Maker of the Year Awards 2025 - Terms And Conditions

ELIGIBILITY

1. Entry is open to amateur, professional and student woodworkers.

2. All categories are open to woodworkers from around the world.

3. The ‘Student’ category is only open to students enrolled in full- or part-time secondary or tertiary study in 2024 or 2025.

4. Collaborative entries are permitted however all makers must be listed. Prizes may not be split and will be delivered to one address only.

5. Employees of Yaffa Media Pty Ltd and the sponsors of Maker of the Year Awards 2024 are not permitted to enter the competition.

6. Freelance writers who have been paid to contribute to Australian Wood Review since 1 January 2024 are not permitted to enter the competition.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

7. Entries must be made mainly from wood, however other materials may be incorporated.

8. Entries must have been completed after 30 June 2022. If the EXIF data attached to an image shows it was captured before 30 June 2022, the organiser (Yaffa Media Pty Ltd) reserves the right to disqualify the entry.

9. Entries submitted in previous editions of Maker of the Year Awards may not be entered in this year's competition (Maker of the Year Awards 2025).

10. You may enter as many times, in as many categories as you like. You may also enter the same piece in different categories if you wish.

IMAGE REQUIREMENTS

11. You must supply five images of one project with your entry. Do not submit collages, where several images are combined into one.

12. Submitted images must accurately capture real projects. Images must be wholly photographic in origin. Images created entirely or in part with the assistance of artificial intelligence, 3D, or illustration software may not be entered, except for the purposes of extending the background or modifying the background (AI may not be used to modify the project itself).

13. Images may be processed in software to adjust basic photographic variables such as cropping, noise, sharpness, colour, tone and contrast. Cloning is not allowed, except to remove distractions from the background (not from the project itself). Images must be single capture, not composite.

14. Image format: Images may be in JPEG (.jpg), GIF (.gif) or PNG (.png) format. JPEG is preferred.

15. Image dimensions: Images entered should be at least 2,500 pixels on the longest edge.

16. Image file size: Individual images must be no larger than 5MB.

17. Images should not include watermarks or other branding. The competition organiser reserves the right to disqualify any entry with a watermark or other branding.

18. Submitted images may be taken by a third party, only if the photographer agrees to the images being used for the purposes stated in condition 20. Where a third-party photographer is used, the photographer’s name should be supplied in the entry description.

19. Entrants have the option to submit a link to a video/reel "tour" of their entry, ideally no longer than 45 seconds. We prefer the link to be sent via DM (direct message) to Wood Review's Instagram or Facebook pages. Alternatively, the link can be emailed to moty@woodreview.com.au. Content should be unbranded, without text or graphic overlays. Submitting a video link is encouraged but optional and not required to enter Maker of the Year.

COPYRIGHT

20. The photographer retains copyright and ownership of their work and associated entry images. The photographer provides the organiser a limited-use authorisation to publish and distribute images for the sole purpose of promoting the Maker of the Year Awards. Images will be credited with the name of the creator of the work if used by Australian Wood Review.

21. The entrant must be the creator of any projects submitted and must declare if they have used plans or designs produced by a third party.

PRICING

22. All entry prices in Australian Dollars (AUD).

23. Price is per entry (which includes the submission of five images per project).

CATEGORY DEFINITIONS AND PRIZES

24. Furniture: The Furniture category is for tables, chairs, desks, cabinets, chests and other furniture items. This category is open to local and international makers. Winner and Runner-Up prizes will be awarded to the best Australian and International entries.

25. Art & Objects. The Art & Objects category is for non-furniture entries. It includes boxes (jewellery and document), lighting, lamps, musical instruments, sculptures and hand tools. Kitchen- and tableware such as serving boards, bowls, spoons and other utensils are also included. This category is open to local and international makers. Winner and Runner-Up prizes will be awarded to the best Australian and International entries.

26. Student: This is an open-themed category open to high school and tertiary students enrolled in full- or part-time study in 2024/2025. When you enter, please indicate if you are a Secondary or Tertiary student and the school you attend. This category is open to local and international student makers. Two prizes will be awarded in this category: Winner, Tertiary, and Winner, Secondary

ADDITIONAL PRIZES

27. Jan Pennell Woodturning Award: The Jan Pennell Award will be made to an entry that displays outstanding woodturning. This entry will be selected from the Top 100 shortlisted entries across all Maker of the Year categories including Furniture, Arts & Objects and Student. Local and international makers are eligible to win this award. This prize is awarded in memory of Jan Pennell.

28. Recycled & Rescued Award. The Recycled & Rescued Award will be made to an entry that displays outstanding use of Recycled and Reused materials. This entry will be selected from the Top 100 shortlisted entries across all Maker of the Year categories including Furniture, Arts & Objects and Student. Local and international makers are eligible to win this award.

JUDGING

29. A panel of industry experts will be selected by the staff of Australian Wood Review. The panel will select the award winners for each category.

30. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
• Design
• Construction
• Functionality
• Innovation
• Detail
• Materials

31. The judges' decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into.

COMPETITION CLOSING DATE

32. Competition closes for entries on Thursday 4 September 2025 (11.59pm Australian Eastern Standard Time). The deadline may be extended at the discretion of the organiser.

WINNERS’ ANNOUNCEMENT

33. Shortlisted entries in each category will be announced at www.woodreview.com.au and on Australian Wood Review Facebook page before 15 November 2025.

34. Winners, runners up and finalist entries will be announced in the December 2025 issue of Australian Wood Review (published late November 2025). A parallel winners’ announcement will be made at www.woodreview.com.au.

PRIZES

35. Prize money is in Australian Dollars (AUD).

36. Product prizes are subject to availability, not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. If a prize is unavailable, the competition organiser reserves the right to substitute the prize with a prize of similar value and/or specification.

37. The competition organiser takes no responsibility for prizes damaged or lost in transit.

GENERAL

38. The entrant indemnifies Yaffa Media Pty Ltd against any claim, legal or otherwise, that may arise out of publication of entries and/or images.

39. The organiser reserves the right to disqualify any entry deemed to be in breach of these Terms and Conditions.

40. By entering images into this competition, the entrant guarantees to the organiser that all of the above Terms and Conditions have been met. Any entry found to breach the above Terms and Conditions will be disqualified and all prize money and product prizes must be returned to the organiser.