The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)’s International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA 2016®) is open for entry through April 1, 2016, and for the first time, the summer ceremony and gala will be held in the iconic setting of The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI.

For 35 years, IDEA has been honoring and promoting design excellence across a wide array of design and related disciplines. The IDEA 2016 jury is led by new Chair Cameron Campbell, IDSA. “I do think that’s the power of design,” says the Proef chief intangibles and strategy officer who’s worked with industry giants such as Boeing, Herman Miller, Apple, Nike and BMW. “Design is a very optimistic field for all of us to move in. And it’s not about individuals. It’s really about creating a sense of community and empowering people to work and do things together.”

The IDEA 2016 initial entry process, with updated eligibility criteria and categories, is streamlined. The IDEA 2016 jury is in place. Some panelists are former IDEA winners themselves; others have served previously on an IDEA Jury. The 26 global design experts include Patricia Moore, FIDSA—hailed by ABC World News as One of 50 Americans Defining the New Millennium. “This is a serious endeavor but it’s also a joyous endeavor,” she says. “And it’s what defines us as designers and helps us to build for the next generation to come.”

“First and foremost, it’s got to have a story… show me what you’ve got,” challenges IDEA 2016 Juror Owen Foster, IDSA, who's also IDSA’s 2015 Educator of the Year.

IDSA Board of Directors’ Chair John Barratt, president and CEO of design consultancy TEAGUE, is a former IDEA jury chair. “I believe it’s the best awards program there is in the world—and I’ve judged many of them. None, as thoughtful or as rigorous as this competition.”

Get five top tips for winning IDEA 2016. Check out former IDEA winners in the photo gallery and go behind the scenes with the IDEA 2015 jury to get an idea of what it takes to ace the competition:

IDEA 2016 is open for online entry through March 18 with a late entry fee period of March 19–April 1. Onsite jurying of the finalists will be held at The Henry Ford from June 3 to 7. Bronze winners will be notified mid-June. Just who wins Gold and who wins Silver will be revealed August 17 at the IDEA 2016 ceremony and gala at The Henry Ford. The 2016 IDSA International Conference: Making Things Happen is scheduled from August 17 to 20 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

Questions? See IDEA 2016 FAQs or contact Karen Foust at karenf@idsa.org. Follow the journey @IDSA #IDSAIDEA #IDSADetroit16 on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Annually, IDSA also hosts five, coast-to-coast District Design Conferences in April (register now for #CDDC16 #WDDC16 #SDDC16 #MWDDC16 and #NEDDC16) and a Medical Design Conference in the fall, bringing together some of the biggest names and brightest minds in industrial design and similar fields. IDSA publishes INNOVATION magazine online and in print. The latest issue, 50.35.50, features 50 Notable IDSA Members; 35 Years of IDEA Winners; and 50 Memorable Moments in IDSA History. IDSA Ambassadors and INsights support industrial design with research, thought leadership and outreach.