The International Design Guild Designer Program and celebrity designer Mark Brunetz  of Clean House fame have launched the first-ever, national design contest called Design for a Difference to encourage designers to give back to their local communities. The contest offers design professionals and students from the U.S. and Canada the opportunity to win $20,000 in goods and services to makeover a space for their favorite charity. Contest entries will be accepted until June 30, 2013 at www.IDGdesigner.com.

“This is a great opportunity for us to celebrate the talents of designers and help raise awareness of the non-profit organizations that bring hope and help to the local communities where we do business,” said IDG President Krista Eliason.  

The contest will award one grand prize winner $20,000 in retail goods and services for a space redesign for a local charity and four regional winners, each $2,500 in flooring for their nominated charity.  In addition, the winning designer will cohost a professionally produced video of the makeover and collaborate on the winning design with Emmy Award winning designer Mark Brunetz. The regional winners will also be flown to the Grand Prize winning city to participate as a part of the design team on the winning project.  Brunetz, co-creator of the contest added, “So many designers are already giving their time and talent to local charities, we want to recognize that effort and make it easier for them.  Design for a Difference is more than a name; it’s a mission to unite a community of designers and leverage their ability to change lives, one space at a time.  And when it’s a space at a charity, it becomes the gift that keeps on giving.”

Charities who would like to be nominated for the redesign can go to IDGcontest.com for more information.