Design Competition

Shade Zones

An annual design competition to cool LA’s hottest neighborhoods

Mockup of a shade structure at a metro stop in LA.

About shade zones

Shade Zones is an annual design competition to keep LA cool and moving.

Each year, Shade Zones will call for bold, inventive solutions to real-world design challenges that make public spaces cooler, safer, and more inviting. The best ideas are built to last, delivering comfort and resilience for years to come.

2025 Competition Organizers

2025 Design Challenge

Modular Shade

Design modular, temporary shade that can go up fast around public hot spots like bus stops, event spaces, and parks.

This is your chance to design cool, creative shade that could be showcased countywide. Our partner LA Metro could use the winning designs to shape their next projects.

Join the Challenge Read the Brief

01
Requirements
Designs must be:

Climate-resilient and functional

Modular and easy for volunteers to install

Durable, sustainable, and accessible

Visually adaptable to different use cases
02
Who Can Enter

All graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in LA County colleges and universities. Each team can have up to 4 students and must name a mentor or supervisor from their school’s faculty or staff.
03
Key Dates & Deadlines

August 28, 2025
Informational Webinar for students(watch the recording)

September 2 – October 15, 2025
Registration
Deadline for registration is Wednesday, 10/15/25 at 11:59 PM PST

October 16 – December 19, 2025
Design Advisor Support & Office Hours

November 3, 2025 – January 15, 2026
Accepting Submissions
Deadline for submissions is Thursday, 1/15/26 at 11:59 PM PST

January 16 – January 30, 2026
Jury Review

February 2026
Winners Announced

April 2026
Exhibition during LA Climate Week

Competition Resources

For Students

Tools & Info

Resources to help you think, plan and create

Design Resources
Registration

Team registration closes October 15

Join the Challenge
Office Hours

Coming Soon

Check back after Oct 15! Available for registered teams only.
FAQs

Get the answers to all your questions

Learn More!

For Design Professionals

Help Students Get in the Game

Are you a design professional looking to support the next generation? Sign up as a Design Advisor to share your expertise in short, high-impact sessions that give every team a fair shot and stronger designs.

Join the Advisor Roster

Stay Up to Date

Keep up with the latest design competition news

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Affiliation(Required)

College/University(Required)

Firm(Required)

Other(Required)

Frequently asked questions

To keep things fair and aligned with school-based support, all team members must be from the same school.
One design per team. Bring your best idea and give it your all!
Yes! After registration closes on October 15, we’ll post a list of architecture and design firms, as well as other experts offering virtual “office hours” right here. Students can book time to get design advice—but your team should still lead the design and do the heavy lifting.
Yes! Feel free to include graphics that help bring your concept to life—just don’t include your school name or logo anywhere. All judging will be blind to keep things fair.
Components should be sized to fit on a standard pallet size and should be durable enough to withstand storage and transport.A standard pallet size is 48 inches by 40 inches, with a maximum weight supported of 4,600 pounds.All components must fit within this size and weight limit.
All entries must be submitted online as a single 36″ x 48″ poster in portrait orientation as a PDF (up to 50MB). This is your team’s canvas—use it to tell the full story of your design. (Come back here between November 3, 2025 and January 15, 2026 to submit your entry.)

Your poster should include:
- Concept + Rationale (max. 300 words)
- At least two images of the design, including one superimposed on a real or proposed site
- Design details, including structural strategy, material selection, and construction sequence
- Sustainability + re-use strategy
- Diagrams, sketches, and design development that show how your idea came to life
Keep it clear, compelling, and ready to wow.
Modular means your design is made of repeatable parts that can be moved around, mixed up, or scaled to fit different places. It’s about flexibility, adaptability, and smart simplicity.

Registration

Join the Challenge

Read the brief, recruit your team, and get started!

Fill out the form and add each member of your team. Going solo? That works, too!

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone Number(Required)

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School / University

School / University(Required)

Other school / college:(Required)

Academic Program / Major(Required)

Expected Graduation Year(Required)

Student Status(Required)

Under 18?

Check here if this participant is under 18. If so, we'll reach out to this participant with a permission slip that their parent or guardian can sign and submit to us.

Team Name(Required)

Additional Participants

Name	Actions

There are no Participants.

Proof of Enrollment

You have to be a current student at a college or university in LA County in order to join. Upload proof of enrollment for each teammate (one per person). No need for official paperwork—screenshots work fine.

Upload Files(Required)

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, png, pdf, webp, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 8.

A screenshot of your current class schedule, student portal, or student ID. Make sure your name and school are visible. No sensitive information like grades or ID numbers required.

Institutional Mentor

Each team needs a mentor from their college or university who knows you’re participating. They can be a faculty member, advisor, or staff member—and we might contact them to confirm your enrollment or offer general guidance.

Mentor Name(Required)

Mentor Email(Required)

Department / Program / Office(Required)

Role / Title(Required)

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Shade Zones

Modular Shade

Design modular, temporary shade that can go up fast around public hot spots like bus stops, event spaces, and parks.

Requirements

Who Can Enter

Key Dates & Deadlines

For Students

Tools & Info

Registration

Office Hours

FAQs

Stay Up to Date

Keep up with the latest design competition news

Frequently asked questions

01 Can students from different schools be on one team?

02 Can one team submit multiple designs?

03 Can teams get outside help?

04 Can teams add graphics (text, logos, illustrations) to their designs?

05 Is there a maximum or minimum structural size requirement?

06 What format do final submissions need to be in?

07 What does “modular” mean?

Join the Challenge

Proof of Enrollment

Institutional Mentor

More questions?