SAY IT LOUD exhibition has been invited to feature work by Diverse Designers of Tennessee

In line with our mission to elevate the contributions of diverse designers, we are inviting you to submit.

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The SAY IT LOUD - Tennessee physical exhibit will debut in August 2025

 

To date, SAY IT LOUD exhibitions have been viewed by an estimate total 100,000 visitors since January 2017. From inception, multiple online publications (such as Forbes, Curbed and The Architects Newspaper) with large subscription bases have helped promote the exhibitions further expanding its impact. One featured firm expressed an increase in business which they attributed to being featured in SAY IT LOUD.

 

Please provide the requested information below to gain a chance to be one of the few designers exhibited in

SAY IT LOUD(ER) - Tennessee

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We will notify the Featured Designers - September 2025

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SUBMISSION SCHEDULE:​

• Submission period  July 16, 2025 - July 21, 2025 (Phase 1) To be featured in the AIA Nashville Conference on August 7th. 

• Submission period  July 16, 2025 - August 29, 2025 (Phase 2) To be featured in another Nashville based physical exhibition

• Selected Architects/Designers Announced: August (Phase 1) and September (Phase 2) Launch of the Physical Exhibition 

 

JUDGING CRITERIA:

• Applicants are required to live and/or work in Tennessee and be women or BIPOC designer, who have a significant role in the submitted project. 

• Projects submitted for consideration may be located outside of Tennessee.

• Women (She, Her) (female or transgender) of any ethnicity and Black, Indigenous, Person of Color

• Built / Unbuilt Work 

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At Beyond the Built Environment, we strongly encourage submissions that reflect a broad and inclusive definition of design excellence. Each entry is judged for the success with which it has met its individual requirements. Submissions must exhibit design achievement that demonstrates exemplary skill and creativity in the resolution and integration of formal, functional, and technical requirements, including ecological stewardship and social responsibility. Submissions should also reflect a strong sense of place, history, and purpose.

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In alignment with our commitment to promote social justice and uplift communities, we do not feature projects that involve jails, prisons, or any forms of detention facilities. This includes spaces designed for the temporary or permanent incarceration of individuals. We seek to showcase works that contribute positively to the built environment and exemplify the transformative power of inclusive architectural practices.

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Architecture is a profession in which design capability is prized and intellectual property is the most common proof of worth, in terms of talent and experience. Contemporary practice is, by its nature, collaborative. The more complex the project, or the more prolonged the design and construction process, the more individuals may lay valid claim to credit for some part of the work.

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We look forward to celebrating submissions that align with these values and contribute to a richer and more diverse architectural discourse.

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Please comply with the AIA Code of Ethics for credit and attribution below.

https://www.aia.org/pages/3311-attribution-of-credit

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PRIZES:

• Featured in the SAY IT LOUD - Tennessee exhibition that will debut in August / September 2025

• Become a part of the SAY IT LOUD international movement, and bring a national presence to the great diverse designers of New Tennessee.

• Provide exposure and access to themselves, their firms, and their featured work through a nationally recognized and highly trafficked website.

• Add their name to the “Great Diverse Designers Library ,” featuring over 1000 diverse designers. 

• Have opportunities to participate as panelists and/or featured guests surrounding the exhibition.

• Considered to be potentially a part of the next book that will include featured designers—a continued goal of SAY IT LOUD and Beyond the Built Environment.

• All those selected will be considered for future SIL Exhibitions.

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Entry Fee

$150 per entry
Includes biography, headshot, entry responses to several questions, one featured project (multiple images / drawings permitted), and a short video (optional but highly encouraged).

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