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Started in 1980 by The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), the International Design Excellence Awards program (IDEA) fosters business and public understanding about the impact of design excellence on the quality of life and the economy. While the IDEA program is considered the preeminent design competition in the United States, its scope and influence reach far beyond U.S. boundaries.

Timeline

December 1, 2010 Contest opens for entries
Jan 28, 2011, 11:59 PM PT Regular application deadline
Feb 04, 2011, 11:59 PM PT Late application deadline*
Week of March 07, 2011 Finalist notification
TBD Final judging event
TBD Winners notified
June 2011 Winners announced
September 17, 2011 IDEA ceremony at the IDSA International
Conference in New Orleans, LA

Entry Cost

IDSA Member - $250 per entry
Non-member - $350 per entry
Student with ID - $100 per entry
Late fee - $150 per entry
Hanging Fee for 2nd round of judging: $250 per entry/ $75 for Students

JUDGING CRITERIA

The IDEA 2011 judging is based on the following criteria of industrial design
excellence. These criteria are weighted by the judges as they deem appropriate
for the category:
1. Innovation (design, experience, manufacturing);
2. Benefit to the user (performance, comfort, safety, ease of use, usability, user interface, ergonomics, universal function and access, quality of life, affordability);
3. Responsibility: Benefit to society, environment, culture and economy (improved accessibility to a greater percentage of the population, improves education, meets basic needs of low income populations, reduces disease, improves competitiveness, raises wealth, improves the quality of life, supports cultural diversity, improves energy efficiency, durability, addresses product lifecycle effects on the environment, uses low impact materials and processes throughout lifecycle, designed for repair/reuse/recyclability, addresses issues of toxicity, reduced material usage and waste reduction
4. Benefit to the client (profitability, increased sales, brand reputation, employee morale);
5. Visual appeal and appropriate aesthetics;
6. Design Research Category Insights (usability, emotional factors, un-met needs) testing rigor and reliability
7. Design Strategy Category (internal factors and methods, strategic value and implementation)

Industry Segments

Commercial & Industrial Products

Building Equipment & Systems / Heavy Machinery / Construction & Industrial Vehicles / Other equipment or tools / Concepts & Prototypes

Communication Tools

Phones and VOIP / Cell phones, smart phones, PDAs / Navigation devices / Earpieces & headsets / Accessories / Concepts & Prototypes

Computer Equipment

Desktops / Laptops, Notebooks, Ultra-mobiles / Servers & Housings / Portable Devices / Display screens, monitors & projectors / Input Devices / Peripherals / Concepts & Prototypes

Entertainment

Stereos, speakers / TVs, DVD players / Headphones / Cameras & Camcorders / Personal Audio Players / Accessories & Cable Management / Home Theater / Musical Instruments / Multimedia & Gaming Equipment / Multifunction Devices /
Mobile Entertainment / Concepts & Prototypes

Environments

Corporate, Public & Private Spaces / Environmental Graphics & Signage Systems / Museum Exhibits & Set Designs / Showrooms & Retail Merchandising
/ Trade Show Exhibits / Street Lighting and Furniture / Concepts & Prototypes

Home Living

Appliances / Home & Decorative Accessories / Kitchen, Garden & Workshop Tools / Cutlery & Kitchenware / Residential Furniture & Lighting / Fixtures & Hardware / Concepts & Prototypes

Leisure & Recreation

Toys & Games / Sporting, Fitness & Camping Gear / Concepts & Prototypes

Medical & Scientific Products

Clinical & Diagnostic Products / Industrial & Scientific Products / Surgical & Therapeutic Products / Home-Care & Self-Care Products / Concepts & Prototypes

Office & Productivity

Supplies & Organizers / Equipment & Fixtures / Writing Instruments / Office Furniture & Lighting / Concepts & Prototypes

Personal Accessories

Apparel / Backpacks / Bags & Cases / Eyeglasses / Footwear / Hats & Helmets / Watches / Concepts & Prototypes

Service Design

There are three categories of services: revenue generating services, non-profit services and government services.

Transportation

Automotive & Locomotive Exterior & Interior / Marine & Aircraft Exterior & Interior / Motorcycles / Recreational Vehicles / Bicycles / Concepts & Prototypes

Design Segments

• Design Strategy (use the Design Strategy entry form)
• Design Strategy & Management / Design Thinking
• Interactive Product Experiences (use the Interactive Product Experiences entry form)
• Consumer, Home & Personal / Business, Communications & Productivity /
• Games & Multimedia / Concepts & Prototypes
• Packaging & Graphics
• Packaging Graphics / Packaging Structures / Concepts & Prototypes
• Student Designs
• Undergraduate Student Projects / Graduate Student Projects
• Research