Competition is reserved for designers who demonstrate consistent participation and development throughout the ADA season.
Your Competition Eligibility
Required Design Tests
0 / 0
Required Daily Challenges
0 / 0
Required Monthly Challenges
0 / 0
School Work Requirement
0 / 0
Minimum Tier
Tier 1 / 1
Final Eligibility Review
Pending
ADA ANNUAL GRAND PRIZE
The Grand Prize recognizes designers who have demonstrated the highest level of design ability and development within the ADA season.
$2,000
🥇 1st Place
$1,000
🥈 2nd Place
$500
🥉 3rd Place
Total Prize Pool: $3,500
Competition Date: December 20, 2026
SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE
January 15, 2027
79 DAYS REMAINING
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRESS
Current Tier
Tier I — Emerging
Design Tests
0 / 0
Daily Challenges
0 / 0
Monthly Challenges
0 / 0
School Work
0 / 0
Overall Status
Not Started
Season
Designers complete tests and challenges while building their ADA record.
Qualification Period
ADA verifies tier and participation requirements.
Annual Competition
Eligible designers compete for the Grand Prize.
Scholarship Period
Designers continue building their development record.
Scholarship Deadline
ADA evaluates eligible designers.
Awards
Scholarships and annual recognition are announced.
Where am I?
ADA's tier system creates a transparent progression. You always know where you stand, what you need to improve, and what you can qualify for next.
I
Tier 1 — Emerging
New designers establishing their baseline design ability.
II
Tier 2 — Developing
Designers showing consistent practice and improvement.
III
Tier 3 — Competitive
Designers demonstrating strong, competitive design ability.
IV
Tier 4 — Elite
Top-tier designers with exceptional and sustained performance.
Why Design Tests?
To measure design ability.
Why Daily Challenges?
To encourage consistent practice.
Why Monthly Challenges?
To test deeper design thinking.
Why School Work?
To see how designers develop through their actual education.
Why Tiers?
To create a transparent progression system and identify designers who have demonstrated sustained development.
Because ADA isn't only looking for the best project.
ADA is looking for designers who continuously develop.