In the series premiere of Ellen's Design Challenge, six furniture designers from all over America arrive at a workshop where they meet their carpenters and receive a gift from Ellen that they must transform into their first piece of furniture. During the build tensions run high between one of the designers and her carpenter while another designer struggles to fix a structural flaw before time runs out. Series judges, Christiane Lemieux and Amanda Dameron are joined by world renowned furniture manufacturer, Jason Chauncey as they critique the designers' creations and decide who will be the first one to go home.