The International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), born in 1980, celebrate the pinnacle of design achievement year after year and serve as a catalyst for the designers who are fortunate enough to win. Each year, thousands of entries from around the world are submitted across a wide range of categories, making IDEA one of the largest and most eagerly anticipated annual design awards programs in existence.

Trends will come and go, but one thing endures—winning an IDEA is a career-defining moment and places winners instantaneously in the global spotlight.

The IDEA 2018 jury—led by Michael Kahwaji, IDSA, of Whirlpool—is comprised of designers, thought leaders and visionaries who epitomize the best of the industrial design community. Representing industry, consultancy, academia and private practice, they are experts within their field. Many of them are past IDEA award winners who deeply understand the significance of the position. 

The unique jurying process maintains anonymity for entries to ensure all decisions are solely based upon excellence of design innovation, user experience, benefit to the client, benefit to society and appropriate aesthetics.

The IDEA 2018 categories are:

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Start your IDEA 2018 entry today!