Ellen's Design Challenge (2015)

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 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 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.

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.

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.

The designers take a tour of Warner Brothers Studios and the set for Ellen's talk show. While there, they meet her DJ Twitch, who gives them their next assignment. During the build, one designer gets stumped while another struggles with the proper height of the couch's back cushions. Tastemaker Thomas Lavin joins Cliff and Christiane on the judges' panel as one of the final four designers faces elimination.

The remaining three designers must design a piece with two or more functions. One of the designers is feeling more confident than the others, while all are feeling the pressure. At judging, executive director of Design Miami, Rodman Primack joins the judges and it's all or nothing as the final three designers discover who will make it into the finale.

The two remaining designers compete in the season finale where they are tasked to build not one but two pieces of furniture. During the build the designers are surprised with heartwarming gifts. As the final build of the season comes to a close, the designers race against the clock, drawing from their best ideas and techniques to create their pieces. During the judging ceremony, Ellen joins the judges to review the pieces and help crown the winner.