Graduate Design Awards

In this category entrants can submit projects that use animation (2D/3D), motion graphics, visual effects, digital animation or gaming. Projects should consider the use of storytelling and narrative demonstrating its use to creatively contribute to the overall project. Entrants can submit moving image files or links to externally hosted content together with storyboards.

Projects in this category must be for the built environment. This includes all residential, commercial, retail, office, hospitality, healthcare, education, conservation, leisure, marine, public, performance and museum-based projects. The project entries can be a new build, retro-fit or fit-out. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images.

Projects in this category must be focused on interiors designed for commercial or residential use. This interiors category also covers fit-outs, renovations, and alterations to existing structures. The jury will consider the use of space, the adaptation, complexity, purpose, innovation, impact, clarity, accessibility, sustainability, materiality, and transition of the project. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images. Walk-through videos are also welcome (3 mins. or less).

Projects in this category must be focused on interiors designed for public use such as cultural or educational use and exhibition design. This interiors category also covers fit-outs, renovations, and alterations to existing structures. The jury will consider the use of space, the adaptation, complexity, purpose, innovation, impact, clarity, accessibility, sustainability, materiality, and transition of the project. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images. Walk-through videos are also welcome (3 mins.or less).

Projects in this category can include ui/ux, and Digital Product Design. The Interaction Design award recognises user orientation and outstanding design in products and digital solutions. For websites, please provide a link to a live site. The jury will focus on how the project met the demands of present day and future users, positive user experience, added human value, empathy, imagination, and engendered brand identity that is accessible, comfortable and sympathetic. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images. Under the attachments section, you may include a 1 page pdf document further elaborating on the process in addition to the maximum 500 word description given under the criteria section.

Entrants to this category should focus on design for retail; window display, in-store, pop-up shops or other visual merchandising displays. The jury will consider technical skill, inventive use of media, complexity, commercial purpose and/or message, creativity, innovation, visual impact, clarity, materiality, choice of merchandise, and proportional transitions. Strong photography is essential for the judging of the final submission. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images. Walk-through videos are also welcome (3 mins.or less).

This category is for the design of fabrics, yarns and fibres; whether for clothing, accessories or other uses. The jury will be looking for ground-breaking print, weave, knit and other techniques, quality, functionality, and overall design. Please include macro/close-up photographs of your fabrics and how they have been used. Strong photography is essential for the judging of the final submission as judges will not see actual fabric samples. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images.

This category is for garments or a collection of garments that are functional or experimental and are executed considering silhouette, cut, draping and movement. The jury will be looking for technical ability in the production of the garment, use of fabrics, functionality, and overall demonstration of design and making. Pay particular emphasis to the quality of the photography. As well as photo-shoot images of garments worn, it would be very helpful to include detailed images to showcase your project. These could be close ups of tailoring, embellishments, and detailing. Bear in mind the judges only have images to review and important details of the design may not be apparent. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images.

This category is for projects that embed sustainable practices in relation to the life cycle of a garment from design through to textile selection. Projects should address issues around sustainability and include circularity and innovation from the sector. Each stage of the design process should highlight and implement innovative practices, processes as well as producing garments that are wearable, useful and functional. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images.

Entries for this category should exhibit innovative and imaginative ideas in any of the various mediums related to the fields of ceramics, glass, furniture or jewellery. Judges are looking to celebrate creative solutions, excellent making and artistic merit. Bear in mind that judges will only have images of your work to review, so high quality, well-lit photographs of your work will be very beneficial to best showcase your project and to highlight important details of the design.

This category is for academic research as an extended essay or thesis. (Minimum word count: 3000). The Design Research category awards academic research that is embedded in any design sector and aims to improve, investigate or add to understanding of that topic. This category applies to Bachelors and Masters projects including those submitted for a BA, BArch, BDes, BSc, MA, MDes, MSc or MRes. Please upload a separate abstract along with the body of text in pdf format.

This category is for practice led research undertaken through a robust and rigorous design process.  This category applies to research projects submitted for a BA, BArch, BDes, BSc, MA, MDes, MSc or MRes. Submissions should outline the primary and secondary research undertaken, use or development of design methods and tools, and impact of the research in a pdf format.

This category is for designed pieces of bespoke furniture, furniture designed to be manufactured commercially or architectural and interior fittings. The jury will be looking for innovative and appropriate use of materials, quality and overall design. Pay particular attention to the quality of the visuals submitted. As well as photo-shoot images, it would be very helpful to include detailed images to showcase your project. Bear in mind the judges only have images to review, important details of the design may not be apparent. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images.

This category is for any project for the consumer and non-consumer market including industrial, heavy equipment, lighting, products for children, office equipment and transportation. The jury will be looking for innovative design that places the end user at the centre of the proposed solution, use of material, high quality and overall attention to detail. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images.**This category excludes medical devices and furniture. 

This category is for any project, product or solution that has been designed to address a requirement in the medical device sector. Projects would include those looking at assisted living technology, clinical and laboratory equipment, hospital, medical/healthcare devices and other life sciences equipment. The jury will be looking for innovative design, of a high quality that achieves a high aesthetic standard without compromising on usability. Design solutions should place the end-user at the centre of the proposed solution and the benefit to the user should be clear. Use of material and overall attention to detail are important considerations. Use good quality jpgs only for your attached images.

In this category entrants can submit projects that use moving image or film. These could include but are not limited to; audio / visual, silent film, advertising, music videos, dance pieces, short documentaries. The focus should be on the use of moving image or film as a storytelling device. Entrants can upload pieces with or without storyboards or link to externally hosted content.

This category is open to any projects which address a social need. It encompasses themes in design for environmental, social and economic sustainability, biodiversity, regenerative design, climate action and socially sustainable design and which consider the ongoing global context.

In this category, we ask entrants to submit visualisations used in a design project. These could take the form of photography, CAD, fly throughs, drawings and other visuals. These must be the students own and must make up a body of work rather than purely singular images. You can submit any suite of original visuals designed to communicate a design. The jury will look for creativity, concept and craft in both the visuals themselves and how they engage their target audience.

In this category entrants can submit a variety of applications for a visual brand, including logo, stationery suites, brand guidelines, print, digital, environmental, signage etc. (all applications of the identity and visual language). The jury will be looking for an identity that shows a unified vision and tools that help the client build the brand.

In this category entrants can submit projects that will be viewed, used or exist online or in digital format only. These projects could be cinematic, experimental, kinetic or explore innovation through digital outcomes. They could be frontend design for online projects but must consider how the viewer connects with the information through digital means. Please provide url links to any live projects, or upload gifs etc. with your submission. If required, you may submit a 1-page pdf further elaborating on the process. This is in addition to the maximum 500 word description.

In this category entrants are asked to submit illustrations used in the context of a design project. Illustration work must be a body of work, no singular images, and can include any original artwork designed to be used for books, book covers, editorial, posters, packaging, web, digital etc. The jury will be looking for creativity, concept and craft in both the illustration and how it fits into the overall design.

In this category, entrants are invited to submit a collaboration between design and a minimum of one other disciplinary area outside the creative sector where a design-led approach is used to address a non-traditional design problem area. These projects could be co-design for social change, and inter-disciplinary action, or commercial venture. The jury will look for outcomes where creative process and design-led practice extend the outputs through the collaboration.

In this category entrants can submit printed books; educational, text, children’s, art, coffee-table books etc. The jury will look at the overall presentation of the object, the context for which it is intended and the inventiveness of layout and care with type as well as print decisions and execution.

In this category entrants are asked to submit projects including; posters, booklets, printed collateral and matter that perhaps does not fit in the other visual communication categories.The jury will be looking for creativity, innovation, functionality and craft in both the design and the print choices and how well the project has managed the printed ephemera.

In this category entrants will demonstrate excellence in typographic design, execution and understanding. Judges welcome the submission of designed typefaces, as well as the application of typography. Typography should be an intrinsic element of the overall design solution. The jury will look for creativity, subtlety, nuance or differentiating impact of the typography, craft, detail, consistency, originality, maintenance of superlative standards and clarity in visual communication of emotional or commercial message. Judges welcome the submission of designed typefaces, as well as the application of typography.

Is your entry a Universal Design? A Universal Design should be easy to Access, Understand and Use by a wide range of people. Universal Design is a free extra (opt-in) IDI Award category. To opt-in for a Universal Design award, you must include the words “Universal Design” as part of the text about your entry. Judges will evaluate a qualifying entry based on how clearly you show that you followed a Universal Design Approach — the extent to which you have considered and addressed the more diverse needs, abilities and characteristics of users throughout the design process (Age, Size, Ability and Disability).Judges will also be looking for you to clearly show that your entry aligns with at least 4 of the 7 Principles of Universal Design by identifying the design features and elements that specifically achieve the relevant Universal Design Guidelines.

*NOTE 1:

Access, Understand and Use is about how people generally interact with or experience a design: first they Access it (approach and perceive); secondly they Understand it (comprehend and decide); and thirdly they Use it (act or react).

*NOTE 2:

Terms such as “Design for All”, “Universal Design”, “accessible design”, “barrier-free design”, “inclusive design” and “transgenerational design” are often used interchangeably with the same meaning. “Universal Design” is the term used in Ireland and in related International publications. Find information about Universal Design at: universaldesign.ie/what-is-universal-design 

The Design for Change category encompasses any project that aims to assist, improve or enhance a group or groups of people, or places through design intervention. This can be in the context of the environment, culture, society, disenfranchised or marginalized groups. Projects cannot be entered into this category rather judges will shortlist projects from all entries, which will be reviewed by the Graduate Awards Chair and IDI President.

The Grand Prix recognizes emerging talent from all graduate entries. This can come from any category and the winner must demonstrate the potential to become a leader in the design industry and an ambassador for the values IDI holds. Projects cannot be entered into this category rather judges will shortlist projects from all entries, which will be reviewed by the Graduate Awards Chair and IDI President.