Make history with your IDEA. Enter the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA)® 2021 by March 15
Submit your design to one of the world’s most prestigious design awards programs.
The International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA)®, presented by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), is open for entry through March 15, 2021 at IDSA.org/IDEA. There is a new category this year, Concepts & Speculative Design, and COVID-19 related entries in any category are eligible for a 20% discount when submitted by February 1, 2021.
History of IDEA
Established in 1980 and known worldwide as a top design awards program for its unparalleled rigor, influence, and prestige, IDEA recognizes innovative products and services that push the design industry forward. Celebrated IDEA winners over the past four decades include the original OXO Good Grips line of kitchen tools from Smart Design, the original Apple iPod and iPhone, the Tesla Model S, and hundreds more.
The IDEA program receives thousands of entries from across the globe each year, making it one of the largest and most widely anticipated design awards programs in existence. IDEA set the benchmark for what a design award represents and remains a career-defining catalyst for those talented enough to win.
Impact of Winning an IDEA
Each year IDEA winners receive significant international publicity and exposure. This includes recognition in the IDEA Winners Gallery, across social media, and in IDSA’s annual Yearbook of Design Excellence, which includes in-depth coverage of all winners and is distributed to an international audience of design and business executives. Winning IDEA products are entered into the permanent collection of The Henry Ford Museum, where they remain ever-present symbols of ingenuity and mastery of craft. And following the announcement of the IDEA 2021 winners during a live awards ceremony in September, leManoosh will also share about the winners on social media and in an article on LeManoosh.com.
IDEA Trophy
IDEA Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners and Special Award Winners (Jury Chair’s Award, Curator’s Award, People’s Choice, and Best in Show) receive beautiful and unique IDEA trophies.
The current IDEA trophy was introduced in 2018 and accompanied a complete rebrand launch of the program with branding and fabrication partner fuseproject. The trophy is a lasting physical symbol of winning the distinct honor of an IDEA, but also represents so much more. The trophy is a puzzle made up of the letters I – D – E – A, which attach to a central core with magnets. These individual pieces represent the physical, visual, digital, and experiential disciplines we all work within, and they combine to illustrate how a successful design is much more than styling or a novel idea alone. It is the effective combination of many different aspects to create something greater than its parts.
IDEA 2021 Deadlines
Feb 1, 2021:
Last day to receive a 20% discount across categories on any COVID-19-related design entry
March 1, 2021:
Last day to save on regular entry pricing
March 15, 2021:
Final deadline to enter
IDEA 2021 Categories – Categories this year include Automotive & Transportation, Branding, Children’s Products, Concepts & Speculative Design, Furniture & Lighting, Lifestyle & Accessories, Medical & Health, Packaging, Service Design, Social Impact, Student Design and more!
IDEA 2021 Jury – Jury members this year include designers from Adobe, Amazon, Comcast NBCUniversal, Dolby, Fjord, IDEO, HP, Logitech, McKinsey Design, National College of Art & Design, Pratt Institute, Sonos, and more!
Notable IDEA winners over the years
Also published in INNOVATION, IDSA’s quarterly flagship publication.
