The Red Dot Award: Product Design is entering the next phase. Designers and manufacturers from all over the world can take the opportunity to submit their products to the design competition. The registration period breaks down into three different phases: Early Bird now to Nov. 28 2017; Regular from Nov. 29, 2017, to Jan. 16, 2018, and Latecomer from Jan. 17 to Feb. 9, 2018.
Diversity from every angle
The competition is open to all, from global brands and established designers to up-and-coming designers and small as well as medium-sized businesses. The Red Dot Award: Product Design is diverse not only in terms of the participants, with objects entered from more than 50 countries each year. All types of products can have their design put to the test in 48 categories ranging from drones, medical technology, fashion and accessories to furniture and robot technology.
Dec. 6, 2017, is a special day for aspiring designers who have graduated within the past five years. On Young Professionals Application Day, they have the chance to apply for one of 50 free places in the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2018. This allows them to prove their skills and put themselves on a par with established designers and major brands.
Products are adjudicated directly
An evaluation process spanning several days takes place shortly after the end of the registration phase on Feb. 9, 2018. Design experts from all over the globe convene in early March to find the year’s best products. One by one, they assess each product live and on site, testing, discussing and weighing up each individual entry. It is important to note that the innovations are not compared directly against each other. Instead, they are assessed on a standalone basis. The decisive criteria in the judging process include level of innovation, functionality, formal quality, ergonomics and longevity. These characteristics provide a framework to guide the jurors, each of whom then does the rest in line with his or her expertise and sociocultural background.
If a product wins over the jury members, they can choose from three different awards. An Honourable Mention is awarded for a well-executed aspect of design work and a Red Dot is given for the design quality of a product. The title Red Dot: Best of the Best goes to the best products in a category and is the highest individual award in the competition.
Numerous advantages for award-winners
Winning the Red Dot is a special honor for the laureates. Thanks to its appearance alone, using the internationally recognized label generates attention for any product. The Red Dot label ensures that a brand is associated with design quality in the long term. Other advantages of winning an award include publication in the yearbook, in the online presentation and in the Red Dot Design App, as well as the exhibition in the Red Dot Design Museum.
The official award ceremony for the winning designers and manufacturers takes place on July 9, 2018, in Essen’s Aalto Theater. The Red Dot: Best of the Best winners receive their trophies on stage in front of international guests.
Registration for the Red Dot Award:
Product Design 2018 Early Bird: Oct. 9, 2017 – Nov. 28, 2017
Regular: Nov. 29, 2017 – Jan. 16, 2018
Latecomers: Jan. 17, 2018 – Feb. 9, 2018
Young Professionals Application Day: Dec. 6, 2017