Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can attend the awards ceremony, design gallery, and awards party? Is it free?
All winners and their guests can attend the ceremony for free, but all travel and accomodations costs are your responsibility. If you wish to register for the conference or attend the after-ceremony awards gala, you must purchase tickets. Conference registration and party tickets will be available at http://www.idsa.org/polaropposites/registration/index.html.

Q: Which entries are displayed in the design gallery at the national conference?
Bronze, Silver and Gold winners are all invited to display their award-winning design. If you sent a product sample or scale model/prototype for the final round of judging, IDSA will transport these to the exhibit for you. Otherwise, your only cost to display your winning product is for shipping and handling through the designated conference exhibition services company.

Q: Do I need to attend the conference or be present in the gallery in order for my design to be on display?
No, your design can be on display whether or not you attend.

Q: When will I receive my certificates?
These will be mailed to you in September 2008.

Q: When and where can I purchase copies of the Yearbook?
These will be available for purchase online when the Yearbook is published in September. Winners receive a discount off the regular price.

Q: What is "design credit"?
This is where you list all the people (or teams if you prefer) that contributed to the design you are submitting on their behalf.

Q: How should I list the design credits if the design team is in-house?
You should list the company as a design credit and also as the client/manufacturer.

Q: Our design team is in-house. Is it still ok for the manufacturer’s name and logo to appear in the entry?
Yes, names or logos of manufacturing companies/clients may appear if they are inherent to the product. If the design team has its own identity though, you may NOT include its name or logo. Also, don’t refer in the entry form to “the in-house design team.” Just use “design team.”

Q: How do I pay late fees?
If you submit a late entry, the online entry software will automatically add the late fee to your account and you will be responsible for settling your account prior to the final deadline.

Q: I am a student, which entry form should I use?
Students should use the general entry form.

Q: How do I know if my design should be entered as a concept or a product category?
If your design is scheduled for production, you cannot enter it as a concept. If it doesn’t meet the distribution requirements because it’s not yet in production, you must wait and enter it the following year.

Q: What does “in distribution” mean?
In distribution means it’s available for purchase through normal sales channels. For the most part, this means the general public should be able to find it and purchase it. Certain items like planes, expensive medical equipment, etc. will be considered in distribution if orders have been taken from the end client.

Q: Is it ok to include text on the images?
Yes, except on the glamour shot. You will also be able to provide image captions in the software online. Also consider creating a PDF storyboard instead.

Q: Other than entry fees, what fees will winners be obligated to pay?
None! View the list of additional winner benefits and note that there are many optional ways of maximizing your award's exposure in the form of advertising but we do not require winners to pay anything extra for Yearbook inclusion, certificates, ceremony attendance, logos, etc.

Q: Can I enter the same design in more than one category?
Yes, but you must pay separate entry fees.

Q: Can the same design win in more than one category?
Yes, but not in two product categories (i.e. not in both Entertainment and Personal Accessories). The same design can win in a product category as well as Research, Strategy, Ecodesign, and Interactive Product Experiences.

Q: Can I enter a family of products as one entry?
Yes! Make sure the whole family is in the glamour shot.