A career-defining recognition​

The International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) is organized annually by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). Each year, thousands of entries are submitted by designers across the globe in hopes of securing a highly prized IDEA recognition. The competition is open to professional designers (corporate in-house teams, brands, studios, independent consultants, and entrepreneurs) and students. 

2024 marks the 44th anniversary of IDEA, making it one of the longest running and most prestigious design awards programs in existence. Originally founded to recognize exceptional achievement in industrial design, the program has since grown to highlight design in many connected disciplines, including design strategy, branding, digital interaction, environments, social impact, and so much more. 

Winning an IDEA is a career defining moment and puts your design on a global platform, gaining it industry recognition alongside some of the most lauded products of all time. Past IDEA winners are some of the most successful and significant products ever created. They change people’s lives, create new industries, and ignite imaginations.

IDEA sets the benchmark for what a design award represents and has endured to become a career-defining catalyst for those talented enough to win.

Defining design excellence

IDEA recognizes products and services that encourage, inspire, and push our industry forward. We promote innovation and excellence. We encourage an in-depth and forward-thinking process. Ultimately, we honor great design that brings real benefit to users, clients, and society.

Each year, the jury reviews IDEA entries across 5 criteria. The same criteria have remained largely unchanged during the 40-plus year history of IDEA. We believe this consistency further separates the IDEA program from other awards programs.

Since its inception, the goal of IDEA has always remained to identify and honor the pinnacle of design excellence. IDEA is unweathered by shifting fads or transitory styling. Rather, its winners reveal the tremendous significance of design in business, society and beyond, thus proving that great results are possible when design is leveraged to its fullest potential.

Design Innovation – How new is the product or service? What critical problem is it solving? How clever is the solution? Does it advance a product category?

Benefit to User – How is the user’s life improved through this design? Can they accomplish things not previously possible?

Benefit to Client/Brand – What is the business impact of this design? How has leveraging design proven to be a key market differentiator?

Benefit to Society – Does the solution consider social and cultural factors? Is it designed/manufactured with sustainable methods/materials?

Appropriate Aesthetics – Does the form of the design adequately relate to its use/function? Are the colors/materials/finishes used befitting to its purpose?

IDEA Winners & Their Legacy

Previous IDEA Winners

Some of the world’s most successful and popular products are IDEA winners. This fact further enriches IDEA’s history of only recognizing the very best submissions each year. For many designers, IDEA sets the standard for examples of exceptional design and is frequently used as a reference when developing new products.

Our Gallery houses over 3,500 award winning products and featured finalists from the past 20 years of the program. The collection holds a wide range of innovations, many of which may have at first seemed like science-fiction, but have now become commonplace.

Partners

Thank you to these organizations who help increase the value and impact that IDEA has for winning designs. 

The Henry Ford Museum

Clocktower entrance to Henry Ford Museum_Photo Credit The Henry Ford

Official Program Partner

Through an ongoing partnership with The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, winning IDEA products may be entered into the permanent collection of the museum. The Henry Ford name is synonymous with innovation and the pursuit of excellence. The museum welcomes over 1.7 million visitors per year and is a national historic landmark, with an unparalleled collection of artifacts spanning over 300 years of human ingenuity.

LeManoosh

LeManoosh.com

Official Media Partner

LeManoosh.com is a design blog where you can find creative inspiration, boost your skills and look for your next job. It serves a global audience and has established a reputation for highlighting exceptional product design. Selected IDEA 2023 winners will be featured by LeManoosh, which extends our reach and provides the added benefits of worldwide exposure for our winners.

IDEA 2023 Ceremony

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