Global Design Award Categories + Submisssion Details

We’re here to help you craft a winning submission. 

New to the awards or looking to strengthen your submission? These resources offer practical guidance and real-world examples to help you prepare a clear, compelling entry.

Projects must meet the following criteria to be eligible:

• Projects must have been completed between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2025
• Student projects must have been completed in 2024 or 2025 by full-time students
• Projects may be entered by SEGD members and non-members
• There is no limit to the number of projects an individual or firm may enter
• Projects entered in previous years may be re-entered if they did not win
• A project may be entered in multiple categories (separate entry and fee required for each)

Projects must demonstrate the use of design elements—such as typography, symbols, media, or diagrams—and focus on the communication of information, identity, or image within the built environment

The SEGD Global Design Awards entries are assessed within seven primary categories to ensure projects are evaluated alongside similar work.

Category winners are then considered collectively for Best of Show, the Sylvia Harris Award for Social Impact, and the Life-Centered Design Award for Sustainability Impact

Choose the category that best features your work. You can submit the same project into more than one category by paying an additional entry fee for each submission.

Branded Environments

Spaces designed to extend the experience of an organization’s brand, or distinguishing characteristics as expressed in graphic elements. These projects use space as a physical embodiment of the brand to engage, connect or celebrate an entities’ unique qualities and aspirations. Projects may employ an existing brand or develop a new brand specific to the project.

Suggested categories:
Corporate / Workplace
Sports / Entertainment
Retail / Hospitality
Civic / Cultural
Educational / Healthcare

Digital Experiences

This category includes technology-driven experiences that augment and enhance a visitor’s connection to place through media. Projects may include immersive experiences (sound and/or visual), interpretive film installations, AR / VR experiences, and interactives across all environments from retail, cultural institutions, entertainment venues, transportation hubs, and public spaces.

Suggested categories:
Film / Narrative
Immersive
Interactive
AR/VR
Responsive

Exhibition

Displays which orchestrate graphic, object or media elements to inform, interpret and educate visitors. Examples include museums, visitor centers, corporate headquarters, destination experiences, recruiting centers, sports facilities and pops up. A complete facility, gallery or interactive experience within a facility may be submitted in this category.

Suggested categories:
Less than 2,500 sf
2,500 – 5,000 sf
Greater than 5,000 sf

Placemaking

Projects that contribute to the creation of shared spaces and strengthen connections between people and place through graphic, text or media elements. These projects provide a strong sense of “you are here” by differentiating a place or space from others that is not necessarily tied to a brand or brand story. Placemaking capitalizes on a community’s assets, inspiration, and potential, with the intention of creating spaces that promote people’s well-being, happiness, and shared values. Examples include parks, plazas, streetscapes, community centers, workplace, healthcare, hospitality, and entertainment.

Suggested categories:
Exterior
Interior

Public Installation

Projects which imbue public spaces with meaning, mood and context through art and design employing text, image, or media. At their best, these projects articulate and enhance the uniqueness of a specific place while expressing facets of the human condition. Memorials, interpretive art, and temporary installations should be entered in this category.

Strategy / Research / Planning

Masterplans, standards manuals, strategy documents and published work. Submissions should demonstrate systematic investigation and study of materials to establish strategy, best practices, project standards or reach new conclusions in the field of Experiential Graphic Design. Unbuilt work may be considered when submitted as a planning document.

Wayfinding

Information systems that guide people through a physical environment and enhance their understanding and experience of the space. Systems may include maps, directions, symbols, color coding, visual landmarks and destination identity. Wayfinding has evolved into a highly integrated, user-focused and increasingly technology-driven discipline with major social and economic implications for cities and organizations.

Suggested categories:
Civic
Cultural
Education
Healthcare
Transportation
Other

Projects that incorporate sustainable design practices may opt into the Sustainability Impact Recognition program.

Entrants are encouraged to describe how their project:

• Uses materials efficiently
• Reduces environmental impact
• Engages communities and supports social well-being
• Demonstrates adaptability, resilience, or long-term environmental thinking

Only projects receiving Sustainability Impact Recognition are eligible for the Life-Centered Design Award

All projects are judged anonymously, so submitted materials must not identify the firm, collaborators, or client.

Written Description

• Up to 700 words describing:
  • Project objectives and challenges
  • The design solution and key features
  • How success was measured or evaluated

Project Documentation

Built Projects

• Up to 8 images
  • Minimum size: 8” × 10” at 300 dpi
  • JPG format, 5MB max per image
  • Identify one image as the Hero Shot
  • Include image credits
  • 30-word caption: Use this opportunity to expand on your project description by highlighting any specific elements in the image that support the design solution.
• One optional video
  • MP4, WMV, or MOV
  • Maximum length: 1 minute
  • 105MB file limit
  • Include video credit

Research Materials & Publications (if applicable)

• Physical materials may be mailed to SEGD
• Digital copies must also be emailed, referencing the online entry number

All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on the deadline date

SEGD Student Members: $0 per entry

Student Non-Members: $50 per entry

SEGD Members: $330 per entry

Three or more entries: $275 per entry

All Others: $650 per entry

Late Fees

• Entries submitted after January 31, 2026: +$100 per entry (through February 28)
• Entries submitted March 1–15, 2026: +$150 per entry

Publication in the SEGD Global Design Awards Annual

Inclusion in the SEGD Global Design Awards Archive

Promotion across SEGD’s website, newsletters, social media, and press

Recognition at the SEGD Global Design Awards Celebration during the 2026 SEGD Conference in Kansas City, October 22-24, 2026

For eligibility or submission questions, contact:
Jennette Foreman
📧 jennette@segd.org
📞 +1 202.769.3264