Where Innovation Meets Social Responsibility
Not just another design competition. The San Francisco Design Week Awards 2024 is an international design competition seeking to encourage thought leadership by supporting designers whose works can contribute towards a positive future for society.
Entries for the prestigious San Francisco Design Week Awards will be judged by a jury composed of leading Bay Area design professionals; those selected will be showcased and have a permanent presence on the SF Design Week Awards website.
San Francisco Design Week is the premier gathering of the world’s most innovative design community. For more than 18 years San Francisco Design Week has provided design professionals with the opportunity to grow their networks, enhance their visibility, find investors for future products that are shaping the future and build their careers.
We welcome applicants from across the entire range of design industries from anywhere in the world.
Important Dates
- Applications Open: February 23, 2024
- Submission Deadline: May 10, 2024
- Award Recipients will be announced: June 3, 2024
Entry Fees
- Student Entries: $125
- Educator Entries: $155
- Professional Entries: $350
Jury 2024
The San Francisco Design Week jury is a selected panel by invitation of industry experts from various disciplines including but not limited to: Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design and Industrial Design. The jury is chosen by their extensive experience in their field in leadership positions.
- Jay Ganaden, Director, Adobe Firefly
- Karin Hibma Cronan, Co-Founder, Hibma::Cronan “100 Most Creative People in Business” Fast Company
- John Clarke, Founder, John Clarke Architects
- Sabra Ballon, Principal of ballonSTUDIO
- Xiaobi Iris Pan, Sr. Product Designer, Amazon
- Sheldon Eaton, Founder, Vicinity Architects
- Homan Rajai and Elena Dendiberia, Co-Founders, Studio AHEAD
Criteria
- Visual Presentation: Aesthetics, engagement, visual storytelling and communication and materials.
- Written Description: Does it describe the projects journey from brief, design process to execution? Include target market, opportunity, challenges faced and end product solution.
- Innovation: Is the project or product original by providing something new does it improve existing products or services in a way that hasn’t been done before?
- Social Impact: Does the project, product or service have a positive impact on society as a whole?
- Relevance: Does the project, product or service reflect the intended market it serves? Does it create value?
- Purpose: Is there clarity in reasoning and goals?
- Experience: Framework and touchpoints for interaction and relevant meaning.
- Delivery: Do the final results reflect the intention successfully?
Scoring
Scoring is based on a numerical system through our online Awards Platform based on judges selections. Projects are viewed one by one in a random order and entries are completely anonymous.
Benefits include
- Entries will be viewed by an array of Community Design Leaders with diverse backgrounds
- Inclusion on the permanent online showcase for honorees
- Use of official San Francisco Design Awards medallion for your marketing materials
- Recognition and attention from the press and media through our press release and social media
- San Francisco Design Week Awards certificate to display in your studio* See chart below for options
- Application fees waived or discounted for minority led projects or businesses. Contact us for info: awards@sfdesignweek.org
Entrant fee includes a free certificate and digital medallion for recipients. Alternate options available for an additional fee:
| * | FREE | PDF of Award for self printing and framing plus digital medallion |
| * | $99 | Printed Award with frame, includes shipping to your office (some locations excluded or require additional shipping fee), plus digital medallion |
| * | $250 | Glass Engraved Award, includes shipping to your choice of address in the United States. International Shipping is additional based on location. You will also receive a digital medallion. |
Entrant Categories
Student Entrant
Projects, products or services which were created while attending university, trade or high school. Conceptual or student projects will be juried as Student Categories.
Professional Entrant
Projects or products which were created for clients in a professional setting. As professionals, educators may also choose this category. Categories can be submitted in the options below.
Entrant Note:
Student projects submitted in the professional category will be transferred to the student category or disqualified unless able to show on the application project meets requirements. Concepts will not be accepted in the Professional Category.
Professional Project Categories
Architecture
A variety of external physical ecosystems that influence, inspire and initiate our growth and behavior within residential, commercial and altruistic or non-profit environments.
Communications
Groundbreaking approaches to visual, 2D design that push the boundaries of the maxim, “the medium is the message.”
Future of Foods
Culinary innovations improving the manner in which we grow, consume and dispose of what we eat.
FashTech
Wearables reshaping how we connect with the world and define ourselves or innovative new materials used in fashion.
Health & Wellness
Products, environments and services for the healthcare industry or individual users that promote a healthy lifestyle and is good for the planet.
Industrial Design
Products, hardware or furniture mass produced for consumers and available on the market or in production.
Interior Design
A variety of internal physical ecosystems that influence, inspire and initiate our growth and behavior within residential, office, commercial, restaurant or hospitality environments.
Internet of Things
IOT products and trends that rewire our most entrenched routines or are used daily to improve productivity and or balance.
Social Impact
Design for good which has a positive impact on society as a whole.
Travel & Mobility
Products and services that change the way we explore the world.
Emerging Tech
Explorations with technology which have exciting potential to improve society in our rapidly evolving world
Wild Card
Unexpected and experimental products which can’t be placed in a specific category
Eligibility
- The San Francisco Design Week Awards are open to all design industries. This includes, but is not limited to: emerging tech, products and services, architecture, fashion, industrial design, urban planning, gaming, advertising, interior design, service design, UX, visual and graphic design, interactive installations, virtual and augmented reality, and instructional products.
- Each submission will be judged pertaining to the Criteria Listed in this post.
- Each submission must clearly identify the design category by which they wish to be judged.
- The entrant or submitted work must demonstrate either an intrinsic connection to the design community or offer a vision that can improve the lives of the people within their community.
For more information, please read our Terms & Conditions.
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