Entry Process and Requirements
What are the steps for submitting an entry?
1) Sign up for a free membership profile; 2) Once you’re a member, log in with your username and password, and you will be directed to the submissions page; 3) fill in the required information and upload your submission; 4) proceed to payment.
Download How to Join EPDA 2025 guide here
Do I have to send you a physical sample of my product?
No, we do not need a physical sample of your product. All entries are evaluated through the upload photos, PDFs, or links to supporting materials such as videos, presentations, etc. You are free to use these to present your design to the jury in any way you like. Please see the next question for more details.
What information do I need to provide to submit my work?
For professional submissions you need to provide the following information:
– Lead Designer (required)
– List of Team Members (optional)
– Design/Product Name (required)
– Client (optional)
– Category(ies) (required)
– Brief description of design/product (required)
– Upload images and/or PDF description of the design
– Add links to design/product (videos, online materials, website, etc) (optional)
For student submissions you need to provide the following information:
– Name of your University
– Design/Product Name (required)
– Category(ies) (required)
– Brief Description of your Design/Product (required)
– Upload images and/or PDF description of the product (required)
– Add links to product (videos, online materials, website, etc) (optional)
Do I need to be studying design in order to qualify for the “student” category and entry fees?
Anyone who is a student of any kind can enter work under the student category and get the reduced submissions fee—regardless of whether you are a full-time or part-time student, or what you are studying. Please keep in mind that if you submit in the student category, your work will be evaluated among other students.
Do I need to pay the submission fee before I can submit my work?
Submission fees are the last step in processing your payment. Please create your entry and make sure it is finalized before submitting your payment.
What are the requirements for the supporting images and documents?
Up to 10 supporting images can be submitted with each design. An image can be a JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg) or PNG (.png). One image is for the cover photo to identify the entry and the remaining 9 are supporting images of the entry. Images must not exceed 4MB per file and a minimum of 1000 pixels wide. Please only use letters and numbers in the title of the image.
If your entry has a product specification, you have an option to upload one PDF file in A4 or letter-sized format. The PDF must not exceed 4MB.
Can I cancel my submission and get a refund?
Once a submission fee has been paid, there are no refunds provided. If you have been wrongly charged for any reason, we will be happy to credit the amount that is due.
Can I make changes to my entry after I have paid?
You will not be able to edit your submission after payment has been made. For this reason, please review your work carefully and make sure that the entries are submitted correctly before finalizing payment.
What shall I do if I have trouble uploading my images?
First, check that the image does not exceed the maximum size of 4MB, that it is the right format which is either JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg) or PNG (.png)and that the file name contains only letters or numbers and no other characters. Once you’ve checked that these things are in order, try to upload your images again. If you’re still having trouble after this, contact our support staff at support@productdesignaward.eu.
How will I know if you have received my entry?
You should receive a confirmation email from us shortly after you submit and pay for your work. If you do not receive an email, please verify that your email is correct in our records by logging into the member’s “Home” section and selecting “Profile” that leads to “Edit Profile”. In addition, if you are using spam-blocking software, please add “productdesignaward.eu” to your list of approved recipients. If, after doing both of these things, you do not receive an email, please log into the member’s “Home” section, and click on “History” to view your submission status and make sure that all your entries have been paid for.
How will I know if my submission is complete, and what do I do if it’s not?
You may check on your entry status at any time by logging into the member’s “Home” section with your username and password, and click on “History”. NOTE: If a submission is incomplete when the window for submissions has closed (i.e. the submission fee has not been paid, or the images have not been uploaded correctly), the submission will not be eligible for juried consideration. Though we make every effort to make contact and to ensure completion of submissions, we are not responsible for incomplete entries and are unable to offer a refund should an entry be incomplete once the submissions window is closed.
What is the “History” feature of the member’s “Home” section and how do I use it?
The “History” page feature allows you to view the status of your submissions, to verify that images have been uploaded correctly, to print receipts, and to make payments. The page also shows a shows your winning entries where you can download certificates, seals and press release.
Do I have to be based in Europe to participate?
You don’t have to be working in Europe to participate in the competition. The ePDA is open to designers from all over the world.
Does my product have to be designed or built in Europe?
No, the design doesn’t have to be created or built in Europe to participate in the competition. ePDA is open to projects from all over the world.
Can I submit a design that has won an award or has been entered in a previous European Product Design Awards competition?
Yes, you may submit work that has been submitted or that has won an award in a previous competition. However, in an effort to promote the creation of new work and the fresh flow of ideas, we encourage you to submit new work as much as possible.
Categories and Submission
Can I enter one design into multiple categories?
You may enter the same design into as many categories as you see fit. In fact, doing so may increase your chances of winning. However, there is an additional fee for each additional category you enter.
Is there a limit to the number of entries I can submit?
No, you may submit as many entries, in as many categories, as you wish.
Can a collection of designs be submitted together, or should I submit each design separately?
We accept both completed, in progress, and conceptual projects. Finished projects must be completed within the past five years.
Does my project need to be completed to be submitted?
We accept both completed, in progress, and conceptual projects. Finished projects must be completed within the past five years.
Do I have to be a designer to participate?
No, EPDA welcomes creative thinkers from around the world to participate. You don’t have to be a designer to submit your product. Creative and innovative thinkers can also submit a design and projects for consideration.
Is there an “age-limit” on projects or designs that I submit, or a limit on how long ago a design or project was completed?
Projects or designs must have been completed no more than 5 years from the time of submission in order to be eligible.
Can I send a sample of my product to the competition?
It is not required that you send the actual sample of your product to the competition. Images and a description of the product are sufficient.
Use of Images/Videos
How will my images/videos be used?
Your images and videos will only be used for purposes of promotion of the European Product Design Award. Through our global reach, your work will be viewed with your credit all around the world. All participating designers thus far have been extremely happy with the manner in which their materials have been used and promoted globally.
Copyright and all other rights remain with the designer. Any images or videos used by EPDA shall carry the designer’s credit line. EPDA may use images and videos in any media sponsor publications. All entrants understand that any image or video submitted to the competition may be used by EPDA for marketing and promotional purposes including in any medium such as exhibitions, print, and digital media directly related to the EPDA competition though there may not be monetary compensation. By winning or placing in the competition, you are agreeing to be included in the annual Winners Book.
Neither EPDA, affiliates, or partners assume any responsibility for materials submitted in violation of competition rules or for those which violate copyright regulations. EPDA will investigate claims of copyright infringement to the best of its ability and will remove and disqualify submissions that are clearly demonstrated to violate copyright and/or competition policies. EPDA will act to maintain the integrity of the competition and its affiliated entities but is not responsible for any damages resulting from images or videos submitted in violation of rules and regulations.
Will I be compensated for the use of my images/videos?
There is no monetary remuneration for the use of your image. Please make sure you have the full copyright before entering any images.
Payment
Can I make changes to my entry after I have paid?
No, after payment has been made, entries cannot be altered. Please review your work carefully before finalizing payment.
How can I pay for the entry that I submitted?
You may pay for your submissions online using the available payment methods.
Are all the fees in EUR?
Yes, at this time we only accept EUR currency.
Judging
Who are the Judges?
Our international list of jurors consists of a wide variety of design professionals and educators who are devoted to design.
For a complete list of the jury members please visit the jury page.
How does the Judging Work?
You can learn about our judging process here.
Can I Receive Judges Rating or Comments?
Due to the overwhelming scope of the competition, our judges are unable to provide individual feedback on projects.
The Awards
Will I be notified if I’ve won an award?
We do notify award winners by email, but it does sometimes happen that notifications get caught in server filters so it’s possible that you may not receive the email notification. Fortunately, you can always check to see if you’ve won any awards by logging into the Member Section and clicking on Winner Services.
Do the category winners receive an award or certificate at the Awards reception?
The Trophy will be given to the winners of the European Product Designer of the Year™ and the Discovery of the Year Award (student).
All other Winners will receive certificates that can be printed by going to your History page where it shows the records of all your submissions as well as a downloadable logo and press release. All the gold/silver/bronze winning designs will also be featured in the annual ePDA Book of Design. Additional benefits are:
– a press campaign directed to hundreds of thousands of design professionals, press, and potential clients worldwide,
– a profile in the ePDA online design directory, making it easier for you to be reached by prospective customers,
– the ePDA Certificate of Achievement,
– the ePDA Winners Seal to promote winning online and in printed material.
If I win an award, will I be eligible to receive a free copy of the Book?
The Book is made available for purchase online and no free copies are sent to winners. The cost of the book is primarily to cover the cost of printing and shipping and is not a profit-making endeavor. Also, there are hundreds of designers and companies featured in the book each year, so it would not be feasible to make it available free of charge.
Join Us in Celebrating Product Design Excellence
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the recognition you deserve for your outstanding designs!
Apply now for the Express Product Design Awards and fast-track your journey to success in the design world.
Photo Credits: Share Play – Tableware & Snackware by Bergner Group