New York, N.Y. -- Ceramics of Italy announced the launch of the 2018 Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the annual awards program organized by Confindustria Ceramica (the Italian Association of Ceramics) and the Italian Trade Agency honors the exceptional work of North American architects and designers who feature Italian ceramic and porcelain tile in their residential, commercial, and institutional projects. In a new initiative this year, Ceramics of Italy is also looking for imaginative concepts from students, in addition to completed projects.

Winners will be honored with a $3,000 cash prize; a trip to Coverings 2018, in Atlanta, Ga.; and a CEU trip to Cersaie, in Bologna, Italy, with a delegation of architects, designers and design media. An additional $1,000 will be awarded to the winning contractor/distributor teams, and the winning student entry will receive a trip to Atlanta, Ga., to present the project at Coverings. The deadline to submit projects is February 15.