Ellen's Design Challenge

Meet the Cast

Ten furniture designers must present their portfolios, and endure a special assignment from Ellen DeGeneres.

Dream Big

Eight furniture designers from all over America arrive at the workshop and receive their first challenge from none other than Ellen herself. Tasked with making a signature bed, the designers meet their carpenters and get to work. At judging, Christiane Lemieux and Cliff Fong are joined by guest judge, Sean Yashar, as they critique the designers' creations and decide who will be the first one to go home.

The Great Outdoors

The designers arrive at a beautiful Hollywood home where they must select outdoor living areas and open an envelope to reveal the type of furniture they have to make. During the build, one designer scraps his design when he runs into a major structural flaw while another races to the finish to complete his furniture. At judging, Christiane Lemieux and Cliff Fong are joined by celebrated designer Peter Dunham to critique the outdoor pieces and send one designer home.

The Great Wall of China

The designers dive into making signature dining room tables. During the build one of the designers gets a new carpenter while two others take a big risk by trying highly ambitions pieces. New York Magazine Design Editor Wendy Goodman join Christiane Lemieux and Cliff Fong on the judges panel where one designer pushes back against their critique.

Around the World

Ellen surprises the designers with a trip around the world...of furniture design. Each designer must randomly select a country that will be the inspiration for their furniture this week. During the build tensions run high between a designer and their carpenter and one designer makes a crucial error with only minutes before time runs out. During judging, Cliff and Christiane are joined by guest judge, world-renowned designer, Karim Rashid, whose strong opinions and critiques leave all the designers fearful of elimination.

Ellen's Choice

The designers receive personal messages from Ellen, each containing a unique furniture assignment. During the build, one designer's indecisiveness causes tension between he and his carpenter while another designer's woodworking backfires in a major way. During judging, Christiane Lemieux and Cliff Fong are joined by furniture entrepreneur Adam Blackman who helps make one of the toughest decisions yet.

Backstage at the Ellen Show

Putting the Fun in Multifunctional

The Finale