Where Innovation Meets Social Responsibility

Not just another design competition. The San Francisco Design Week Awards is an international design competition seeking to encourage thought leadership by supporting designers whose works can contribute towards a positive future for society. San Francisco Design Week is the premier gathering of the world’s most active design community. 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. For more than 17 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.

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.

BioTech

Developments in how life is expressed and explained both around and within us.

Civic Design

Thoughtful design to ensure interaction between federal or local government and citizens is accessible, easy and effective. Projects can include those that focus on the common good and of benefit to communities or the individuals using the systems and creates confidence in institutions. These projects transform culture within city halls and government orgs benefitting the residents who live in the community. Examples: Election design, official city websites, or community interest projects.

Conversation Design

Sonic breakthroughs that make waves in the sounds we produce and the ways we communicate. Projects can include voice or conversation design, voice user interface design and voice user experience design.

Communication Design

Groundbreaking approaches to visual, 2D design that push the boundaries of the maxim, “the medium is the message.” Projects include graphic design, web design, packaging and branding.

Data

Projects that utilize data to create better experiences for users. Projects can include data visualization, interface or algorithms.

Disaster Response

Projects that respond to natural disasters such as the Pandemic, Wildfires, Earthquakes and Floods.

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.

FinTech

Products that are shifting our definitions of and interactions with money. Systems or apps for Banking, trading, products or services.

Health and Wellness

Products, environments and services for the healthcare industry or individual users that promote a healthy lifestyle.

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.

Social Impact

Design for good that contributes positively to underserved communities or countries.

Student Category

Design projects created while attending an undergraduate or graduate program, or within a year of graduation.

Systems Design

Design systems focused on the human component which can include accessibility, models, behavior and data flow. Architectural, logical or physical.

Travel & Hospitality

Products and services that change the way we explore the world.

Urban Mobility

Innovations that improve how people get around cities faster, happier and more efficiently. Projects can include software or apps, vehicles, transportation and systems.

User Experience

Projects that map out a user’s journey in an app, product, or in-person experience.

VR/AR/XR

Explorations that mine the exciting potential of rapidly evolving AR and VR platforms to transport us to new worlds. Non-immersive, fully immersive, augmented reality, collaborative or web-based experiences.

Wild Card

The unexpected and experimental products that can’t be put into a category.