A’ Design Award & Competition 2026/2027 Early Entry Now Open

For designers, recognition is never just about a trophy. The right award can open doors to new clients, media coverage, professional connections and opportunities that might otherwise take years to build.

In a creative landscape that grows more crowded every year, design competitions remain one of the few platforms capable of placing emerging talent and established studios on the same global stage.

The A’ Design Award & Competition has spent nearly two decades doing exactly that. Established to promote good design across all disciplines, the international competition welcomes entries from designers, brands, agencies and creative professionals from around the world. With submissions accepted across more than 100 categories, it has become one of the most comprehensive design awards programs operating today.

The early entry period for the 2026–2027 edition is currently open, with an early submission deadline of June 30.

Showcase your work

Great design solves problems, improves experiences and often shapes how we interact with the world. Yet even exceptional work can struggle to gain visibility.

Awards provide an opportunity for projects to be evaluated beyond commercial success alone. They offer independent recognition, international exposure and a platform that can help designers communicate the value of their work to clients, manufacturers, publishers and the wider public.

The A’ Design Award’s mission is centered on promoting and highlighting good design globally while encouraging innovation across industries and disciplines.

Categories for Every Design Discipline

One of the defining characteristics of the competition is its breadth. Rather than forcing vastly different projects into a handful of broad categories, the award offers specialized disciplines that allow entries to be evaluated against relevant peers.

Some of the major category groups include:

• Industrial Design Award
• Architecture Design Award
• Product Design Award
• Communication Design Award
• Furniture Design Award
• Fashion Design Award

Additional categories covering everything from game design and lighting to digital experiences, packaging, interior design, jewelry and emerging technologies are available here.

More than Just a Trophy

Winning an A’ Design Award extends far beyond recognition alone. The competition’s design prize package includes a range of promotional and professional benefits intended to help winners gain visibility and credibility within the industry.

Highlights include:

• International exhibition opportunities
• Inclusion in the printed yearbook
• Global PR and publicity campaigns
• Winner certificate and trophy
• Gala night and networking events
• Inclusion in world design rankings
• Right to use the winner logo
• Media exposure through international press channels
• Professional promotion through design-focused publications
• Long-term branding and credibility advantages

For many participants, the publicity component can be just as valuable as the award itself, helping projects reach audiences well beyond their local markets.

Judged by an International Jury

Entries are evaluated by an international jury panel composed of academics, design professionals, industry experts and members of the media. Projects are assessed through a structured evaluation methodology designed to ensure fairness and transparency throughout the judging process.

This multidisciplinary approach helps ensure that projects are considered from multiple perspectives, including innovation, functionality, presentation and overall contribution to design culture.

Enter the 2026–2027 Competition

Designers interested in participating in this year’s competition can register their projects here. To learn more about the competition, categories, judging process and benefits, visit their website.

Early entry submissions close on June 30. Public results for the competition will be announced on May 1st, and as in previous years, we look forward to sharing a selection of winning projects here on the Grid once the results are released.

For designers working on their next breakthrough product, building, visual identity, digital experience or fashion collection, now may be the perfect time to put that work in front of an international audience.

This article is sponsored by A’ Design Award, a partner brand. To learn more about how we work with partners and sponsors, please visit this page, or get in touch with us to request a Media Kit.