Design Skill Awards
Explore product design recognition at Design Skill and prepare an entry that explains the object, its intended use and the decisions behind it. Start with published winners, then check the current programme brief for eligible categories, project dates and submission requirements.
Current edition: Registration for the next DSA season opens soon; dates and fees appear here as soon as they are published. Winners of the current edition are announced on 9 October 2026. See the Design Skill Awards brief for the current status. The International Excellence Awards is a separate programme with its own edition and conditions.
Find the right category for your product
A physical product may involve several kinds of design work: the object itself, packaging, a digital interface or a wider service. Define the scope of your proposed entry before selecting a nomination. A product presentation should make its use, scale, construction and project status understandable.
Use the category list in the programme brief to confirm the available nomination. Do not assume that recognition in a previous edition establishes eligibility for the next one. If the work spans disciplines, ask the organiser which entry category fits the contribution you want assessed.
Explore recognised product design
Browse the Product Design Award Winners collection for published award records and project credits. Look at how different objects communicate their purpose and the decisions that shaped their form.
Each record belongs to a particular programme, edition and nomination. Keep those details together when comparing examples. An award record documents recognition; it is not independent certification of every performance or environmental claim made about a product.
Prepare a clear presentation
Introduce the intended user, the task and the stage of development. Show the complete object, its scale and a relevant interaction or construction detail. Label renders and prototypes clearly. Explain the design decisions supported by those images rather than relying on a sequence of similar hero photographs.
Use the product design entry guide to plan the submission. The case-study framework helps connect the brief, decisions and evidence. When the pack is ready, review it against the submission checklist.
Check the current entry conditions
Before committing to an entry, confirm the programme and edition, available categories, accepted project stages, fees, deadlines, file requirements and publication terms. Follow the published judging criteria for that programme; the preparation advice on this page is not a substitute for its rules.
Fees and deadlines belong to the specific edition. Use the current brief rather than a price copied from an older article. Optional purchases should be considered separately from the entry requirements.
Questions before entering
Can I enter a concept or prototype? Check the selected programme’s current eligibility rules. Describe the actual development stage and identify which aspects have been tested.
Can the product and its packaging be entered separately? Check the multiple-entry rules and nomination descriptions. If separate entries are permitted, explain the specific contribution of each and keep the shared project facts consistent.
Where should I start? Browse the winners, read the current brief, then use the product design guide to prepare the material that the relevant form requests.
Product design nominations in the Design Skill Awards
The Product discipline of the Design Skill Awards includes 14 nominations. Choose the nomination that best describes the product.
| Nominations | |
|---|---|
| Best Kitchen & Cookware Design | Best Home Appliances & Electronics |
| Best Health & Wellness Product Design | Best Personal Care & Beauty Product Design |
| Best Office Equipment & Supplies Design | Best Outdoor & Sports Equipment Design |
| Best Children's Product Design | Best Sustainable & Eco-friendly Product Design |
| Best Wearable Technology & Smart Clothing | Best Robotics & Automation Design |
| Best Educational & Learning Tools Design | Best Textiles, Fabrics & Material Design |
| Best DIY & Craft Supplies Design | Custom & Unique Product Design |
DSA fees and deadlines
Registration for the next season opens soon.
- Project submission deadline: 13 September 2026
- Winners announced: 9 October 2026
Students receive a 50% discount on everything except trophies.
Recent Design Skill Awards product winners
| Project | Studio / designer | Country | Award | Nomination | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Basin | Nood Co | Australia | Platinum, DSA 2024 | Best Artistic Design Objects | Completed / Built |
| Luxury Niche Perfume Brand | Parfums d‘Elmar | Switzerland | Platinum, DSA 2024 | Best Health & Wellness Product Design | Completed / Built |
| UHUE – Custom Cosmetic Creator | Unbox Product Design | United States | Platinum, DSA 2024 | Best Personal Care & Beauty Product Design | Concept |
| Heritage | Gopher Wood | Hong Kong | Platinum, DSA 2024 | Best DIY & Craft Supplies Design | Completed / Built |
| 30" trophies for Activate Game's Tournament of Champions | Watson Design | Canada | Platinum, DSA 2024 | Custom & Unique Product Design | Completed / Built |
| 9 Habits – How to Diet Every Day | Viable | United States | Platinum, DSA 2024 | Best Educational & Learning Tools Design | Concept |
Browse more projects on the Design Skill Awards winners page.
What winners receive
Each Design Skill Awards winner and runner-up receives an electronic certificate of achievement, a set of award logos and promotional banners, and a landing page on the website with full information about the project. Winning projects are publicised on the award’s social media, media partners publish selected winners, and a special engraved trophy can be ordered.
Product design awards FAQ
Which nomination fits a kitchen product?
Best Kitchen & Cookware Design.
Can I enter a concept or prototype?
Recent product winners include concept projects, and the project status is shown on each winner page.
Who judges the entries?
The Design Skill Awards jury of designers, architects and educators. See the Grand Jury Members page.
How much does it cost to enter?
Registration for the next DSA season opens soon; the fee schedule on this page updates automatically when it is published. Students receive a 50% discount on everything except trophies.
When is the submission deadline?
The current submission deadline is 13 September 2026, and winners are announced on 9 October 2026.
Where do I register?
On the Design Skill Awards registration page.
Registration for the next DSA season opens soon; dates and fees appear here as soon as they are published.