TopID 2026
Please review the Nomination Guide/Criteria for a complete overview of the TopID process and changes occurring in 2026 nominations for Chapter Boards and Regional Steering Committees
The Nomination Form is online – click here!
Know a firm youâd like to nominate for TopID 2026? Please send them the URL and ask them to complete this nomination form by your chapter/regionâs deadline.
Judging Form – completed Judging form, original Nomination form, and photographs from each of the top 3 finalists is required to be submitted by the chapters/regions
Need a Flyer to drop off to local design firms? Click here!
TopID Deadlines for 2026 TopID are:
| 3/4/2025 | TopID info sent to chapters/regional boards. Chapter/Regions are to get the word out to qualifying firms in their area â online nomination form opens and nominations due June 13 (no extensions). |
| 3/11/2025 | Call with chapter/regional TopID 2026 committee members. |
| 3/18/2025 | Call for nominations email sent to A&D members from the NEWH Inc. office. |
| 4/15/2025 | NEWH Inc. TopID committee check-in with Chapter/Regional committee chair. |
| 5/20/2025 | NEWH Inc. TopID committee check-in with Chapter/Regional committee chair. |
| 6/13/2025 (no extensions!) | TopID Nomination forms from Candidate Firms due to chapters/regions |
| 6/16 – 7/21/2025 | Chapters and Regions acquire photographs with signed photo release from each nominated firm and review/judge nominees. |
| 8/1/2025 | TopID winners due to NEWH, Inc. office! Chapters/Regions to submit three final TopID winners (must be submitted with nomination form, completed judging form with points assigned, and photographs acquired from each winning firm) to Diane Federwitz at NEWH, Inc. No late submissions accepted. |
| 8/4 – 8/29/2025 | NEWH Inc. TopID Committee to review/approve submitted winners to confirm required criteria has been met. |
| 10/5/2025 | TopID awards shipped to Chapter presidents/Regional chairs |
| 10/15 – 12/19/2025 | Recipients will NOT be announced by NEWH Inc. Instead, Chapters and Regions can announce/surprise their 2026 winners during their late fall/early winter 2025 TopID event (if held between October 15 and December 19, 2025)! (If your chapter chooses not to present the award during a fundraiser/TopID event during this time (Oct. 15 – Dec. 19, 2025), you will have the opportunity to notify them in whatever manner you feel best suits this great honor prior to Dec. 19, 2025… (maybe surprise them in their office with balloons and record it to post on social media â whatever it is – be creative!) |
| 12/20/2025-1/9/2026 | NEWH office collects a quote from each winner to post along with photographs on the NEWH website. |
| 12/29/2025 | TopID 2026 recipients are posted on the NEWH website. |
| Feb/March 2026 | 2026 TopID recipients listed in the NEWH Spring Magazine |
NEWH has standardized the physical award that TopID winners will receive. NEWH would like the award to become as prestigious as the Gold Key and Platinum Circle Awards. Uniformity of the award, its criteria, and the process are necessary for this to happen.