For over a decade, the Water Artisan of the Year Awards have celebrated the creativity, craftsmanship and innovation that define the pond and water feature industry. Following months of collaboration with industry leaders and feedback from professionals across the globe, POND Trade Magazine is proud to introduce the reimagined Water Artisan of the Year Awards. The updated program includes new project categories, expanded recognition opportunities, a more transparent judging process and a renewed commitment to recognizing professionals at every stage of their careers.
Built by the Industry, for the Industry
With the goal of encouraging greater participation and representation of the industry in our pond construction awards, POND Trade established the 2026 Water Artisan of the Year Committee, to review existing categories, discuss judging philosophies, refined submission requirements, developed standardized scoring rubrics and explored new ways to recognize excellence throughout the profession. Then POND Trade Magazine invited pond builders, designers and water feature professionals to participate in a survey focused on the future of the awards program. Those responses helped validate the committee's recommendations and played an important role in determining the final Project Excellence categories.
Four Project Excellence Categories
The Water Artisan of the Year Awards will recognize outstanding projects in four Project Excellence categories:
- Best Naturalistic Pond
- Best Pondless Water Feature
- Best Formal Pond or Water Feature
- Best Recreational / Swim Pond
Click on the category for detailed eligibility requirements and standardized judging rubrics, as well as submission forms. Pond and water feature project awards will be evaluated using clearly defined criteria, including design, craftsmanship, technical execution, natural integration, and overall visual impact.
Expanding Recognition
To better recognize the many ways professionals contribute to the industry, the committee introduced five Special Recognition Awards.
- Best Overall Project will honor the highest-scoring project submitted across all Project Excellence categories, recognizing the year's most exceptional achievement in water feature construction.
- Best Collaboration Project celebrates projects completed through outstanding teamwork between multiple companies or professionals, recognizing that some of the industry's finest work is accomplished through collaboration.
- Best Matured Pond recognizes ponds and water features that have stood the test of time. Rather than focusing on newly completed installations, this award celebrates projects that continue to thrive years after construction, demonstrating lasting craftsmanship, thoughtful design, ecological balance and long-term beauty.
- Photo of the Year honors exceptional photography that captures the artistry and emotion of water features. Winning images may feature ponds, waterfalls, koi, aquatic plants, wildlife or the landscapes that surround them, highlighting the visual storytelling that inspires the industry.
- Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose career has made a lasting impact on the pond and water feature profession through leadership, innovation, mentorship and service. Unlike the other awards, this honor will be determined through a public nomination process followed by committee deliberation.
Project Nominations
New for 2026, the Water Artisan of the Year Awards will introduce Project Nominations, giving the entire water feature community an opportunity to recognize outstanding work. Industry professionals, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and even homeowners are invited to nominate projects they believe deserve recognition. While a nomination does not constitute an official award entry, it serves as an invitation for the project's builder to participate in the competition.
Once a nomination is received, POND Trade Magazine will contact the builder with an invitation to complete an official submission.
A Stronger Judging Process
To strengthen the integrity of the awards, each category now includes a standardized scoring rubric that provides judges with clearly defined evaluation criteria while giving entrants a better understanding of how projects will be assessed.
POND Trade Magazine extends its sincere appreciation to the Water Artisan of the Year Award Committee comprised of Mark Wilson, Shane Hemphill, Dave Duensing, Brian Fitzsimmons, Bradley Blocksom and Jason Lenox. Their dedication, thoughtful leadership and countless volunteer hours have helped us shape the future of the Water Artisan of the Year Awards. We are also grateful for the feedback of many industry professionals who shared their perspectives throughout the spring and summer.
POND Trade Magazine looks forward to submissions for the Water Artisan of the Year Awards and celebrating another year of extraordinary work from across the water feature industry.