Design In Wood

ENTER YOUR WOODWORKING CREATIONS

Design in Wood is an international exhibition of fine woodworking presented in association with the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association, open to all interested woodworkers 18 and older.

Woodworkers can enter furniture, models, musical instruments, clocks and other woodworking creations for cash awards and ribbons in the Design In Wood competitive exhibit.

Competition Timeline

Eligibility

CONTACT US

Jim Strawn, Design in Wood Coordinator

2026 LOCAL RULES

1. Completion of online entry registration shall be deemed acceptance of all rules and permission to use your name, photograph, and images and description of entries in print, digital and other media.
2. Online registration is required for all competitions and one-day contests. Online entries and any required image/document uploads are accepted until the published deadline, which specifies a date and time. Late entries will not be accepted.
3. Once registered, the exhibitor name, entry description, title, and price may not be changed. Substitutions will only be allowed in accordance with current State Rules. Fair Management is not responsible for errors on entry forms which may lead to elimination or disqualification of an entry.
4. Processing fees must be paid online at the time of registration. Processing fees are non-refundable.
5. Exhibitors must be living at the time the online entry is submitted.
6. All non-livestock/non-agricultural entries must be the creative work of the exhibitor (whose name appears on the entry registration), be in good taste, and suitable for family viewing. Fair Management reserves the right to disqualify any entry/exhibit it deems objectionable or not in accordance with competition standards.
7. If an entry is disqualified after judging is complete, no changes will be made to the status of awards given for other entries.
8. Exhibitors are responsible for obtaining necessary permission from models and/or to use material in their entry that is considered copyrighted.
9. No entry will be accepted should the exhibitor describe the conditions under which he/she will exhibit, or the exhibit will be displayed.
10. Judges are selected for their expertise in the divisions or classes they evaluate. New judges may be appointed each year, and judging assignments may vary annually based on the needs of each competition
11. If a coordinator or judge deems an entry to be in the incorrect category, division, class, etc., he or she may direct the Entry Office to move that entry as appropriate. The Entry Office may combine divisions or classes to create an adequate judging pool.
12. Fair Management reserves the right to limit entries, and display thereof, to facilities available and to cancel any division or class in which, in its judgment, the entries are insufficient to secure adequate competition.
13. Entries must be delivered on the date(s) and times specified. Entries will not be accepted before or after the stated entry delivery date. All accepted exhibits must remain on display and shall not be removed until the stated entry pick up date. Any exhibit not picked up on the specified date becomes the property of the San Diego County Fair and will be disposed of promptly.
14. All exhibits are entered and shown at the owner’s risk. Reasonable care will be taken to prevent loss or damage to exhibits, but in no event will the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) be responsible for any injury or loss which may occur or for the actions of third parties. Insurance, if desired, should be obtained by the exhibitor at his/her own expense.
15. Any person who violates any Local, State, or Department rule or displays unethical conduct will forfeit all privileges and premiums and be subject to such penalty as the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) may order.
16. To ensure reliable award notification, exhibitors are responsible for submitting all address, phone number and email address updates promptly in writing to entry@sdfair.com or Entry Department, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014.
17. Premium money will be paid per the recorded placings in the official judging reports rather than the ribbon attached to the exhibit.
18. Donated Award recipients will be selected per the instructions given on the Donated Award Confirmation Form submitted by the donor.
19. Premium, donated cash award, and auction checks will be made payable to the exhibitor as listed on the online entry registration. Checks will be mailed within 30 days after the close of the Fair to the address shown on the online entry registration, or as updated by the exhibitor via written notification to the Entry Office. Checks not cashed within six (6) months from the date of issue will be forfeited. Replacement checks may be subject to a stop payment fee.
20. The 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) is required by the Internal Revenue Service to report any premium payments totaling $600 or more. Exhibitors whose awards meet or exceed this amount must submit a W-9 form before their check can be issued.
21. The 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) management reserves the right to amend or add to these rules and assumes no liability or responsibility not herein expressed.

California State Rules apply and are available here.

Entry Limit

Entry Fees

Fair Tickets

How to Enter

1. After reading all entry materials, click the “Enter Now” link below to go to the ShoWorks Entry Homepage.
2. Register as an Exhibitor.
3. Select the appropriate division and class and input the required information. (See “Divisions and Classes” below for a list of all divisions and classes.)
   1. In the Sale Price field, enter the piece's purchase price, or "NFS" if the piece is not for sale. (See Sale of Entries).
   2. In the Social Media field, please enter your preferred social media contact (optional).
4. Review your entry before completing registration to ensure that you have entered the correct division and class for each entry.
5. Click the check-out button and pay for all entries.
6. Read the confirmation statement and type YES. Do not click multiple times, as it will charge you each time.
7. You will be prompted to upload your image(s) AFTER you pay. Digital image(s) of entries must be submitted before the entry deadline. Ensure uploaded images match the entry division, class and title for each entry. (See Photographing Your Entry for Upload.)

If you plan to make changes to your entries or need to leave ShoWorks at any time, SAVE YOUR CART before exiting out.

For additional help with entering and uploading images, review this detailed step-by-step guide: Entry Tutorial

Still have questions?
Please call or email the Entry Office.
Phone: (858) 792-4207, Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm

Photographing Your Entry for Upload

Digital photo submission of your entry is required before the entry deadline.
Exhibitors may upload up to three (3) separate images of each item entered. Choose images that give judges the best view of the piece from all angles.

Image Format

• Acceptable file formats are .jpeg, .jpg, or .png of 6MB maximum file size.
• iPhone users must change default HEIC camera setting to JPEG or convert the image.
• RGB color space (CMYK files will be converted to RGB by the system)
• Make sure the images are rotated to the upright position/orientation.
• Images may be in horizontal or vertical orientation.
• No digital enhancement allowed.

Sale of Entries

Exhibitors wishing to sell their entry must enter the sale price and preferred social media contact on the online registration form. Price and social media information will be printed on the entry tag for display in the exhibit. All sales must be negotiated and completed directly between the exhibitor and the buyer.

No business cards or personal advertisements will be displayed in the exhibit.

NEW! Exhibitors may also submit a one-page (8 ½” x 11”) artist statement or biography that may include contact information. A binder of collected artist statements/biographies will be available for viewing by prospective buyers. This document must be delivered on the Entry Delivery Day listed in the Exhibition Timeline. Additionally, Purchase Interest Forms will be available within the exhibit for completion by interested buyers.

Judging

Design in Wood is a two-tier, juried competition that uses the American system of judging.

Tier 1 Judging of exhibitors’ uploaded digital images determines which entries will advance to Tier 2 judging. Exhibitors will be notified via email with the results of the Tier 1 judging per the Entry Timeline. Entries advancing to Tier 2 judging must be prepared and delivered per the requirements described herein.

Tier 2 Judging takes place onsite, where judges view the entry in person and select award winners.

Judging Criteria
Entries are judged on design integrity, understanding and use of materials, use of form and color, overall craftsmanship, appearance, and quality of finish.

Judging Results
Results will be announced at the Design in Wood Awards Reception and posted on the San Diego County Fair’s website by the second week of the Fair.

Entry Delivery & Pickup

Only entries accepted to Tier 2 judging may be delivered to the Fairgrounds. Please refer to the Exhibition Timeline for in-person delivery and shipping acceptance dates. If accepted to Tier 2, exhibitors will be emailed additional delivery and pick-up instructions including a map showing access to the Fairgrounds.

Exhibitors must bring necessary tools, equipment, and/or personnel to unload and place entries within the exhibit.

A claim check will be issued to each exhibitor upon entry delivery and must be presented at the time of entry pick up. If an exhibitor is unable to pick up their artwork, they may arrange for another person to bring in their claim check with a signed written authorization from the exhibitor.

Exhibitors must bring necessary tools, equipment, and/or personnel to remove entries from the exhibit space and load to exhibitor’s vehicle.

Entry Shipping
The 22nd DAA (San Diego County Fair) is not responsible for lost or delayed shipments and assumes no responsibility for damage to shipped artwork. For return of entries, a pre-paid return label from the shipper (UPS or USPS) must be included with the entry.

Ship to:
San Diego County Fair
Ag & Ed Department • Design in Wood
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Del Mar, CA 92014

Divisions and Classes

Division 1101: Design in Wood

Class 001 Contemporary Woodworking - Furniture

Class 002 Contemporary Woodworking - Accessories

Class 003 Traditional Woodworking - Furniture

Class 004 Traditional Woodworking - Accessories

Class 005 Art Furniture

Class 006 Chairs - (Furniture Made for Seating)

Class 007 Furniture & Accessories Designed & Created by Computer - Laser and/or CNC

Class 008 Made for Children

Class 009 Model Building - Scale

Class 010 Model Building - Not to Scale

Class 011 Musical Instruments

Class 012 Clocks

Class 013 Veneering/Marquetry - Furniture

Class 014 Veneering/Marquetry - Art

Class 015 Veneering/Marquetry - Art Designed & Created by Computer Laser and/or CNC

Class 016 Wood Turning - Face Work: Perpendicular to the Ways of the Lathe

Class 017 Wood Turning - Center Work: Parallel to the Ways of the Lathe

Class 018 Wood Turning - Embellished/Mixed Media

Class 019 Wood Turning - Laminated/Segmented

Class 020 Wood Carving - Animals

Class 021 Wood Carving - Birds

Class 022 Wood Carving - Marine Animals

Class 023 Wood Carving - Human Form

Class 024 Wood Carving - Open

Class 025 Scroll Saw - Intarsia

Class 026 Scroll Saw - Fretwork (Pierced & Unpierced)

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