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2026 Napkin Sketch Contest Winners: Portals and Gateways
The Association of Licensed Architects announces the winners of the 2026 Napkin Sketch Contest. This year's theme was Portals and Gateways, and architects, students and people who simply love to draw each answered it with one hand-drawn sketch on a five-inch napkin.
Three judges reviewed every entry on creativity, originality and technical skill: Ryan Chester of JGMA, artist Stephen Siegle, and Erich Stenzel of New World Design Ltd. The judges saw each sketch by number and title only, without the name of the person who drew it.
Grand Prize: James Dunn
"Napkin Sketch / Future of Housing" by James Dunn of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville Center, shows a tower wrapped in spiraling ramps beneath a tall spire, drawn in ink and colored pencil against a glowing orange and yellow sky. Judge Ryan Chester wrote: "Wonderful use of color with a dramatic result."
Professional winner: Michael Chadwick
"Lake to hilltop gateway" by Michael Chadwick of Kideney Architects is drawn in dense black ink on a quilted napkin. A gate and tower, seen from a steep angle, rise through a mass of stippled foliage.
Student winner: Jilliana Pilutti
"The Endless District" by Jilliana Pilutti, a student at Illinois Institute of Technology, is a fine-line perspective of a river walk lined with stacked, terraced buildings and bridges, with a city skyline rising in the distance.
General Public winner: Robert Bunda
"Old Gate, Ireland" by Robert Bunda shows a pointed stone arch set into a rubble wall, with an iron gate and grasses at its base, drawn in ink and gray wash.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who entered and to our three judges for their time. ALA is honoring the winners at the 2026 Design Awards Gala, Thursday, November 5, at Medinah Country Club.
The Napkin Sketch Contest runs every year and is open to architects, students and anyone who loves to draw. Watch ALA news and email for the 2027 theme.
Questions
What is the ALA Napkin Sketch Contest?
An annual contest from the Association of Licensed Architects that celebrates the hand-drawn idea: one sketch on a five-inch napkin, in any medium. Architects, students and members of the public enter side by side.
What was the 2026 theme?
Portals and Gateways.
Who won the 2026 Napkin Sketch Contest?
James Dunn won the Grand Prize for "Napkin Sketch / Future of Housing." Michael Chadwick of Kideney Architects won the Professional category, Jilliana Pilutti of Illinois Institute of Technology won the Student category, and Robert Bunda won the General Public category.
How are the sketches judged?
A panel of judges scores every entry on creativity, originality and technical skill. In 2026 the judges were Ryan Chester, Stephen Siegle and Erich Stenzel, and they saw each sketch by number and title only.
Who can enter next year?
Anyone. There are Professional, Student and General Public categories, and the contest opens each year with a new theme announced in ALA news and email.
