PRODUCT design is a big deal in the design industry; a significant aspect of making a product successful. Thanks to the design industry, designers are awarded for their contributions to the field. If a product can stand out from the crowd, it has the potential to be a runaway hit. However, many people have wondered, ‘which are the most prestigious product design awards?’
While an award is not the only measure of success, the most prestigious product design awards ensure you stand out. Many range from the Red dot, IDEA, iF, Good Design, and more. With these awards, every designer wants to work hard to earn at least one.
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This article will look at the most prestigious product design awards. Keep reading!
Red Dot Award
The Red Dot Design Award is one of the most prestigious awards for industrial design worldwide. The German Society organizes the awards, giving to products that meet specific criteria. Every year, it recognizes outstanding products in over 50 product categories.
Established in 1955, RDDA is one of the world’s leading awards for product design that we can’t overlook. With over 60 countries participating, it is a unique opportunity for companies worldwide to showcase their products.
The Red Dot Design Awards aim to reward designs that prove excellence in product development. They are the ultimate recognition for companies and individuals involved in designing products.
Award-winning product designers are usually recognized as experts in their fields. This means they’re often sought after by companies looking to hire talented designers. However, your product must be innovative, functional, and valuable to be a winner.
Besides the main prize – the Red Dot Gold Award – there are five other prizes. These prizes are awarded based on different criteria. For example, the Silver Prize goes to outstanding-quality products, while the Bronze Prize focuses on innovative solutions.
iF Design Awards
The iF Design Award is also one of Europe’s most influential design competitions. It started in 1987, and International Forum Design (IFD) organized it. The IFD is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting good design.
The iF Design Awards recognize outstanding design across all industries. These include exceptional products, packaging designs, communication and service design, and architecture projects.
Each year, the winners receive a cash prize and a trophy. Also, the winning company receives a special plaque.
However, aside from the prize money, it offers a unique opportunity to meet renowned experts and industry leaders during the award ceremony.
Moreover, the iF Design Awards are open to any product or service. Products can be new or old, digital or physical, and even services. There are three types of awards: Best of Category, Best of Show, and Grand Prix. So, there’s a lot to go around for the lucky winners.
Good Design Awards
Another prestigious design award is the Good Design Award. Established in 1950, this competition aims to promote excellent design. Its goal is to encourage people to buy better-designed products.
GDA honors the yearly achievements in industrial and graphic design and world manufactures. The jury consists of architects, journalists, and designers. Interestingly, past winners include 3d Tile, Silestone Sunlit Days, Nature View Serenity Pod, and many more.
In addition to the monetary prizes, the Good Design Awards offer certificates to the winners.
Further, the program identifies new and innovative product concepts beyond standard manufacturing designs. They select products according to technical innovation, aesthetics, and functionality criteria.
IDEA
IDEA is the acronym for The International Design Excellence Awards. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious design award programs. Founded in 1965, the IDEA celebrates excellence in design worldwide and gives awards annually.
The IDEA also recognizes outstanding achievement in several secondary areas besides the main prize.
Each year, the IDEA jury evaluates entries based on five criteria:
Design Innovation – How does the work address a problem or challenge? Does it make life better? Does it help solve real problems?
User Benefit – What benefits do people experience from using the product? Is the advantage clear and easy to understand?
Client/Brand Benefit– Does the work communicate what the client wants? Does it reinforce the brand identity?
Quality of Execution – Can you see how they did the work? Is it well executed? Are there any errors?
Overall Impact – Do the works stand out from the crowd? Is it likely to influence others?
Further, judges meet throughout the year to discuss and debate submissions. Then, they make final decisions about winners based on their tastes.
A’ Design Awards & Competition
The A’ Design Award is an international award recognizing excellence in design and innovation. Its mission is to recognize outstanding talents among professionals working within various fields.
Since 2009, The A’ Design Awards have honored the best designs worldwide. Also, more than 12,000 designers have received awards across over 100 categories. Each year, they receive thousands of entries from all corners globally.
All submissions undergo rigorous peer review by judges representing different disciplines and areas of expertise.
Award winners receive a medal, certificate, and monetary prize. Also, their work is displayed online and published in printed form. Then, they get an invitation to the ceremony, where they are presented with their awards.
Conclusion
The product design industry is vast, making the number of product design awards numerous. However, the ones mentioned above are the most prestigious ones. Hope you find this article helpful!
