Proudly Presented By
The 19th Annual
PAVE Rising Star Award
Recognizing emerging leaders shaping the future of consumer environments.
The PAVE Rising Star Award honors young professionals who are making a meaningful impact in the consumer environments industry through leadership, creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
Presented annually at the PAVE Gala, this award recognizes individuals who are not only excelling in their careers but are also inspiring the people, teams, brands, and communities around them.
Nominations are free. Self-nominations are welcome.
Quick Facts
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Award recognition: Finalists are recognized at the PAVE Gala and receive a travel stipend of up to $1,000 to attend
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Who can be nominated: Young professionals working in consumer environments
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Age requirement: 40 or younger as of December 2026
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Nomination type: Third-party nominations and self-nominations accepted
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Cost to nominate: Free
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Deadline: October 26, 2026
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Time to apply: ~20-30 minutes
About the Award
The PAVE Rising Star Award recognizes young professionals who are making a meaningful impact in the consumer environments industry through leadership, creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
Retailers, brands, designers, industry suppliers, colleagues, mentors, and peers are encouraged to nominate individuals whose work, mindset, and leadership are helping move the industry forward. Eligible young professionals may also self-nominate.
A Rising Star is original, passionate, ambitious, resourceful, and socially responsible. They bring authenticity to their work, take thoughtful risks, motivate the people around them, and turn strong ideas into meaningful consumer experiences.
Nominations are free and allow the industry to celebrate the next generation of leaders shaping the future of consumer environments.
Who Can Be Nominated
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Nominees may be from your organization or another organization.
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Eligible nominees must be engaged in the design or supply of consumer environments. This may include designers, visual merchandisers, store planners, project managers, brand environment professionals, and industry suppliers.
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Nominees must be 40 years of age or younger as of December 2026.
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Nominations may be submitted by a retailer, brand, design firm, industry supplier, colleague, mentor, or peer. Eligible young professionals may also self-nominate.
What Makes a Strong Rising Star Nominee
Strong nominees show leadership, originality, and a clear point of view in their work.
A Rising Star may demonstrate:
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Creative thinking and innovation
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Leadership among peers, clients, or teams
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Strong understanding of consumer environments
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The ability to bring ideas to life with purpose and impact
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Authenticity in their design or professional approach
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Resourcefulness, ambition, and persistence
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Social responsibility or sustainability-minded thinking
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Growing influence within their organization, community, or the industry
Nomination Requirements
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All nominations must be submitted through Submittable.
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Each nomination should include three to five supporting materials that demonstrate what makes the nominee a Rising Star.
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Supporting materials may include project images, portfolio pages, case studies, presentation materials, press or recognition, or examples of leadership, collaboration, or industry impact.
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For each image or project example, please include a short description that explains the project intent and its success or impact.
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There is no fee to submit a nomination.
Judging
All nominations will be reviewed virtually through Submittable by a panel of industry professionals.
PAVE may contact senior management for finalists to verify employment and request additional input, if needed.
Award Recognition
All finalists will be recognized on Thursday, December 10, 2026, during the PAVE Gala in New York City, where the 2026 Rising Star will be announced.
Finalists will receive a travel stipend of up to $1,000 to attend the Gala.
Before You Nominate...
Before completing your nomination, please make sure:
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☐ The nominee meets all eligibility requirements
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☐ The nominee is 40 years of age or younger as of December 2026
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☐ You have included three to five supporting materials
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☐ Each supporting material includes a brief description
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☐ Your nomination clearly explains why this individual should be recognized as a PAVE Rising Star
Recommendation: For best viewing by the judges and faster upload times, we recommend submitting flattened PDF files when possible. Landscape-oriented documents are also preferred, but not required.
Nomination Deadline
Monday, October 26, 2026, before 11:59 PM Eastern / 8:59 PM Pacific.
Questions?
Please contact us at info@paveglobal.org.
The PAVE Rising Star Award is Proudly Sponsored By
Celebrating Past Rising Stars
For nearly two decades, the PAVE Rising Star Award has celebrated emerging leaders whose work, creativity, and leadership continue to shape the consumer environments industry.
Past Rising Stars represent the next generation of talent moving the industry forward through thoughtful design, strong collaboration, and a clear commitment to creating meaningful brand experiences.
