Classic Edition

A Flexible, Industry-Standard Entry Pathway
The A’ Design Award offers multiple participation methods to meet various needs, budgets, and expectations within the global design community. One of these pathways is the Classic Edition, also known as the Industry Standard entry model. This approach resonates with participants who find comfort in the long-standing format used by many international competitions—low initial fees to enter, followed by winner fees if their work achieves recognition.

Why Choose the Classic Edition?
Some entrants prefer to start with a minimal upfront cost, especially if the are testing a design concept, exploring new markets, or working within a tight budget. The Classic Edition makes it easier to get your foot in the door: you pay a lower initial entry fee to participate, keeping the initial financial risk modest. Should your design receive an award, you’ll be contractually obliged to pay the designated winner fees. These fees then unlock the full range of laureate services and benefits—trophies, certificates, yearbook inclusion, press release services, gala invitations, exhibition opportunities, and more—that can significantly amplify your brand’s prestige and market presence.

The Classic Edition - Industry Standard Recognition
The Classic Edition of the A' Design Award represents the gateway to design excellence, offering creators their first momentous step into the prestigious world of internationally recognized design achievement. This foundational recognition serves as a powerful launching pad for start-up brands, emerging designers and creative visionaries, as well as distinguished and established brands, creative agencies and professionals validating their innovative work on a global stage. When your design receives the distinguished A' Design Award recognition and acknowledgment, it marks more than just an award – it's your initiation into an elite circle of recognized designers, architects, creators, innovators and brands whose work shapes our world. The Classic Edition opens the door to the coveted World Design Rankings and Designer Classifications, placing your creative achievement alongside works from some of the most innovative minds in design. A' Design Award Recognition becomes your creative passport, establishing your presence in the global design community and marking the beginning of your journey toward design excellence. Like a seed planted in fertile soil, Classic Edition recognition nurtures your brand growth, providing the essential foundation upon which to build your design legacy. The A' Design Award Recognition is a testament to your creative vision and innovation that resonates within the global design community. A' Design Award Recognition serves as your formal introduction to the world of design excellence, validating your creative voice and marking your territory in the vast landscape of international design. The Classic Edition celebrates the beginning of your design journey, recognizing not just what you've created, but the potential of what you might achieve in the future. The A' Design Award Recognition is a strong step toward establishing your lasting legacy in the world of design, opening doors to opportunities and connections that can transform your creative journey.

1. Lower Initial Investment:
   The Classic Edition features one of the lowest initial entry fees among all A’ Design Award participation methods, minimizing your upfront expenses.

2. Conditional Winner Fees:
   If you win, you’re legally required to pay a winner fee to access the A’ Design Prize package. This structure mirrors many well-known competitions worldwide, which similarly charge “further fees” or “publication fees” post-win. The difference here is we are transparent about these obligations from the start, ensuring no unpleasant surprises.

3. Upgrades Upon Success:
   Once your work is confirmed as a winner, the mandatory winner fee grants you full access to the A’ Design Prize’s comprehensive offerings. Everything from quality printed materials to media promotion, industry rankings, and networking events becomes available once the winner fee is paid, allowing you to capitalize fully on your success.

• Budget-Conscious Entrants: If you’re looking to minimize initial costs and willing to pay more only after you’ve proven your design’s merit, the Classic Edition might suit you.

• Familiarity with Industry Norms: Many international awards follow a similar model. If you’ve participated in competitions where low initial fees lead to post-win charges, you’ll find the Classic Edition’s structure familiar and straightforward.

• Gradual Investment: Designers who prefer to “wait and see” how their work performs before making a more substantial financial commitment may find this edition aligned with their risk management strategies.

A Friendly Suggestion:
Before making your final decision, you might consider taking advantage of the A’ Design Award’s free preliminary score service. This preliminary evaluation offers insights into how well your work might perform. If the feedback suggests a strong chance of winning, you may find it more cost-effective and stress-free to invest in the Pro-Edition. Doing so secures immediate access to the full spectrum of laureate services without any contractually obliged winner fees, providing a one-time, all-inclusive experience that many designers find both reassuring and rewarding.

License, Declaration, Concealment and Publication for Classic Edition Entries
For the Classic Edition, licenses are not required at the time of nomination, but a declaration document is mandatory. If your design is selected as a winner, you will need to upload the appropriate license before paying the Winner's Fee. This ensures your design can be published in compliance with licensing requirements. The Classic Edition does not inherently offer concealment. However, your work remains concealed until the Winner's Fee is paid. After payment, your work will be unconcealed if it falls under a non-concealed category. If confidentiality is a priority, ensure your work is nominated in a concealed category. In such cases, even after the Winner's Fee is paid, the work will remain concealed and will not be made publicly available.

Design Rankings and Classifications
There are no differences between winning the Classic Edition and Professional Edition when the World Design Rankings and the Designer Rankings are considered. There are also no differences in terms of Design Classification rankings based on award categories. Learn more about Design Rankings.

Winner Winner Fees
If you join via classic edition entry method, there are contractually obliged winner fees. You will not be able to obtain the complete A' Design Prize without paying the Winner Fee first. The Winner Fees are noted in this page.

Evaluation & Eligibility
Both the Classic Edition and the Professional Edition maintain the same stringent evaluation principles and methodology. This uniformity includes a consistent voting system, preliminary checks, and a design award jury that uses the same score points and weights for both editions. Additionally, jurors are not informed whether a submission is from the Classic or Professional Edition, which guarantees a fair and unbiased assessment process. As a result, the evaluation standards are precisely the same for both the Professional Edition and Classic Edition. Moreover, the submission mechanisms and presentation requirements are identical for both editions, ensuring that all entries are judged equitably, regardless of their submission method. It is recommended that entries for both the Classic and Professional Editions undergo preliminary checks, with the same checking service available for each. Participants entering through the Classic Edition are also entitled to request the Express Evaluation Service at no additional cost. All competition categories are accessible for entry through the Classic Edition, with no variations in eligibility.

All Categories Eligible
You can join any design award category using A' Design Award Classic Edition Nomination Tickets or Industry Standard Entry Nomination.

Step 1: Prepare Your Design
First, ensure your design is ready for the spotlight. Gather all relevant images, detailed descriptions, and any other supporting materials that effectively represent your work. Ensure each element aligns with the competition’s submission guidelines.

Step 2: Upload Your Design
Go to the submission section on the A' Design Award website. Upload all the prepared materials related to your design, making sure each file adheres to the specified format and quality standards set by the competition. This step is free.

Step 3: Nominate Your Design
After uploading, proceed to the nomination phase. This step formally enters your design into the competition, beginning the evaluation process. You will be required to pay nomination fee.

Step 4: Select Classic Edition as Your Entry Method
When nominating your design, select the Classic Edition as your entry method. This option indicates your choice to participate under the Classic Edition, which offers a balance of value and visibility through its inclusive winners' kit and services.

Step 5: Confirm and Submit
Before finalizing your nomination, double-check all details and files for accuracy and completeness. Once you are satisfied, confirm your submission. You will then receive a confirmation indicating that your design has been successfully nominated through the Classic Edition.

Step 6: Await Evaluation
Your submission will be evaluated according to the same rigorous criteria that apply across all editions of the A’ Design Award. This ensures a fair assessment by an esteemed jury, focusing purely on the quality and innovation of your design. If you win, there are contractually obliged winner fees, and you get the A' Design Award's Full A' Design Prize only after paying the winner fees.

By following these steps, you can efficiently enter the Classic Edition of the A’ Design Award. This edition is ideal for those who seek a straightforward approach with a rich array of benefits, enhancing the recognition and promotion of their design achievements.