Ellen's Design Challenge Episode Rating Graph

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.

Six furniture designers from various places all over America gather together at a workshop where they begin competing to earn the title of best designer. Contestants meet their carpenters and prepare for their first task.

The contestants receive a special reward from Ellen before moving on to their next challenge. During the building time, a couple of designers get into a small fight over exotic hardwood while a piece of work of another designer starts to take on an animalistic look.

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 contestants find out the other challenge as they arrive at the shop. One of the designers is forced to change their design in the middle of the task while another designer makes a sudden mistake that results in making a tough decision. At the end the contestants face harsh criticism.

For the second challenge, the furniture designers go on a field trip to a storage facility where each one of them pick storage pods filled with different household items that they must build furniture for.

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.

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.