IDSA recognizes exceptional student design talent through our annual Undergraduate Student Merit Awards program. The competition highlights the very best creativity, problem solving, and design brilliance in each of IDSA’s five North American Districts. Each participating school independently determines up to one (1) School Finalist for that school. IDSA’s Faculty Advisors are encouraged submit their School Finalist using the entry submission form on IDSA’s online awards platform. Then, School Finalists must upload their work to finalize the entry submission. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of industry and academic judges to determine the District SMA Winner. One winner is selected from each District for this prestigious distinction.
Undergraduate SMA winners (and the schools they represent) benefit from massive media exposure through IDSA’s extensive reach and high-level industry recognition. These individuals receive an online profile, a print feature in INNOVATION magazine, and special distinction at the annual International Design Conference. IDSA is proud to witness the incredible acceleration that winning an SMA provides in the professional success of those who participate.
Round 1: Selecting a SMA School Finalist
February 8 – March 22
Educators at schools with an active IDSA Student Chapter and IDSA Faculty Advisor are encouraged to identify candidates who are graduating seniors and who have demonstrated quality in their undergraduate work. On a selected date, as arranged by the Faculty Advisor, students present their work (in-person or virtually) in front of an audience of peers and local-area professional designers. Judges, selected by the Faculty Advisor, review and score Undergraduate student presentations to determine a top student from each participating school. The Undergraduate SMA Finalist is someone who demonstrates tremendous talent, breadth of skill, exceptional presentation ability, and who best embodies the industrial design program they represent.
The Faculty Advisor will submit the Undergraduate School Finalist using IDSA’s online awards platform before March 22, 2023.
Round 2: Selecting a SMA District Winner
March 23 – April 14
Undergraduate SMA Finalists enter into Round 2 by uploading project work to IDSA’s online awards platform for review by a committee of judges. The judging committee is made up of design educators and professionals who review all submissions and select winners based on the criteria: scope of work, quality of work, quality of thought, and visual presentation. Student finalists are evaluated against peers from other schools in their district. One Undergraduate SMA Winner is selected from each of the (5) Districts for this prestigious distinction.
The Undergraduate SMA program is free to enter and open to graduating senior industrial design students from a North American school with an active IDSA Student Chapter.
Participating individuals must hold a current IDSA student membership. Visit www.idsa.org/Membership to sign up. Student membership is $50 annually.
Undergraduate student candidates must have maintained at least a “B” grade average in all course work since entering the design curriculum. The candidates must be seniors projected to graduate by the end of the fall semester or last quarter of 2023.
Only one Undergraduate SMA Finalist per school may participate in the District Winner Selection.
Round 1 begins February 7, 2022 and concludes on April 8, 2022.
The faculty advisor(s) selects student candidates who have maintained at least a “B” grade average in all course work since entering the design curriculum. The candidates must be seniors projected to graduate by the end of the fall semester or last quarter of 2022.
The faculty advisor(s) assembles a jury of at least three (3) professional designers from the surrounding community. These individuals should have demonstrated proficiency in their practice. These individuals should represent diverse gender and cultural backgrounds. These individuals do not need to be IDSA members, but membership is encouraged. These individuals should not be full or part-time faculty at the school.
On a set date (as determined by the school but before April 8, 2022), student candidates will present their work for the jury of professionals, their student peers and other attendees from the local IDSA community. This can be done as an in-person event or as a video conference via Zoom, Facetime, etc. due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The student’s verbal and visual presentation submission should meet the following:
Limited to 8 minutes in length start to finish
Should include images, graphics, video, etc. that detail project work in a professional and comprehensive way
Delivered live, in real-time … not prerecorded
An optional video recording all student candidate presentations is highly encouraged so this video may be included in SMA Undergraduate Finalist Round 2 submission.
Jurors must use THESE EVALUATION FORMS to rate students in the areas of: scope of work, quality of work, quality of thought, visual presentation, and verbal presentation.
The scores will determine the top candidate in that school. If the scores result in a tie, a discussion among jurors present will be conducted in order to choose that school’s Undergraduate SMA Finalist. If needed, jurors are welcome to hold this discussion via video chat.
One student from each school is chosen as the Undergraduate SMA Finalist.
By April 8, 2022 the faculty advisor will notify IDSA of their Undergraduate SMA Finalist by submitting their finalist selection online at idsa.org/sma-school-winner-form
School judging and finalist submission begins February 8, 2023 and concludes on March 22, 2023.
The faculty advisor(s) selects student candidates who have maintained at least a “B” grade average in all course work since entering the design curriculum. The candidates must be seniors projected to graduate by the end of the fall semester or last quarter of 2023.
The faculty advisor(s) assembles a jury of at least three (3) professional designers from the surrounding community. These individuals should have demonstrated proficiency in their practice. These individuals should represent diverse gender and cultural backgrounds. These individuals do not need to be IDSA members, but membership is encouraged. These individuals should not be full or part-time faculty at the school.
On a set date (as determined by the school but before March 22, 2023), student candidates will present their work for the jury of professionals, their student peers and other attendees from the local IDSA community. This can be done as an in-person event or as a video conference via Zoom, Facetime, etc.
The student’s verbal and visual presentation submission should meet the following:
Limited to 8 minutes in length start to finish
Should include images, graphics, video, etc. that detail project work in a professional and comprehensive way
Delivered live, in real-time … not prerecorded
An optional video recording all student candidate presentations is highly encouraged so this video may be included in SMA Undergraduate Finalist submission.
Jurors must use THESE EVALUATION FORMS to rate students in the areas of: scope of work, quality of work, quality of thought, visual presentation, and verbal presentation.
The scores will determine the top candidate in that school. If the scores result in a tie, a discussion among jurors present will be conducted in order to choose that school’s Undergraduate SMA Finalist. If needed, jurors are welcome to hold this discussion online or offline.
One student from each school is chosen as the Undergraduate SMA Finalist.
By March 22, 2023 the faculty advisor will submit their finalist selection online using IDSA’s online awards platform.
- Undergraduate SMA Finalists must finalize their entries no later than April 14, 2023.
- Only one Undergraduate SMA Finalist per school may participate in the District Winner Selection.
- Undergraduate SMA Finalists will use IDSA’s online awards platform to complete their submission for review.
- Undergraduate SMA Finalists’ submissions will be comprised of:
- Project Portfolio
- Detailing up to three (3) individual projects. PDF format, not to exceed 15 pages in length.
- The portfolio should address and display competency in the following areas:
- Your problem statement and design solution
- Your research and synthesis
- Design approach and process
- Clearly define student role in the group
- How your work is forward-thinking and unique
- How your work addresses real-world challenges and advances the design profession
- Project Images
- Three (3) individual images that best represent the projects in your portfolio; one image per project; 300 dpi high resolution
- Verbal Statement
- A two (2) minute video statement verbally addressing the following prompts
- What’s an experience you’ve had in your design education (project, presentation, etc.) that’s helped shape who you are as a designer?
- What’s an example of something in the world (product, experience, service, etc.), where you feel like design has made a powerful impact?
- A two (2) minute video statement verbally addressing the following prompts
- Additional Option: Video recording of your Round 1 school presentation
- Project Portfolio
- All submissions must be completed by April 14, 2023.
Each (school level) Undergraduate SMA Finalist receives the following:
- A profile in INNOVATION magazine’s Winter print issue.
- Recognition on IDSA.org and social media with other SMA Finalists.
- A commemorative print certificate delivered at the conclusion of the competition.
Each (district level) Undergraduate SMA Winner receives the following:
- A profile in INNOVATION magazine’s Winter Education Review print issue.
- Recognition on IDSA.org and social media with other SMA District Winners.
- A commemorative trophy presented by IDSA Awards At-Large Director at the 2023 International Design Conference.
- A commemorative print certificate
- A complimentary 1-year Young Professional membership to IDSA.
- A complimentary registration to attend and deliver the winning presentation on stage at the 2023 International Design Conference (travel not included).
- A complimentary 1-year Premium Profile placement for their school on IDSA’s ID Schools online directory. www.idsa.org/education/id-schools
School Jurors must use THESE EVALUATION FORMS to make their scores and tabulate results in the selection of a SMA School Finalist. School Faculty Advisors will use the tools built into IDSA’s online awards platform to submit their finalist selection.
District Jurors will use the tools built into IDSA’s online awards platform to rate students. The resulting scores will determine the top candidate in each District or top overall candidate. If the scores result in a tie, phone/video conference call discussion among District jurors will be conducted in order to choose the SMA Winner(s).
Scope of Work
The submitted portfolio of projects should demonstrate proficiency across multiple mediums, project categories and/or problem areas. The student should display an in-depth understanding of the entire design process and design research from start to finish; this should be reflected within the body of their work.
Quality of Work
The submitted portfolio of projects should demonstrate a high-level of proficiency in industrial design skills such as: user research, ideation (sketching/rendering and prototyping), modeling (3D and physical), materials and/or manufacturing. The final solutions or presentations of process or ideas should be aesthetically fitting and exhibit appropriate balance between form and function.
Quality of Thought
The student should demonstrate in-depth and holistic understanding of a problem/opportunity scoping, design criteria and context. The student is effective in making connections between their work and practice/academia, and demonstrates thinking that contributes to advancing the design profession. This critical analysis should be reflected (and communicated) in their research and process, and/or final solution(s). The work should be forward thinking and unique.
Visual Presentation
The submitted materials should be clearly organized, well composed and visually compelling. The work should be representative of a cohesive collection and communicate an intelligible narrative throughout.
Verbal Presentation
(Only evaluated at the school level) – The student should articulate their thoughts, work and process in a clear and succinct manner. Verbal statements should be delivered with a compelling narrative and demonstrate holistic understanding of the subject matter.