Good Design Awards

The Australian Good Design Awards continues a long and proud legacy of showcasing the very best in design and innovation to a global audience. The Awards are one of the longest-running international design awards in the world, promoting excellence in design and innovation since 1958.

Each year, the Awards attract new and innovative design projects from around the world, celebrating the very best in all areas of design, architecture, engineering, research, fashion and social impact.

Entries represent projects across broad sectors and industries and cover everything from the design of everyday products we use, the services we interact with and the places and spaces we occupy, to the design of the processes and systems that underpin our businesses, industries, economies and social habits.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Entry can be designed and developed in Australia or overseas.
2. Entry must be completed/available on the market prior to the Australian Good Design Awards Ceremony.
3. Projects still under development or construction are not eligible to enter.
4. Product entries must be complete products, not parts thereof. Individual products sold within a range (not for individual sale) are not eligible to enter – the full range must be submitted for evaluation. A component of a product is not eligible to enter unless it is sold separately.
5. Medical and/or therapeutic goods available for sale in Australia must have appropriate Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval to be eligible for entry. Entries must comply with any applicable standards and/or safety certification (only if required).

Eligibility for Next Gen Category

1. Entrants must be 30 or under at the time of the Entry Deadline.
2. Entrants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens or studying at a recognised Australian or New Zealand University, TAFE or secondary college. 
3. Entries are not required to be commercially available. Concepts and University projects are eligible for entry.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

• GOOD DESIGN
  • Does the entry satisfy the criteria for Good Design in its specific Design Discipline?
  • Please refer to the category-specific Evaluation Criteria for Good Design for the 12 Design Disciplines listed here on the left hand side.
• DESIGN INNOVATION
  • Does the entry advance the design profession and push the boundaries of new and innovative thinking in design practice?
  • Is the entry truly unique, imaginative and innovative and does it offer a new and groundbreaking value proposition with potential world-first features?
  • Does the entry use new systems, materials, processes and/or technology in a clever, imaginative and original manner?
• DESIGN IMPACT
  • Social Impact: Does the entry have the potential to make a significant positive impact on society? Will it improve the quality of life for people and our planet and help contribute to a better, safer and more prosperous world?
  • Commercial Impact: Does the entry have the potential to make a significant positive impact on business performance? Will the investment in design result in a significant increase in market share, sales and/or customer loyalty?
  • Environmental Impact: Does the entry have the potential to make a significant positive impact on the environment? Will the design set a new benchmark for sustainable design and help contribute to a better and more sustainable future?

What are the different Good Design Award Accolades? The Good Design Award accolades are among the most respected and recognised international design endorsement symbols in the industry. These registered trademarks are visible indicators of good design principles and an organisation's commitment to design excellence.

• GOOD DESIGN AWARD WINNER: The Good Design Award Winner accolade is awarded to products, services or projects that, in the opinion of the judges have satisfied the evaluation criteria for Good Design. There is no limit to the number of Good Design Award Winner accolades.
• GOOD DESIGN AWARD GOLD: The Good Design Award Gold accolade is awarded to products, services or projects that have not only met the criteria for Good Design, but exceed them. There is no limit to the number of Good Design Award Gold accolades.
• GOOD DESIGN AWARD BEST IN CLASS: The Good Design Award Best in Class accolade represents the highest level of design excellence in a sub-category and represents absolute best in class design. The Good Design Award Best in Class accolade is limited to the top 30 projects in the Good Design Awards. Recipients are presented on stage at the annual Good Design Awards Ceremony.
• GOOD DESIGN AWARD SUSTAINABILITY: Good Design Award Sustainability is awarded to an entry that represents the highest level of excellence in sustainable design practice and is limited to only one (1) recipient that in the judge’s opinion, will have a positive impact in promoting excellence in sustainable design.
• GOOD DESIGN AWARD OF THE YEAR: The Good Design Award of the Year is the highest design honour bestowed in the Awards and is granted to only one (1) overall winning product, service or project that represents groundbreaking design at an international level. The recipient must surpass all design evaluation criteria and in the judge’s opinion, showcase absolute excellence in design at every level. Above all, the recipient of this coveted accolade must demonstrate that it is making a positive impact in helping shape a better, safer and more sustainable world, through design.