This sponsored post is brought to you by Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition:

Ceramics of Italy never lets an outstanding project go unnoticed. From corporate headquarters with ventilated porcelain facades to summer homes featuring decorative ceramics, enter your best projects in the 2014 Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition for the chance to win $4,000 and a trip to Italy!

The Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition is an annual awards program sponsored by Confindustria Ceramica (the Italian Association of Ceramics) and the Italian Trade Commission. It celebrates the pairing of innovative design ideas with products from Italy’s leading ceramic tile manufacturers in creating spaces that are well-appointed, timeless and sustainable. Past winners have included SHoP Architects, Yabu Pushelberg and Bernard Tschumi Architects.

For the 2014 edition, North America-based architects and designers are invited to submit domestic and international, new or renovated projects completed between January 2009 and January 2014 in the institutional, residential and commercial/hospitality categories. An international jury of design experts will judge the projects based on their creativity, functionality and aesthetic appeal. The official criterion includes: overall design of the project; innovative use of tile; tile design; quality of installation; degree to which tile enhances the setting; and the project’s sustainable attributes.

Winners will be announced on May 1, 2014 during the Ceramics of Italy Press Conference held at Coverings in Las Vegas, Nevada. The winning architect or designer in each category will receive a cash prize of $4,000 plus a 5-day trip to Bologna, Italy with a delegation of leading design media to attend Cersaie 2014—the world's largest exhibition for ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings. An additional $1,000 will be awarded to the winning contractor/tile distributor team in each category.

The competition is completely digital and free to enter. Deadline for entries is February 3, 2014. For competition guidelines and the online submission form, visit www.tilecompetition.com.