Your path to the German Design Awards
Everything you need to know about your participation at a glance. You can find further details in the Fact Sheet.
- 1. Registration for the Contest
Registration for the German Design Award 2024 takes place exclusively via our registration portal »My Design Council«. If you do not yet have an account, please register with your e-mail address. After successful registration, you will receive a confirmation of your registration and an invoice for the registration fees. Please note: In case of an award, mandatory service fees will apply for the benefits included in the service package (see Fact Sheet, p.12).
- 2. Delivery of your submission
After successful registration, please provide us with a presentation of your project, which the jury will review and evaluate. Please note the deadline for the delivery.
- 3. The Evaluating Criteria and Judging
The projects and services should be distinguished by the following special features:
- Ergonomics
- functionality and operability
- practical value
- overall concept
- design quality
- degree of innovation
- durability
- brand value and branding
- market maturity
- sustainability
- ecological quality
- product aesthetics
- product graphics and semantics
- safety and accessibility
- symbolic and emotional content
- technical quality
- technical function
- manufacturing techniques and quality
The preceding list does not constitute an order of importance for the jury’s evaluation criteria. The jury is free to choose the weighting of the individual criteria. All entries that have been submitted in due form and time will be presented to the jury for adjudication. The participating companies will receive written notification regarding the results of the adjudication. All judges’ decisions are final.
- 4. The Award Show
The German Design Awards 2024 will be presented in January 2024.
Award disciplines
Participation in the German Design Awards is possible in the following categories:
- Excellent Product Design
Bath and Wellness
Bathroom and sanitary ware, bathroom fittings, sanitary technology, bathroom furniture and fixtures, bathroom accessories, saunas, solariums, whirlpools, body care products, other
Buildings and Elements
Building equipment, windows, doors, stairs, banisters and handrails, house and building automation, house and door labelling, security and access systems, surveillance cameras and systems, smoke detection systems, walls/ floors/ceilings, acoustic solutions, door and window fittings, switches and switch systems, mailboxes, garages, gates, escalators, lifts, controls for products in this category, other
Kitchen
Kitchens, kitchen furniture, kitchen fittings, electrical appliances, accessories, cooking equipment, ovenware, other
Tabletop
Dishes, cutlery, accessories and decorations, other
Household
Household appliances, large electric appliances, household items, air and water filtering units, humidifiers, waste systems, other
Design Classics and Re-editions
Design Classics, Re-editions and Redesigns
Furniture
Living, sleeping and seating furniture, children's and special furniture, other
Lifestyle and Fashion
Fashion, bags, suitcases, travel gear, head coverings, glasses and sunglasses, other
Home Textiles and Home Accessories
Home textiles, upholstery fabrics and leathers, decorative fabrics, wallpapers, wall and home decorations, home accessories, other
Gardening and Outdoor Living
Garden furniture, gardening tools and products as well as equipment, garden accessories, sunscreens, furnishings for conservatories, grills and barbecues, other
Sports, Outdoor Activities and Leisure
Sports equipment and products, sportswear, tents, backpacks, binoculars, flashlights and forehead flashlights, night vision devices, outdoor clothing, outdoor and trekking equipment, games, hobby and craft supplies, recreation equipment and products, fitness equipment and products, musical instruments, products for animals, other
Baby and Child Care
Products for babies and children, baby and child care products, baby and children’s toys, play equipment, baby carriages, schoolbags and accessories, other
Luxury Goods
Luxury accessories, jewellery, watches, other
Computer and Communication
Computers, notebooks, tablets, network and conference technology, storage media, NAS, server systems, printers, copiers, scanners, smartphones, telephones and telephone systems, charging stations, recording and playback equipment, peripheral devices and accessories for Computers and communication devices, cameras and equipment, other
Entertainment
Consumer electronics, microphones, headphones, loudspeakers, audio equipment, amplifiers, televisions, recording and playback equipment, beamers, sound systems, event technology, stagecraft, sound engineering, lasers and effects, multiroom systems, docking stations, video game consoles, e-readers, cameras and equipment, other
Human-Machine-Interface
Interface design and controls as an integral part of a product, other
Material and Surfaces
Materials and raw materials, material innovations, surfaces, innovative textiles (technical and ornamental), otherBuilding and Elements Building equipment, windows, doors, stairs, banisters and handrails, house and building automation, house and door labelling, security and access systems, surveillance cameras and systems, smoke detection systems, walls/floors/ceilings, acoustic solutions, door and window fittings, switches and switch systems, mailboxes, garages, gates, escalators, lifts, controls for products in this category, other
Energy
Energy technology, heating systems, radiators, ovens of all kinds, air conditioning systems, ventilation systems, solar energy installations, furnaces and boilers, other
Industry
Machines and facilities, components, control technology, materials handling technology, robotics, safety technology, timing systems, logistics systems, machines, semi-finished products, work and protective clothing, industrial packaging, other
Workshop and Tools
Tools, workshop equipment, measurement and testing technology, special products, other
Medical, Rehabilitation and Health Care
Medical equipment, medical technology, medical and orthopaedic assistive devices, optics and optical equipment, laboratory technology, practice and hospital furnishings, laboratory furniture, assisted technology and assisted living, other
Lighting
Residential and workplace lighting, recessed and exterior lighting, lighting systems, lamps, special lighting, street lighting, lighting technology, other
Office Furniture
Office furniture and office furniture systems, conference furniture, partitions, acoustic elements, furniture and space solutions for special rooms, other
Stationery
Writing and plotting instruments, office accessories and equipment, filing and classification systems, presentation systems, papers, hobby and craft supplies, other
Retail
Sales and product display systems, cash register systems, terminals, displays, return systems, other
Conceptional Transportation
Passenger and commercial vehicles, motor homes, caravans, trailers, agricultural vehicles, aeroplanes and aircraft, helicopters, water and hybrid vehicles, railed vehicles, motorcycles and rollers, vehicles for local public transportation, special vehicles, other
Aviation, Maritime and Railway
Aeroplanes and aircraft, helicopters, water and hybrid vehicles, railed vehicles, vehicles for local public transportation, vehicle components, vehicle interiors and furnishings, navigation systems, other
Automotive Parts and Accessories
Automotive equipment, vehicle components, vehicle interiors and furnishings, navigation systems, other
Motorcycles
Motorcycles and rollers, automotive equipment, vehicle components, vehicle interiors and furnishings, navigation systems, other
Passenger Vehicles
Passenger and commercial vehicles, motor homes, caravans, trailers, agricultural vehicles, special vehicles, automotive equipment, vehicle components, vehicle interiors and furnishings, navigation systems, other
Public Design
Urban and street furniture, kiosks, advertising columns, displays and advertising media, shelters, stops and stations, park furniture, waste and lighting systems, other
Utility Vehicles
Agricultural vehicles, special vehicles, automotive equipment (luggage racks etc.), vehicle components, vehicle interiors and furnishings, navigation systems, other
Bicycles and E-Bikes
Mountain bikes, racing bikes, crossbikes, urban and E-Bikes, pedelecs, children’s bikes, trekking bikes, special bikes, other
Start-up
Innovative and future-oriented projects with growth potential.
Universal Design
Projects that can be used by as many people as possible without further adaptation or specialization and are particularly characterized by the following points:
Barrier-free usability, intuitive operation, minimizing risk in use, othersEco Design
Projects that are based on the principles of sustainability and are particularly characterized by the following points:
Production and manufacture, durability, raw materials and materials, transport routes, recycling / upcycling, usage concepts, others
- Excellent Communications Design
Audiovisual
Music videos, image and advertising videos, commercials, trailers, virals, television design (e. g. broadcast stations, programmes), sound design, animation, other
Interactive User Experience
Interactive media, software applications, game and interface design, connectivity, augmented reality, other
Online Publications
Digital magazines, ebooks, newsletters, digital annual reports, other
Design Classics and Re-editions
Design Classics, Re-editions and Redesigns
Web
Websites and microsites, blogs, online shops, other
Apps
Education, books, services, health, fitness, music, news, navigation, travel, social networking, games, sports, entertainment, shopping, other
Game Design
PC and console games, game apps, etc
Integrated Campaigns and Advertising
Online advertising (e. g. advertisements, banners, internet television, screensavers), campaigns, cross media and outdoor media, print advertising, mailings, dialogue media, concepts, other
Packaging
Product packaging and outer product packaging, food and beverage packaging, tags, bottle labels, cans, bags, CD/DVD/disc covers, other
Corporate Identity
Corporate identity, corporate design, corporate films, corporate events, corporate publishing, corporate manuals, corporate books, corporate fashion, corporate architecture, brand slogans and symbols, logos, signets, key visuals, other
Brand Identity
Brand identity, brand design, brand films, brand events, brand publishing, brand manuals, brand fashion, brand architecture, brand signet, other
Books and Calendars
Books (e. g. literature, nonfiction, photobooks, children’s books), digital books, corporate books, art books, calendars (e. g. wall and pocket calendars), digital calendars, other
Editorial
Newspapers, journals and magazines, financial statements and annual reports, catalogues and product catalogues, brochures, manuals, other
Official Documents
Stamps, private and official documents, identification cards, customer club cards, memberships, bank notes, debit and credit cards, other
Posters, Cards and Photography
Posters and placards of all kinds, postcards, artistic photography, advertising and fashion photography, photojournalism, event photography, industrial and architectural photography, other
Typography
Fonts, font families, other
Event
Events, award ceremonies, congresses, press events, seminars, incentives, product launches, road shows, concerts, otherEventEvents, award ceremonies, congresses, press events, seminars, incentives, product launches, road shows, concerts, other
Start-up
Innovative and future-oriented projects with growth potential.
Universal Design
Projects that can be used by as many people as possible without further adaptation or specialization and are particularly characterized by the following points:
Barrier-free usability, intuitive operation, minimizing risk in use, othersEco Design
Projects that are based on the principles of sustainability and are particularly characterized by the following points:
Production and manufacture, durability, raw materials and materials, transport routes, recycling / upcycling, usage concepts, others
- Excellent Architecture
Architecture
Buildings of all kinds (residential houses, public buildings, industrial and corporate buildings, religious buildings, museums, hotels, etc.), temporary architecture, other
Conceptional Architecture
Construction concepts, architectural concepts, building projects under construction, landscape architecture, other
Interior Architecture
Interior design, hotels, spa and wellness, restaurants, bars, cafés, lounges, libraries, medical practices, offices, other
Retail Architecture
Brand spaces, shops, concept stores, flagship stores, showrooms, department stores, malls, other
Signage and Wayfinding
Indoor and outdoor signage systems: Cities, public buildings, office and commercial buildings, shopping malls, residential buildings, others
Fair and Exhibition
Exhibitions, temporary architecture, trade-fair architecture, trade-fair stands and appearances, scenography, installations, other
Urban Space and Infrastructure
Urban planning and design, landscape architecture, urban parks, public spaces, playgrounds, infrastructure and transportation facilities, bridges, other
Lighting Design
Building lighting, lighting concepts, illumination of interior fittings, and other
Start-up
Innovative and future-oriented projects with growth potential.
Universal Design
Projects that can be used by as many people as possible without further adaptation or specialization and are particularly characterized by the following points:
Barrier-free usability, intuitive operation, minimizing risk in use, othersEco Design
Projects that are based on the principles of sustainability and are particularly characterized by the following points:
Production and manufacture, durability, raw materials and materials, transport routes, recycling / upcycling, usage concepts, others
Fees and Costs
Please note the service fees and costs for your binding registration:
- Registration fees
Registration until 23 June 2023: € 390,00*
Registration after 23 June 2023: € 440,00*
Registration after1 September 2023: € 580,00*Optional »Nominee Package«: € 1.950,00*
* All prices are per project and do not include the applicable value-added tax.
- Service Fees
In the event of an award, you will receive a comprehensive service package to enable you to communicate your
success to a wide audience. By registering for the award, you agree to any service fees that may apply.
Fees for the service package
»Special Mention« - in »Excellent Architecture«: € 2.750,00*
»Special Mention« - in »Excellent Communications Design«: € 2.350,00*
»Special Mention« - in »Excellent Product Design«: € 3.450,00*»Winner« - in »Excellent Architecture«: € 3.050,00*
»Winner« - in »Excellent Communications Design«: € 2.650,00*
»Winner« - in »Excellent Product Design«: € 3.950,00*»Gold« - in »Excellent Architecture«: € 3.500,00**
»Gold« - in »Excellent Communications Design«: € 3.100,00**
»Gold« - in »Excellent Product Design«: € 4.800,00**
* All prices are per project and do not include the applicable value-added tax.
** All prices are per project and do not include the applicable value-added tax. and are exclusive of an organisation fee for the presentation of the "Gold" winning project in the exhibition: Size S: included in the package / Size M: € 200,00 / Size L: € 600,00 / Size XL: € 1.200,00
The Jury in 2024
An independent international jury of experts decides on the German Design Award. It is made up of representatives from industry, universities and design.