HGTV Design Star

HGTV Design Star is an American reality competition show that was aired on the Home and Garden Television (HGTV) network from 2006. The immensely popular show centers around a group of aspiring interior designers who compete for their own television series on HGTV, the ultimate platform for showcasing their exceptional home decorating and design skills.

Each season of Design Star kicks off with a diverse group of contestants who carry a unique blend of design prowess, innovative creativity, and exceptional familiarity with the latest trends in home interiors. Contestants come from various backgrounds including, established interior designers, product designers, architects, and artists. Selected from a pool of nationwide applicants, these competitors are not only evaluated on their design ability but also their camera presence and potential TV appeal.

Throughout the show, these contestants participate in a series of complex design tasks, pushing them to stretch their creativity and technical prowess to the limit. The challenges encompass a range of design genres, and spaces like residential homes, commercial spaces, outdoor areas and more, gauging their comprehensive understanding and application of design rules, material usage, lighting concepts, and spatial management. Not limited to designing room interiors, the challenges also extend to creating stylish furniture and accessories. Furthermore, the designers must often perform under demanding constraints, such as a limited budget and strict timeframes, reflecting real-life situations in the world of interior design.

What adds an interesting twist to the show is that the contestants live together in a common house during the course of the series. This setting allows viewers to get insights into the contestants’ personalities off the design floor and form a connection with them. Moreover, the dynamics of living together and working under high pressure frequently led to dramatic conflicts and intense rivalries, making the show all the more enthralling.

The contestants' designs are meticulously scrutinized by a panel of distinguished judges. Over the years, the judging panel included renowned personalities such as designer Vern Yip, editor-in-chief of Elle Decor magazine Margaret Russell, and popular HGTV hosts like Genevieve Gorder and Jonathan Adler, among others. Their expert comments, constructive criticism and invaluable advice serve as a cornerstone of the show, enriching not only the contestants but also the audience with extremely professional design perspectives.

Throughout the competition, the judges eliminate the contestants one by one, based on their design results and on-camera tests until only a few remain for the grand finale. Each episode concludes with the show’s trademark phrase, “Your show has been cancelled,” signalling the departure of a contestant.

What sets the HGTV Design Star apart is that it gives a unique behind-the-scenes look into the process of designing and decorating, along with the many challenges and rewards that come with it. This mix of design and reality show elements has successfully captivated viewers season after season, making it a cornerstone in HGTV’s programming.

Moreover, HGTV Design Star serves as a vehicle that catapults unknown designers to national fame. The grand prize, an opportunity to host their own show on HGTV, is a dream for any designer looking to make significant strides in their career. Several winners have gone on to host successful programs in HGTV and become influential figures in the world of interior design.

The show has paved way for various spin-offs like "Design Star All-Stars" where former contestants returned to compete against each other, further upping the entertainment quotient.

HGTV Design Star is, therefore, not only a platform for upcoming design talents but also a wholesome, spirited show that brings a blend of aspiration, skills, competition and above all, the Beauty of Design to millions of living rooms across America. It has forever transformed the minds of the audience, inspiring them to look at their surroundings with a renewed perspective and possibly uncover a Design Star within themselves.