Parents' Guide to

Ellen's Design Challenge

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Not enough Ellen in mild furniture design competition.

TV HGTV Reality TV 2015
Ellen's Design Challenge Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Created by Ellen Degeneres, ELLEN'S DESIGN CHALLENGE is a reality competition that pits six furniture designers against each other for chance to win a $100K cash prize and a magazine spread. Hosted by Jay Montepare, the series pairs contestants with carpenters as they compete in a variety of 24-hour-long furniture design challenges. A panel of judges, including design experts like Amanda Dameron, the editor-in-chief at Dwell Magazine, and guest judges who range from interior designers to gallery owners, evaluate their work. The designer who comes up with the episode's weakest creation is eliminated each week. The winner gets the prizes and major kudos from Ellen.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

From building refined craft cabinets to designing chairs with flair, the series highlights some of the thinking that goes into furniture that is both functional and aesthetically unique. The special materials and carpentry skills required to produce these pieces are also highlighted.

The focus on single items of furniture, rather than interior design, sets this apart from similar types of shows. But outside of that small tweak, the show follows the same basic competition formula as any other reality design series. Ellen's brief appearances feel more like a gimmick than a contribution. But you'll find it entertaining if you like these sorts of creative contests.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the appeal of reality design shows. Is it the challenges? What they make? What would you create if you had the chance to compete?

  • Families can also talk about creative careers. How do these people turn their passion into something that can make money?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate