Timber Futures - Terms & Conditions
Terms & Conditions for Timber Futures
1. Eligibility
1.1 Age Requirement
All Participants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of registration.
1.2 Team Participation
Participants may enter individually or as part of a Team. Teams may consist of up to five (5) members including the Team Leader. A Team Leader must be designated during registration for communication and Prize purposes.
1.3 Affiliation Restrictions
Participants must not be employees, Affiliates, Jury members, or direct beneficiaries of the Organiser (Creathlon), nor immediate family members of such parties.
1.4 Proof of Identity
The Organiser reserves the right to request proof of identity, age, employment status, and/or country of residence for compliance purposes at any stage of the competition.
1.5 Sanctions Compliance
Participants are not eligible to enter if they:
• Are subject to sanctions or trade restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom; this includes residents of, or ordinarily residents of Russian Federation, Islamic Republic of Iran, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Syrian Arab Republic, Republic of Sudan, Republic of Yemen, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Republic of Belarus, Republic of the Union of Myanmar; as well as the Ukrainian regions of Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk and Luhansk;
• Are listed on any UK government sanctions list;
• Have any known affiliations with entities or individuals subject to such sanctions which would impede their participation to this Competition.
It is the responsibility of each Participant to ensure their eligibility under current UK sanctions law. Sanctions lists are subject to change; Participants are encouraged to consult the official UK Government sanctions website for updates.
1.6 Team Member Consent
Team Leaders must obtain explicit consent from all individuals they include as Team Members. The Team Leader is responsible for providing accurate Team information and for ensuring all Team Members have read and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.
1.7 Exclusion from Participation
The Organiser reserves the right to exclude any individual or Team from the Competition at any stage if, in its sole discretion for the following reasons:
• The Participant or Team has violated any part of these Terms & Conditions;
• The Participant is found to have provided false, misleading, or incomplete information during registration or submission;
• There is evidence of plagiarism, unauthorised use of intellectual property, or infringement of rights belonging to Third Parties;
• The Participant engages in behaviour that is unethical, unlawful, or disruptive to the fair conduct of the Competition;
• The Participant is found to be affiliated with sanctioned individuals or entities under UK law or to be acting in breach of any applicable trade sanctions;
• The Participant is determined to be ineligible under any of the eligibility criteria listed in Section 1.
Disqualified participants may be barred from future competitions organised by The Organiser, and any awards granted may be revoked.
The Organiser also reserves the right to ban individuals or Teams from entering future competitions where serious breaches of conduct or Terms & Conditions have occurred.
2. Registration
2.1 Registration Platform
All Participants must register via the official competition platform by the stated registration deadline. Registration via any other platforms or from other sources will not be considered valid. These Terms and Conditions are in effect from the moment of Registration via our website.
2.2 Application of Terms
When registering as individual these Terms and Conditions apply to the individual. Where the registration is as part of a Team we enter an agreement with the Team Leader, the person who filled in the Registration form and is supplied as ‘Person of Contact’. Any subsequent internal agreements between Team Members and Team Leader regarding share of prizes or other matters do not form a contract with The Organiser. However, we will publish the Team Members as part of the Team on our platform as per the Registration form if they are Winners.
2.3 Accurate Information
Registration details must be complete and truthful. Incomplete, false, or misleading registrations may result in disqualification without notice. For GDPR purposes we do not ask for all the information upfront and we might contact you to request further information as necessary to process Shortlisted Teams/individual Participants as well as awards. Failure to provide required information might result in disqualification.
2.4 Additional Entries
Each Submission must be registered under a separate Entry and assigned a unique TEAMID. Teams or individuals submitting more than one Entry must ensure that each is distinct and independently registered.
2.5 Registration Confirmation
Upon successful Registration, the Participant or Team Leader will receive a TEAMID and confirmation email. This TEAMID must be used to label all submitted materials. Please keep the TEAMID code safe and confidential. We are not responsible for any loss of the registration code.
Participants are not permitted to register under multiple identities or pseudonyms. Any attempt to submit substantially similar work under different names or Teams will result in disqualification of all related Entries.
2.6 Registration Amendments
Changes to Registration details, unless confirmed by us in writing will not be considered. We accept any changes if requested to us in writing at least 14 days before the end of Registration period as per the Competition Brief or website.
2.7 Registration Technical Errors
In case you have not received the TEAMID due to technical errors with our Platform or internet providers you will need to contact us. Unless, we are made aware of issues with the Registration code delivery we are unable to help and we cannot be held responsible for failure of Participants to complete a submission. You are responsible to check Spam/Trash folders for any TEAMID code.
3. Submissions
3.1 Original Work
All Entries must be the original work of the Entrant(s). Use of plagiarised, copied, or uncredited material will result in immediate disqualification. In case any disputes arise from issues with intellectual property we reserve the right to remove the Winner from our platform and request the return of the award, Prize as well as request of removing any reference to awards from your social media accounts or public information.
3.2 AI-Assisted Content
• The use of AI generative tools is permitted provided that:
• The Participant(s) retain full intellectual property rights over the Submission.
• The work is substantially authored by the Participant(s).
• The use of AI does not conflict with any other section of these Terms & Conditions, including intellectual property and originality requirements.
Participants are responsible for ensuring that any AI-Generated Content do not infringe upon Third Party rights or ownership.
Participants are responsible for ensuring that any AI tools or services used in their Submission permit commercial or public use under the terms of their license agreements.
3.3 Technical Compliance
Submissions must adhere to all technical specifications listed in the Competition Brief, including file formats, Evaluation, resolution, naming conventions, and deadlines. We reserve the right to remove any Entries that do not comply and they will not be included in the Jury assessment.
3.4 Anonymity
Entries must be anonymous. Any identifying information, such as Participant names, logos, or other symbols, may result in disqualification. Only the assigned TEAMID is allowed on submission materials. Any attempt to contact Jury members, other Affiliates or Organiser’s Team to disclose identity in order to influence the Jury Evaluation will result in disqualification and future refusal to participate in any future competitions organised by us.
3.5 Deadline
All Entries must be received by the final Submission deadline as specified in the Competition Brief or on our website. No late Submissions will be accepted unless otherwise specified by the Organiser publicly.
If we need to change any information about the deadline we will email and publish these changes on our website. You are required to monitor you email or our website and competition page for any potential changes to deadlines.
We will not change any of the dates to an earlier date but we might under special circumstances extend the Competition timeline.
3.6 Resubmission
In case you re-submit your work we will only consider the latest version provided to us via the Submission form.
3.7 Late Submissions
No modifications or re-submissions will be accepted after the deadline, regardless of circumstances. Any submission by email will not be considered unless otherwise specified by the Organiser via email or on our website.
3.7 No Submissions
In case no material is submitted to us by the deadline of this Competition, we regard this as non-participation and early termination of this Agreement.
3.8 Withdrawal
Once submitted, Entries may not be withdrawn from the Competition after the Submission deadline except under exceptional circumstances and only with express written approval from the Organiser.
4. Evaluation & Results
4.1 Jury Appointment
The Jury will be published on our website. If any situation arises that influences the function of the Jury we reserve the right to change the Jury members. These changes will be notified by email to the Participants and published on our website.
All Submissions will be evaluated by a Jury of independent professionals appointed by the Organiser. Under special circumstances, due to high number of Entries we reserve the right to filter the content and provide only a Shortlist of Entries to the Jury on our platform. In this situation we will appoint anonymous independent professionals to filter the content and create a Shortlist of Entries that will be provided to the Jury members.
4.2 Jury Independence
The decisions of the jury are final, confidential, and not subject to appeal or dispute by Participants.
4.3 No Obligation to Publish Jury Comments
The Organiser is not obligated to release individual Jury feedback or scoring details to Participants. In certain situations, we might publish such information. However, this is at the discretion of the Organiser and Jury members.
4.3 Evaluation Criteria
The Jury retains full independence in determining the Winners. However, to ensure fairness and consistency, a standardised scoring framework will be applied. This framework will be finalised prior to the Jury summoning date and will be shared only with the Jury.
Submissions will be assessed across the following core categories, as outlined in the Competition Brief:
• ‘Timber Expression & Innovation’
Examines the conceptual and material use of timber, including innovation in structural or environmental design, cultural or regional interpretation, and originality of architectural thinking.
• ‘Clarity of Representation’
Evaluates how effectively the project is communicated through the required three drawings. Each drawing should stand on its own to express key aspects of the proposal, while collectively reading as a unified and coherent visual presentation.
• ‘Design Intent & Vision’
Considers the overall architectural strength, conceptual clarity, responsiveness to the Brief, and the ability of the project to inspire, provoke, or challenge assumptions.
These categories serve to guide the Jury without constraining Participant creativity. To preserve the competition’s emphasis on bold and original ideas, the full Evaluation structure—including scoring sheets and assessment forms—will not be disclosed at any time.
However, after the Jury is summoned and the Evaluation process has started, Participants may request access to the final Evaluation categories and their weightings, including any subcategories used to assist Jury deliberations.
4.4 Validation Requests
Shortlisted Entries or Winners may be contacted to verify eligibility, request clarifications, or provide supporting documents.
4.5 Filtering
The Organiser reserves the right to filter or remove entries that do not comply with these Terms & Conditions or fail to meet the Evaluation criteria prior to Jury review.
4.5 Results
We will publish the official results on our Platform and we will notify by email the Participants on the announcement date as specified in the Competition Brief or on our website. We take the publishing date seriously and to avoid any delays we require that potential Winners cooperate in supplying information required for Validation in a reasonable time. Therefore, failure to supply necessary details within 14 days of an email request we will invalidate the Entry and reassign the Prize.
5. Intellectual Property & Usage Rights
5.1 Ownership
Participants retain full intellectual property over their Submissions.
5.2 License to Organiser
By entering the Competition, Participants grant the Organiser a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, publish, display, reproduce, and distribute their work (in part or in full) for non-commercial promotional purposes.
The non-exclusive license granted to the Organiser under this clause to use submitted materials for non-commercial promotional purposes shall be considered indefinite in duration unless otherwise revoked in writing by the Participant and accepted by the Organiser. This includes, but is not limited to, future exhibitions, publications, and marketing materials that reference or feature past competitions.
5.3 Confirmation of Intellectual Property and Indemnity
The Participants confirm by registering to the Competition that they are the sole owners of the copyright and that they are legally using any intellectual property in their Submission. In case any dispute arise with any Third Party due to infringement of copyright or intellectual property, the Participants agree to take full liability and to indemnify the Organiser for any financial loses that might arise.
5.4 Request of Proof
If the Organiser or any Affiliates suspect infringement of copyright or intellectual property, we reserve the right to request clarifications, proof of ownership or rights of use.
5.5 Infringement of Copyright and Intellectual Property
The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify any Participant and Team for infringement to copyrights or any other intellectual property rights or ownership.
Participants must not submit work created under employment, contract, or commission unless they hold exclusive rights or have obtained express written permission from the rights holder.
5.6 Attribution
Where possible, the Organiser will credit Participants appropriately when featuring or publishing Entries.
5.7 Interview and Request for Content
For publishing reasons we might contact Participants to provide feedback and/or to interview the Winners. In such cases we might ask for additional materials that were created in the design process.
5.8 Editorial Modifications
The Organiser may make minor editorial modifications (e.g. cropping images or shortening text) while preserving the integrity of the original submission for display or promotional purposes without seeking consent from the Participants.
6. Prizes
6.1 Prize Structure
The Prizes are as stated in the Competition Brief unless otherwise specified by us in any communications or published on our website.
Honourable Mentions may be featured across our Platform and social media and receive public exposure. However, this is not a guarantee.
Under special circumstances we might decide to create new categories of Prizes or increase the value of the Prizes advertised. This will be done at the sole discretion of The Organiser.
6.2 Non-Transferability
Prizes are non-transferable and non-exchangeable. For the purpose of prize payment, the bank account receiving the funds must be held in the name of either:
• The Team Leader or Participant who registered for the competition, or
• The company or organisation they represent, provided that all Team Members are employed by that company or organisation.
The Organiser will not process payments to Third Parties or accept prize transfers by proxy under any circumstances.
6.3 Contacting Winners
Potential Winners will be contacted via the email address provided at registration. If any potential Winners do not respond within 14 days, the Organiser reserves the right to reassign the Prize. The Team Leader is required to supply contact information for all Team Members as well as organisation they represent for transparency purposes. Failure to supply this information might result in disqualification.
6.4 Prize Payment
All cash prizes will be paid by bank transfer to the Team Leader (for Teams) or sole Participant who registered for the competition. It is the Team Leader’s responsibility to distribute prize funds to the other Team Members. Payment will be processed within 6 months of the official Winners announcement. When we request information for payment we will include all Team Members in communications. The Team Leader is responsible to provide the contact information for all Team Members for transparency.
6.5 Taxes and Fees
Winners are solely responsible for any applicable taxes, transfer fees, or bank charges incurred in receiving their prizes.
6.6 Promotion of Winners
We publish the Winners on our Platform and on our social media accounts. We aim to promote the Winners as best as we can via other channels. However, we do not guarantee any other exposure beyond the direct means of our Platform and social media accounts.
6.7 Acceptance of Publishing
By registering, Participants consent to having their Data, project title, and submitted visuals featured in Competition-related announcements, marketing, publications, and across the Organiser’s website, email, and social media platforms. While the Organiser aims to promote Winning and Shortlisted Entries through relevant media and Affiliates’ channels, no guarantee is made of external media coverage or Third Party exposure. Participants may request anonymity in special circumstances, which will be considered at the discretion of the Organiser subject to transparency of our activities.
6.8 Discharge of duties
Once all prizes have been awarded to the Winners and proof of bank transfer has been provided to the relevant Team Members or individual Participants (as applicable), and the Winners have been officially published on our Platform, the Organiser considers its obligations to all Participants fulfilled and the Competition concluded.
Any additional services or activities provided by the Organiser beyond this point are offered at our discretion and fall outside the scope of this agreement. These activities are not subject to the obligations or scrutiny of these Terms & Conditions.
The Organiser aims, to the best of its ability, to fulfil all duties within six (6) months of the official Winners announcement date.
Where reasonable efforts have been made to issue Prize payments and such efforts are hindered by legal, regulatory, or logistical barriers beyond the Organiser’s control, the Organiser shall be considered to have fulfilled its duties in good faith.
7. Participant Conduct
7.1 Code of Conduct
Participants are expected to maintain professional and respectful behaviour throughout the Competition, as well as uphold good public and private conduct following its conclusion. This means that any illegal activity, controversial behaviour, or submission of inappropriate or prejudicial content may result in disqualification.
7.2 Misconduct
Any form of harassment, discrimination, or unethical behaviour (including online conduct) directed toward the Organiser, its employees or directors, or any of its Affiliates will result in immediate disqualification and may be reported to the relevant authorities.
7.3 Integrity
The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify any Participant or Team that violates these Terms & Conditions or compromises the fairness or integrity of the Competition process.
We take the general conduct of Participants—both during and after the Competition—seriously. The Organiser cannot endorse or promote individuals involved in activities deemed illegal under the laws of the United Kingdom or the jurisdictions in which they reside.
If a Participant is found to have been convicted of illegal activities, or if their public image presents a reputational risk or liability to the Organiser, we reserve the right to remove them from published materials, our Platform, or any associated social media content, even after the Competition has concluded.
8. Amendments & Cancellation
8.1 Right to Modify
The Organiser may modify, extend, suspend, or cancel the Competition at any time, at its sole discretion. Any decision to cancel will not be taken lightly and will only be made if the Competition is determined to pose a risk to the safety, security, financial viability, or legal and reputational standing of the Jury, Participants, the Organiser, or the general public.
Such risks may include, but are not limited to, legal or regulatory developments, financial instability, reputational harm, cyber threats, public health concerns, or other unforeseen circumstances that compromise the lawful or responsible continuation of the Competition.
In such cases, the Organiser shall not be liable for any loss of time, expenses incurred, or inconvenience caused to Participants, and no indemnity or compensation shall be provided.
8.2 Force Majeure
The Organiser is not liable for disruptions due to external factors beyond its control, including, actions by its Affiliates, partners or service providers as well as Third Parties, technical failures, natural disasters, civil unrest, or other force majeure events.
8.3 Deadline Extension
The Organiser may extend to the Submission deadline in the interest of fairness, opportunity or inclusion at its own discretion.
8.2 Communication of Changes
Any changes to the Competition (including extensions) will be communicated via the official Competition Platform or by email to registered Participants.
9. Data Protection
9.1 Consent to Use Personal Data
By registering, Participants consent to the collection and processing of personal Data for competition-related purposes, including:
• Communication
• Identity verification
• Attribution and crediting
• Future competition advertisement
The data we collect is the full name, email address and location.
We may request additional information by email for purposes such as Validation. If a Participant does not consent to provide the personal Data required for identity verification, Validation, or legally mandated anti-fraud checks, we will be unable to award the Prize to that individual Participant or Team. In such cases, the Prize will be reassigned to the next eligible Entry.
9.2 GDPR Compliance
Personal Data will be handled in accordance with UK GDPR and the Organiser’s Privacy Policy. No personal Data will be shared with Third Parties without Participant consent, except where required by law or necessary for Competition operations.
For any concerns or requests regarding how we handle your Data, please contact us at info@creathlon.co.uk.
10. Communications, Definitions and Governing Law
10.1 Communications
All official communication between the Organiser and Participants will be conducted via the email address provided at Registration. It is the Participant’s responsibility to monitor their inbox, spam, and junk folders for relevant messages. The Organiser shall not be liable for any missed notifications due to outdated or incorrectly provided contact details. Participants are encouraged to contact the Organiser directly at info@creathlon.co.uk for any urgent queries.
10.2 Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Participants agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales for any dispute that cannot be resolved amicably.
10.3 Disputes
In the event of any dispute with the Organiser, we may recommend alternative dispute resolution methods. By registering for this Competition, you agree to contact us first and make a reasonable effort to resolve the matter before pursuing any legal action.
The Organiser will not mediate disputes between Team Members, including disagreements over Prize distribution or the impact of one Team Member’s conduct on the rest of the Team. If an internal dispute prevents the fair and timely award of a Prize, the Organiser reserves the right to withhold the Prize and reassign it to the next eligible Team or Participant.
10.4 Class-Action Waiver
By entering this Competition, Participants agree that any claims, disputes, or proceedings arising out of or relating to the Competition shall be conducted solely on an individual basis, and not as part of any class, consolidated, or representative action. No Participant may bring a claim as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding. By accepting these Terms & Conditions, Participants waive any right to participate in a class action or group arbitration against the Organiser.
10.5 Limitation of Liability
The Organiser, including its directors, employees, Affiliates, and partners, shall not be held responsible for any loss, inconvenience, or other consequence arising from delays, modifications, disruptions, or cancellation of the Competition, regardless of the cause.
No individual involved in the organisation, administration, or evaluation of the Competition shall bear any personal liability in relation to the Competition’s process, outcome, or discontinuation.
10.6 Severability
If any provision of these Terms & Conditions is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalidity of any individual clause shall not affect the validity of the agreement as a whole.
10.7 Definitions
For the purpose of these Terms & Conditions, the following terms shall have the meanings set out below:
"Agreement": Refers to these Terms & Conditions, which form a binding legal agreement between the Organiser and the Participant (or, in the case of Teams, the Team Leader). By registering for the competition and submitting an Entry, all Participants accept and agree to comply with this Agreement in full.
"The Organiser": Refers to Creathlon Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 15453647 and registered office at First Floor, 3 Cumbrian House, 217 Marsh Wall, London, United Kingdom, E14 9FJ.
References to “the Organiser”, “we”, “us”, or “our” within these Terms & Conditions shall all be understood to mean Creathlon Limited and any individuals, employees, or entities acting on its behalf.
"Participant": Any individual who has registered to take part in the Competition, either independently or as a member of a Team. This term includes both Team Leaders and Team Members.
Where “you” or “your” is used in these Terms & Conditions, it refers to the Participant, whether acting as an individual entrant or as the Team Leader on behalf of a Team. Team Members are also bound by these Terms & Conditions through their inclusion in the Team, even though they do not enter into a direct agreement with the Organiser.
"Team": A group of up to five (5) individuals, including one designated Team Leader and up to four Team Members, who collaborate to submit a single Entry.
While a Team is treated as a unit for the purposes of submission and evaluation, only the Team Leader enters into a binding agreement with the Organiser. The actions of any Team Member may affect the eligibility or standing of the entire Team.
"Team Leader": The individual designated at the time of registration to act as the primary contact for a Team. The Team Leader is responsible for registration, communication with the Organiser, and the distribution of any prizes. The Team Leader is the sole contracting party with the Organiser and assumes full responsibility on behalf of the Team.
"Team Member": An individual listed on the registration form as part of a Team, excluding the Team Leader. Team Members do not enter into a direct agreement with the Organiser, but are bound by these Terms & Conditions through their inclusion in the Team. Misconduct or violations by any Team Member may result in disqualification or other consequences for the Team.
"Submission": The set of materials submitted by a Participant or Team in response to the competition brief. For this competition, a Submission consists exclusively of three visual images or drawings and a narrative/descriptive text, prepared in accordance with the specifications outlined in the Brief. The visual images as well as the text must be capable of conveying key aspects of the proposal independently, while also forming a cohesive and unified presentation when reviewed together. No additional documents or components are required or permitted unless expressly requested by the Organiser.
"Entry": A complete Submission that has been registered via the official competition platform and assigned a valid TEAMID by the Organiser.
"TEAMID": A unique alphanumeric code assigned upon successful registration. This code must be used to label all Submission materials and is used to maintain anonymity during evaluation.
"Competition": The Timber Futures Design Competition governed by these Terms & Conditions, including all procedures, rules, deadlines, and prize arrangements outlined in the competition brief.
"Brief": The official document published on our website by the Organiser that outlines the competition topic, submission requirements, objectives, technical specifications, and evaluation criteria.
"Jury": A panel of independent professionals selected by the Organiser to evaluate Submissions. The Jury may include architects, designers, academics, critics, or other experts relevant to the competition theme. Jury members are considered Affiliates of the Organiser for the purposes of this Agreement. The Jury operates with full independence in the evaluation and selection of winners.
"Prize": Any form of recognition or award offered by the Organiser, including but not limited to cash prizes, certificates, custom trophies, and Honourable Mentions, as detailed in the competition brief.
"Honourable Mention": A non-cash form of recognition awarded to select entries that demonstrate exceptional merit. Honourable Mentions may be published on our website or featured in promotional materials at the discretion of the Organiser.
"AI-Generated Content": Any component of a Submission created using artificial intelligence or generative systems. Such content is allowed only if the Participant retains full intellectual property rights and complies with the license terms of any AI tools used.
"Platform": The official website or digital infrastructure used by the Organiser for managing Registration, Submission, communication, and publication of results.
"Registration": The process of completing and submitting the required information through the competition platform in order to receive a TEAMID and become eligible to participate which also marks the acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
"Evaluation": The process by which Submissions are reviewed and scored by the jury or qualified assessors based on the criteria set out in the competition brief and these Terms & Conditions.
"Winners": Participants or Teams selected by the jury as recipients of a Prize or Honourable Mention, based on the outcome of the Evaluation process.
"Affiliates": Individuals or entities involved in administering, evaluating, advising, or promoting the competition in collaboration with or on behalf of the Organiser. This includes jury members, consultants, platform service providers, and publication partners.
"Third Party": Any individual, company, or organisation not directly involved in the competition as a Participant, Organiser, or Affiliate.
"Data": Any personal or identifying information submitted by Participants, including but not limited to name, email address, and location, processed in accordance with the UK GDPR and the Organiser’s Privacy Policy.
"Validation": The process by which the Organiser confirms the eligibility and identity of Participants, either before awarding a Prize or when further documentation is required. Validation may include requests for personal identification, proof of authorship, Team confirmation, or compliance with these Terms & Conditions and any applicable laws.
"Shortlist": A selection of Entries identified by the Organiser or independent professionals as meeting a good standard of quality and advancing to the final stages of Evaluation by the Jury. Being shortlisted does not guarantee that a Submission will receive a Prize or Honourable Mention, but may trigger a request for Validation or additional information from the Participant or Team.