National Design Awards Submission Tips

• Submissions that follow the guidelines are viewed favorably.
• The short (2 minutes or less) video is enormously helpful in giving the jury a general overview of you and your work, especially when it is in your own voice and more personal. These do not need to be professionally produced or follow a specific format—be bold!
• The concise 150 word biography and 150 work statement are very helpful in introducing the jurors to you and your work, particularly with statements that are more personal and clear. Remember that the jurors come from all different disciplines of design and may not already be familiar with your work or field.
• Concise project descriptions/summaries of each project are very beneficial to the jury. As appropriate, note the context of the project, the motivation behind the work, and its larger impact, innovation and relevance in improving our world. Include data to articulate impact when available.
• The portfolio of ten projects should include your strongest work and should speak to the evolution of your process. In addition to the concise project descriptions/summaries of each, including multiple images for each project, allows the jurors an opportunity to better understand your work. If multiple groups are involved, clearly list you or your firm’s role. Also include any collaborators and their roles in the project, as applicable. Clearly show dates of projects and allow the jury to easily see the span of your career.
• Consider the overall design and presentation of the portfolio and how it reflects on you or your firm/company/organization. Make it personal and specific to the National Design Awards.
• For individuals, companies, or organizations specific to the Design Visionary category, demonstrate that design is integral to your mission.

Is there a fee to submit to the National Design Awards?
There is no submission fee.

How will the jury view my materials?
All materials will be viewed digitally. No physical materials will be accepted.

Did you receive my submission?
You will receive an automated confirmation email once you submit your materials.

What do I enter as the nominee in the form?
Enter the designer name (individual or name of firm).

The form will not let me select more than one category. I was nominated for two. How should I proceed?
Please register separately for each category you have been nominated for and plan to submit to. You will need to complete a separate, customized submission for each category.

I am not receiving emails to change my password.
Please contact us at designawards@si.edu.

How many images can I include in my digital portfolio?
You may include multiple images for each project in your portfolio PDF. For the ten images and captions requested, we ask that you select one image that best represents each project.

Do I have to submit ten projects?
The National Design Awards are given for a body of realized work, not for any one specific project, so we do ask that nominees submit ten projects for review. Please note that these projects should best represent your body of work. A range of work (old and new) is recommended.

Exceptions to this rule are as follows: Submissions for Emerging Designer need only 5-10 projects for review. Submissions for Climate Action do not require a minimum number of projects, but nominees must include a digital portfolio detailing their significant contributions made to addressing the global climate crisis, not to exceed 20 pages, with images and descriptions of key components.

When will you announce the 2027 National Design Awards Jury?
The jury will be announced along with the Award winners in early 2027. Browse a list of previous winners and jurors.

Here are a few excerpts from portfolios that were successful in the past:

Rural Studio: 2022 National Design Awards Portfolio Excerpt (Architecture and Interior Design)

Giorgia Lupi: 2022 National Design Awards Portfolio Excerpt (Communication Design)

Kounkuey Design Initiative: 2022 National Design Awards Portfolio Excerpt (Landscape Architecture)

CW&T: 2022 National Design Awards Portfolio Excerpt (Product Design)

Open Style Lab: 2019 National Design Awards Portfolio Excerpt (Emerging Designer)

Ross Barney Architects: 2021 National Design Awards Portfolio Excerpt (Architecture and Interior Design)

Design I/O: 2020 National Design Awards Portfolio Excerpt (Digital Design)

TELFAR: 2020 National Design Awards Portfolio Excerpt (Fashion Design)

OJB Landscape Architecture: 2020 National Design Awards Portfolio Excerpt (Landscape Architecture)

• Bio/History (150 words)
• Work Statement (150 words)
• Digital Portfolio, containing 10 projects, not to exceed 5 pages per project (PDF)
  • Climate Action nominees must include a digital portfolio detailing their significant contributions made to addressing the global climate crisis, not to exceed 20 pages, with images and descriptions of key components. A minimum number of projects is not required. 
  • Emerging Designer nominees may include 5-10 projects in their digital portfolio.
  • Fashion Design nominees may submit a compilation of ten collections, seasons, look books, or projects along with a written description for each highlighting concepts, garments, methods of design and/or manufacturing, or materials.  
  • Digital Design and Communication Design nominees may also include links to videos or websites showing the digital aspects of projects.  
• 10 digital images from each project in the digital portfolio (TIF or JPG, minimum 6” x 9”, 300 dpi)
  • Climate Action nominees may submit 5-10 digital images, selected from your submitted portfolio.
  • Emerging Designer nominees may submit 5-10 digital images, one key image from each project highlighted in your submitted portfolio. 
• Captions for the images above (PDF)
• Video Introduction, not to exceed 2 minutes. Standard HD (1920×1080) is preferable (MOV, AVI, MP4)

A video presentation that introduces yourself and your work, not to exceed 2 minutes. Videos do not need to be professionally produced but should convey the strength of the nominee to the jury. Here are a few examples that were successful in the past: