Global Design Award Categories

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