GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE German Design Awards 2026
FOUNDATIONS
The German Design Awards are presented annually by the German Design Council. The German Design Awards are organised by the Rat für Formgebung Service GmbH (German Design Council).
The following General Terms and Conditions form the exclusive contractual basis for participation in the German Design Awards 2026 (award) between the German Design Council and the award registrant. The registrant’s Terms and Conditions are not recognised, even if the German Design Council does not expressly object to them in individual cases.
PREREQUISITES FOR PARTICIPATION
Award entries (projects) which have been nominated for the award by the foundation members of the German Design Council, the ministries/senators of trade and industry of the federal states or their responsible supreme state authorities or the German Design Council, as well as non-nominated award projects which can be assigned to at least one of the following categories, may participate in the award:
Excellent Architecture:
AI in Architecture and Metaverse Space Design • Architecture • Interior Architecture • Retail Architecture • Fair and Exhibitton • Lighting Design • Urban Space and Infrastructure • Signage and Wayfinding • Conceptual Architecture • Start-up • Universal Design
Excellent Communications Design:
AI in Communications Design • Event • Audiovisual • Interactive User Experience • Online Publications • Web • Apps • Integrated Campaigns and Advertising • Packaging • Corporate Identity • Brand Identity • Books and Calendars • Editorial • Official Documents • Signage and Wayfinding • Posters, Cards and Photography • Typography • Design Classics and Re-editions • Game Design • Start-up • Universal DesignExcellent Product Design:
AI in Product Design Processes • Bath and Wellness • Kitchen • Tabletop • Household • Furniture • Home Textiles and Home Accessoires • Gardening and Outdoor Living • Sports, Outdoor Activities and Leisure • Lifestyle and Fashion • Baby and Child Care • Luxury Goods • Computer and Communication • Entertainment • Building and Elements • Human-Machine-Interface • Material and Surfaces • Energy • Industry • Workshop and Tools • Medical, Rehabilitation and Health Care • Lighting • Office Furniture • Stationery • Retail • Aviation, Maritime and Railway • Automotive Parts and Accessories • Motorcycles • Utility Vehicles • Passenger Vehicles • Conceptual Transportation • Public Design • Bicycles and EBikes • Design Classics and Re-editions • Start-up • Universal DesignIt is also possible to choose the additional category “Circular Design” and/or “Service Design”. For “Circular Design”, separate material for the jury must be submitted in the form of a questionnaire, which will be made available by e-mail after the registration.
Only projects that were launched on the market or made public no more than five years ago are permitted. The registrant must provide suitable proof of this at the German Design Council’s request. The categories Design Classics and Re-editions and Start-up are excluded. Start-ups that are not older than four years can participate. The foundation date is valid until February 2022 at the earliest.
The number of registrations is not limited. It is possible to submit projects in only one category at the same time.
REGISTRATION, SUBMISSION AND INSURANCE OF PROJECTS
3.1 The German Design Council will send registrants a written invitation to take part in the award. The letter contains a personal password and login for each registrant and, in the case of a nomination, a project ID for each nominated project. All projects can be registered to the award in the personal login area at mydesigncouncil.gdc.de (MDC). Projects can be registered online following approval of the project details and after reading and confirming the General Terms and Conditions for the award.
Registration is binding and commits the registrant to complete payment of the relevant fees and costs. The German Design Council grants free cancellation of the registration if addressed in written form to gda@gdc.de within 14 days of the date of registration (the non-delivery of material for the project evaluation by the jury will not be considered a cancellation). After the expiry of the 14-day period, the fees/costs specified at registration and in section 6 are no longer refundable and the registrant’s right to withdraw expires.
The registrant is authorised to carry out the registration process. The contract is concluded exclusively in digital form and is not exchanged in paper form.
In general, the German Design Council reserves the right, after internal examination, to deny participation in the award to projects that have not been nominated. The registrant of a non-nominated project will receive a written notification of the outcome of the examination. In the event of a negative notification, the legal contract between the registrant and the German Design Council will be cancelled. In this case, the registrant will not be charged any costs and fees for the registration. If payment has already been made, the transactions will be returned.
With the registration of a nominated project, the registrant is entitled to acquire the nominee package for the fee listed in section 6 of these General Terms and Conditions and to use it immediately. With the registration of a non-nominated project, the registrant is entitled to acquire the nominee package for the corresponding fees, but will only be granted access to the contents of the nominee package after the registered project has been reviewed and a positive notification has been received. The nominee package entitles the registrant to use the “Nominee 2026” label in connection with the registered project for his corporate communications and to order further marketing services at a charge. In the event of negative notification, the valid contract between the applicant and the German Design Council will be cancelled. In this case the applicant will not be charged the fees for the nominee package. Any payments already made will be reversed.
In the event of an award, the registrant’s details and those of the registered projects will be used for the award exhibition, the online exhibition and press releases and are processed in accordance with the legislator’s privacy regulations. The German Design Council assumes no liability for incorrect or erroneous information.
3.2 For the jury session, the registrant may upload image and text material via the registration portal or submit original products or models from the projects for the award. The digital data can be uploaded via the link provided in the registration confirmation. If the German or English project text is not available at the time of submission, the German Design Council will provide a translation, but assumes no liability for the content. All projects (and packaging) must be marked with the project ID provided and this must be clearly visible on delivery. The loss and/or non-jurication of unlabelled projects is at the registrant’s own expense. The burden of proof for proper labelling lies with the registrant.
The type of delivery and collection will take place, depending on your selection, when the submission is released.
3.3 The costs and all risks of transport for the delivery and removal of the registered projects shall be borne exclusively by the registrant. The German Design Council undertakes to inform the registrant immediately of any visible transport damage upon receipt of the projects. For projects delivered from abroad, the registrant must clear all necessary customs procedures at their own expense. The German Design Council accepts no liability for destruction, theft and/or damage for the duration of the projects’ submission period. All necessary insurance should be taken out before registering.
All deliveries by carriers and/or delivery companies must be at ground level. A loading ramp is not available. If a supplier cannot unload a project independently and requires auxiliary material (pallet truck or similar) for unloading, the client (registrant) accepts any costs incurred by the additional work. The costs will be invoiced to the registrant after the jury session. Projects in the Lighting category must be in working order for the jury session, fitted with a Euro plug and designed for use with 230 V power. If additional work (e.g. plug replacement, current transformer, etc.) is required for the presentation at the jury session, the registrant accepts any costs that could incur. The costs will be charged to the registrant after the jury session.
3.4 Projects must be delivered in packaging that can be reused for return shipment and is safe for transport. If this is not the case, the German Design Council accepts no liability for any damage caused during return transport.
3.5 The registrant must collect the project by the specified deadline. Whoever collects the project must be able to identify themselves and specify the project ID for the project they wish to collect. Freight forwarders or courier services must present an order from the registrant with the project ID of the project to be collected. If this is not the case, the German Design Council reserves the right not to hand over the project. Projects that are not collected by the registrant within the deadline specified in the registration documents will be stored for ten working days subject to a fee (EUR 40.00/project/day, plus any additional transport costs). After this period, the projects will be donated or disposed of at the registrant’s expense (EUR 40.00/project plus any additional costs for donation or disposal).
Following self-assembly, the registrant must take any packaging material with them. It is possible to store this temporarily until disassembly. A storage fee of EUR 60.00 per cubic metre will be charged to the registrant.
3.6 If the German Design Council is commissioned to assemble projects supplied in a disassembled state, the German Design Council assumes liability in accordance with the following regulation. The registrant undertakes to provide appropriate installation instructions in German or English. The same applies to the disassembly of the project for return transport. Liability for loss of or damage to the projects is excluded, unless the German Design Council, its legal representatives or vicarious agents are charged with intent or gross negligence; the German Design Council’s liability for negligent conduct is limited to a maximum value of EUR 1,500.00, irrespective of the number of projects submitted by the same registrant.
The German Design Council shall not be liable for any damage arising during assembly and/or dismantling, unless an order has been placed. If a project is delivered disassembled and there is no order for assembly by the German Design Council, the German Design Council is entitled to assemble the project, but assumes no liability for damage incurred during assembly or disassembly.
3.7 The German Design Council recommends that the registrant take out all necessary insurance.
3.8 For registrants who have their registered office in People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Macao SAR or Hong Kong SAR, the operative implementation (control of the registration, handling of the projects, invoicing and receipt of payment for the German Design Council) will be taken over by their subsidiary, German Design Council (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Shanghai, China (details under following section 12).
PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS
If projects are usable or are exhibited or demonstrated in an operative state, they must comply with the statutory and trade association regulations in Germany, in particular the accident prevention regulations, and must be provided with the safeguards prescribed by German law. The registrant is solely liable for any damage caused by installed objects. The registrant must also indemnify the German Design Council without limitation against any claims for damages by third parties.r Formgebung auch unbeschränkt von etwaigen Schadensersatzforderungen Dritter freizustellen.
Any damage that occurs during the jury session must be reported immediately within one week to the German Design Council. A description of the damage, along with pictorial documentation of the damage, must be included.
JUDGING
An independent expert jury will select the award winners. The jury is comprised of representatives from industry, academia, design, architecture, and media. Projects should stand out with regard to the following aspects:
Ergonomics • functionality and operability • practical value • overall concept • design quality • degree of innovativeness • 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 represent a ranking of the criteria and assessments for the jury. The jury's decision will be confirmed in writing. Any legal recourse is excluded.
If a released project has not been delivered to the jury session within the specified period, the jury reserves the right to use the project for evaluation on the basis of the released data from the registration at MDC. A decision of the jury based on this information is also valid.
Within the jury session, the jury is entitled to change the category of the project in which an award is given.
FEES/COSTS
6.1 Fees/Costs at registration
Fees at registration (Excellent Architecture, Excellent Communications Design, Excellent
Product Design):Award registration per project by 13 June 2025 (Early Bird) 390,00 EUR
Award registration per project after 13 June 2025 490,00 EUR
Award registration per project by 5 September 2025 590,00 EUR
Optional Nominee Package* 1.950,00 EUR
*For registrations of non-nominated projects only accessible after successful examination of the registered project. If the label has already been downloaded, a cancellation is no longer possible. The fees/costs will not be offset against the service fees for winners in case of an award. In case of a cancellation and, if applicable, credit card payment already made, the transactions will be reversed.
6.2 Payment registration
The registrant will receive an invoice for the fees and costs (applies only to registrants from Germany). Registrants from outside Germany pay either by PayPal or by credit card; the data processed in the credit card payment process is carried out by Wirecard AG, their General Terms and Conditions apply (wirecard.com). Companies from third countries (outside the EU and EFTA) are obliged to provide a company certificate. All prices are per registered project plus the applicable statutory value added tax.
The applicant must ensure the correct spelling of the invoice address (legal form, address); the German Design Council reserves the right to charge a lump sum of EUR 50.00 for subsequent changes to the invoice. If the registrant specifies a different invoice recipient, the registrant hereby warrants that this different invoice recipient agrees to this and that this measure is tax-compliant and has been or will be openly communicated to the tax authorities responsible for the registrant and the different invoice recipient. Even if a different billing address is provided, the registrant remains the contractual partner of the organizer and is thus obliged to pay all amounts (in particular also for follow-up costs in the event of an award) to the organizer. The organizer is entitled to invoice the registrant, even if the registrant has specified a different invoice recipient.
If the German Design Council does not receive payment on time, it reserves the right not to present the registered project to the jury. With a valid registration, the registrant is obliged to pay the fees and costs. Failure to pay the registration fee does not result in deregistration or termination; the contractual obligations entered into therefore remain in force.
6.3 Service fees/Costs for winners
Service fees for winners in the dicipline Excellent Architecture:
“Winner” 3.300,00 EUR
“Gold” 4.300,00 EUR
Service fees for winners in the discipline Excellent Communications Design:
“Winner” 2.900,00 EUR
“Gold” 3.900,00 EUR
Service fees for winners in the discipline Excellent Product Design:
“Winner” 4.200,00 EUR
“Gold” 5.200,00 EUR
The award entitles the winner to unlimited use of the “Winner” and “Gold” labels.
Organisational fee for projects with Gold award in the exhibition*
Size S inclusive
Size M 200,00 EUR
Size L 600,00 EUR
Size XL 1200,00 EUR* The organisational fee for the exhibition depends on the size of the projects. These costs are also calculated upon self-assembly of the projects:
Size S: Length/width/height of the project each up to 1 m and up to 20 k
Size M: Length/width/height of the project each up to 2 m and up to 100 kg
Size L: Length/width/height of the project each up to 3 m and up to 200 kg
Size XL: Length/width/height of the project each over 3 m and over 200 kg6.4 Payment Service fees/Costs for winners
The registrant will receive an invoice for these service fees and costs for winners. All prices are per award plus the applicable statutory value added tax. Companies from third countries (outside the EU and EFTA) are obliged to provide a company certificate. Selection/non-use of the services in case of an award is excluded. The German Design Council is entitled to assert additional claims for damages if the relevant service fees/costs for winners have not been received in due time.
Even if the project is not submitted in original, digital or chart form, the German Design Council reserves the right to present this project to the jury with the images submitted in the online registration. In this case, this project can also be awarded accordingly, with all associated costs and fees.
Companies have the opportunity to apply for funding. The guidelines stated in the application apply. The funding includes the waiver of the service fees/costs incurred by the winners. The registration fees/costs, the Nominee Package as well as other optional services are not affected by this cost waiver. The application must be submitted by the deadline. The application form is available online (www.jotform.com/germandesigncouncil/gda-foerderantrag)
6.5 Service benefits for winners:
“Winner”
Unlimited use of the „Winner“ label for your communication measures
Two personalised winner certificates in a high quality frame
Text modules and Whitepaper for own press releases
Access to further fee-based Marketing Services
Presentation of the project with short text, photo and link in the online gallery
Social media clip of the project for use on your own channels
Digital presentation in the German Design Award exhibition
Invitation to participate in the award show* and the opportunity for a professional photo in front of the photo wall
Short jury statement“Gold”
Unlimited use of the „Gold“ label for your communication measures
Two personalised winner certificates in a high quality frame
Text modules and whitepaper for own press releases
Access to further fee-based Marketing Services
Presentation of the project with short text, photo and link in the online gallery
Social media clip of the project
Digital presentation in the German Design Award exhibition
Invitation to participate in the award show* and the opportunity for a professional photo in front of the photo wall.
Detailed jury statement
Target group-specific advertisement on Meta with linking
Receipt of an award sculpture on stage during the award show*Participation is only possible after binding registration and under consideration of the available ticket contingent.
6.6 Contractual penalty regulation in the event of improper use of nominee services
If the registrant uses contents of the nominee package or if the registrant advertises with a nomination although he has neither purchased the service, nor was nominated, a contractual penalty in the amount of EUR 10,000.00 shall be payable for each violation.
If the service fees/costs for winners (to be seen under section 6.3) are not paid in full within the payment period of the first invoice, there is no claim to the full services of the corresponding service package.
By registering the project, the applicant agrees, in the event of an award, not to publish the label until the end of the communication embargo (as communicated in advance by e-mail).
PUBLICATIONS
7.1 To document the award, a publication of the winners will appear in the online gallery. If a project receives an award, it will be shown publicly in an exhibition conceived to run in parallel with the award show. The German Design Council is responsible for the design of all documentation.
The registrant undertakes to make the project available again for the exhibition upon request. In this case, the same conditions as those listed under sections 3 and 4 apply to delivery and collection as well as to liability and insurance.
The German Design Council is responsible for the design of the exhibition and the placement of the projects within the exhibition. Due to the limited space available at the exhibition, only one copy per award-winning project can be integrated into the exhibition. A maximum of three projects can be shown for collections.
7.2 The German Design Council is only liable to the extent specified in section 3.1 for intentional or grossly negligent design errors. A refund of service fees/costs for winners is not possible.
7.3 For the publication (online exhibition), the German Design Council will use the text and/or image material which the registrant has already provided in connection with the registration pursuant to section 3 above. When making the images available, the applicant is expressly obliged to inform the German Design Council whether third parties (e.g. photographers) are to be named in the online exhibition. The metadata submitted by the registrant with the photograph, if provided by the registrant, remain unchanged. In all other respects, reference is made in section 8.
7.4 The German Design Council reserves the right to reject submissions on the basis of uniform, objectively justified principles due to their technical form or local origin; the same applies if the content violates laws or official regulations or if publication is unreasonable for the German Design Council. If the registrant is responsible for the refusal, the costs incurred up to that point must be reimbursed to the German Design Council. Any claims for damages are excluded; in all other cases, the German Design Council is liable in accordance with the provisions of section 3.6.
7.5 The Services (catalogue and certificates) will be sent to the address provided by the registrant after the award show. If delivery is not possible, it will not be repeated. Due to incorrect information, any costs for a renewed delivery must be covered by the registrant.
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
8.1 Projects that violate an industrial property right (trademark, brand name, utility model, patent or similar) are excluded from participation. Each registrant must inform the German Design Council whether any legal proceedings (competition, patent, trademark or copyright disputes in connection with the registered project) are pending with regard to the registered project. Only the registrant is liable for damages, in particular for claims by third parties arising from the violation of these General Terms and Conditions; the registrant shall also indemnify the German Design Council against all claims upon first request.
8.2 The copyrights to the projects submitted to the award (photos, videos and texts) remain with the respective registrant at all times. The registrant grants the German Design Council the rights of use and publication for the award and the associated services. In particular, the registrant must ensure that the corresponding rights of use (e.g. of photographs) exist. The applicant shall be exclusively liable for all damages incurred by the German Design Council as a result of the violation of these (possibly insufficient) rights of use and shall indemnify the German Design Council against all claims upon first request. The registrant is not entitled to a usage fee.
When photos are uploaded, it is not guaranteed that the metadata of the image will always be maintained. Only the registrant is liable for damages, in particular for claims by third parties resulting out of any inaccuracies and associated claims by third parties through the metadata indicated; the registrant shall also indemnify the German Design Council against all claims upon first request.
8.3 Photographs and video material taken on behalf of the German Design Council at events shall be used by the German Design Council exclusively for documentation, reporting and advertising purposes. By registering, the registrant agrees to this use. This consent can be revoked informally at any time (e.g. by email to the address presse@gdc.de or in writing to the German Design Council).
GERMAN DESIGN COUNCIL’S LIABILITY
Should it not be possible to publish the online gallery, to hold the award show or to open the exhibition for the award in full or on time due to force majeure, the registrant derives no claims from this. In all other cases, the German Design Council is liable in accordance with the provisions under section 3.6.
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
Should individual provisions of these General Terms and Conditions be invalid or unenforceable or become invalid or unenforceable after conclusion of the contract, this shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the contract. The invalid or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by a valid and enforceable provision whose effects come closest to the economic objective pursued by the contracting parties with the invalid or unenforceable provision. The above provisions shall apply accordingly in the event that the contract proves to be incomplete.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, PLACE OF JURISDICTION
At the time of registration specified under section 3 above, the registrant confirms that they have read and understood these General Terms and Conditions. Acknowledgement of these General Terms and Conditions is documented by the successful confirmation of registration at the latest. A successful registration only results from previous confirmation of these General Terms and Conditions. This confirmation certifies that the registrant has read, understood and accepted the General Terms and Conditions. The award conducted on the basis of these General Terms and Conditions is not intended for consumers. The registrant hereby agrees that their project will be entered into the award.
The place of performance and jurisdiction for the contract is Frankfurt am Main. In business transactions with merchants, legal entities under public law or special funds under public law, the place of jurisdiction for legal actions is Frankfurt am Main.
ORGANISATION
Branch office of the award and contact for queries:
Rat für Formgebung Service GmbH
Messeturm
Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 49
60327 Frankfurt am Main
T +49 (0) 69 24 – 74 48 688
F +49 (0) 69 24 – 74 48 700
gda@gdc.deBranch office of the award for registrants located in the People’s Republic of China, Macau SAR, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan
German Design Council (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Shanghai International Trade Center, Room 1106
No. 2201, West Yan‘an Road, Changning District
200336 Shanghai, P. R. China
T +86 (0) 21 – 6890 0658
F +86 (0) 21 – 6890 2600
info@german-design-council.cn