Entry Process and Requirements

1) Sign up for a free membership profile; 2) Once you're a member, log in with your username and password, and you will be directed to the submissions page; 3) fill in the required information and upload your submission; 4) proceed to payment.

 Download How to Join SDA 2025 guide here
No, we do not need a physical sample of your product. All entries are evaluated through the upload photos, PDFs, or links to supporting materials such as videos, presentations, etc. You are free to use these to present your design to the jury in any way you like. Please see the next question for more details.

For professional submissions you need to provide the following information:

  • Lead Designer (required)
  • List of Team Members (optional)
  • Design/Product Name (required)
  • Client (optional)
  • Category(ies) (required)
  • Brief description of design/product (required)
  • Upload images and/or PDF description of the design
  • Add links to design/product (videos, online materials, website, etc) (optional)

For student submissions you need to provide the following information:

  • Name of your University
  • Design/Product Name (required)
  • Category(ies) (required)
  • Brief Description of your Design/Product (required)
  • Upload images and/or PDF description of the product (required)
  • Add links to product (videos, online materials, website, etc) (optional)
Submission fees are the last step in processing your payment. Please create your entry and make sure it is finalized before submitting your payment.

Up to 10 supporting images can be submitted with each design. An image can be a JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg) or PNG (.png). One image is for the cover photo to identify the entry and the remaining 9 are supporting images of the entry. Images must not exceed 4MB per file, must maintain a 16:9 ratio, and a minimum of 1000 pixels wide. Please only use letters and numbers in the title of the image.

If your entry has a product specification, you have an option to upload one PDF file in A4 or letter-sized format. The PDF must not exceed 4MB.

Once a submission fee has been paid, there are no refunds provided. If you have been wrongly charged for any reason, we will be happy to credit the amount that is due.
You will not be able to edit your submission after payment has been made. For this reason, please review your work carefully and make sure that the entries are submitted correctly before finalizing payment.
First, check that the image does not exceed the maximum size of 4MB, that it is the right format which is either JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg) or PNG (.png)and that the file name contains only letters or numbers and no other characters. Once you've checked that these things are in order, try to upload your images again. If you're still having trouble after this, contact our support staff at support@superiordesignaward.com
You should receive a confirmation email from us shortly after you submit and pay for your work. If you do not receive an email, please verify that your email is correct in our records by logging into the member's ''Home'' section and selecting ''Profile'' that leads to ''Edit Profile''. In addition, if you are using spam-blocking software, please add ''superiordesignaward.com'' to your list of approved recipients. If, after doing both of these things, you do not receive an email, please log into the member's ''Home'' section, and click on ''History'' to view your submission status and make sure that all your entries have been paid for.
You may check on your entry status at any time by logging into the member's ''Home'' section with your username and password, and click on ''History''. NOTE: If a submission is incomplete when the window for submissions has closed (i.e. the submission fee has not been paid, or the images have not been uploaded correctly), the submission will not be eligible for juried consideration. Though we make every effort to make contact and to ensure completion of submissions, we are not responsible for incomplete entries and are unable to offer a refund should an entry be incomplete once the submissions window is closed.
The ''History'' page feature allows you to view the status of your submissions, to verify that images have been uploaded correctly, to print receipts, and to make payments. The page also shows a shows your winning entries where you can download certificates, seals and press release.
You don't have to be working in Europe to participate in the competition. The SDA is open to designers from all over the world.
No, the design doesn't have to be created or built in Europe to participate in the competition. SDA is open to projects from all over the world.
Yes, you may submit work that has been submitted or that has won an award in a previous competition. However, in an effort to promote the creation of new work and the fresh flow of ideas, we encourage you to submit new work as much as possible.


Categories and Submission

You may enter the same design into as many categories as you see fit. In fact, doing so may increase your chances of winning. However, there is an additional fee for each additional category you enter.
No, you may submit as many entries, in as many categories, as you wish.
The jury will select the winners in each category based on individual designs and projects, not on an entire body of work, so each design or project should be submitted as a separate entry.
We accept both completed, in progress, and conceptual projects. Finished projects must be completed within the past five years.
No, SDA welcomes creative thinkers from around the world to participate. You don't have to be a designer to submit your product. Creative and innovative thinkers can also submit a design and projects for consideration.
You are not required to submit your drawings or plans. However, we encourage participants to submit as much information as possible for a better representation of your project. We understand that every project is unique, therefore, you have the freedom to submit any information that you think is suitable. We encourage you to provide a plan of at least one section. This is to ensure our jury will have enough information for project evaluation.
Projects or designs must have been completed no more than 5 years from the time of submission in order to be eligible.
It is not required that you send the actual sample of your product to the competition. Images and a description of the product are sufficient.


Use of Images

Your images will only be used for purposes of promotion of the Superior Design Award. Through our global reach, your image will be viewed with your credit all around the world. All participating designers thus far have been extremely happy with the manner in which their images have been used and promoted globally.

Copyright and all other rights remain with the designer. Any images used by SDA shall carry the designer's credit line. SDA may use images in any media sponsor publications. All entrants understand that any image submitted to the competition may be used by SDA for marketing and promotional purposes including in any medium such as exhibitions, print, and digital media directly related to the SDA competition though there may not be monetary compensation. By winning or placing in the competition, you are agreeing to be included in the annual Winners Book.

Neither SDA, affiliates, or partners assume any responsibility for materials submitted in violation of competition rules or for those which violate copyright regulations. SDA will investigate claims of copyright infringement to the best of its ability and will remove and disqualify submissions that are clearly demonstrated to violate copyright and/or competition policies. SDA will act to maintain the integrity of the competition and its affiliated entities but is not responsible for any damages resulting from images submitted in violation of rules and regulations.

There is no monetary remuneration for the use of your image. Please make sure you have the full copyright before entering any images.


Payment

No, after payment has been made, entries cannot be altered. Please review your work carefully before finalizing payment.
You can make your payment by credit card or bank transfer.
Yes, at this time we only accept US currency.


Judging

Our international list of jurors consists of a wide variety of design professionals and educators who are devoted to design.

For a complete list of the jury members please visit the jury page.

You can learn about our judging process here.
Due to the overwhelming scope of the competition, our judges are unable to provide individual feedback on projects.


The Awards

The trophy will be given to the project that collects the most points in each category.

All other Winners will receive certificates that can be printed by going to your History page where it shows the records of all your submissions as well as a downloadable logo and press release.
Additional benefits are:
  • a press campaign directed to hundreds of thousands of design professionals, press, and potential clients worldwide,
  • a profile in the SDA online design directory, making it easier for you to be reached by prospective customers,
  • the SDA Certificate of Achievement,
  • the SDA Winners Seal to promote winning online and in printed material.
We do notify award winners by email, but it does sometimes happen that notifications get caught in server filters so it's possible that you may not receive the email notification. Fortunately, you can always check to see if you've won any awards by logging into the Member Section and clicking on Winner Services.