Designer of the Year

The Prime Designer of the Year
Designer of the Year award by IAD - International Association of Designers, honors a single designer every year with the title “Designer of the Year”. The Designer of the Year is a person who enriches, empowers and fortifies the design field. Designer of the Year Award aims to once again highlight and underline the importance of design by honoring senior designers, artists, architects and creatives who have invested a significant amount time for the development of design, arts and architecture fields. Winning the Designer of the Year Award co-presented by the A' Design Awards is incredibly relevant and important for designers and architects as it is an international recognition of their talents and abilities, and can help them to establish themselves as leading figures in their industry. Designer of the Year Award features wet signatures of 40 amazing award-winning designers, and that is only one of the reasons why it is highly special. The Designer of the Year Award can help designers and architects gain exposure and visibility, both within the design and architecture community as well as in general public and audiences in other industries. Increased exposure by winning the Designer of the Year Award can lead to new opportunities for collaborations, partnerships, and commissions as well as media coverage and publications. Designer of the Year Award can help establish the designer's credibility and expertise, which is crucial when competing for new projects or seeking funding for new ventures. Designer of the Year Award. Designer of the Year award can be a powerful tool in marketing your brand as a designer. Designer of the Year Award winners use thir status in advertising, public relations and social media to communicate their talents, showcase their latest project and get engagement with their audiences and media. Winning the Designer of the Year Award is an excellent way for designers and architects to gain international recognition, credibility, and exposure as leading figures in design industry, a major career push that boosts reputation and opens up new opportunities for even further growth and success. This is of course also an amazing opportunity to interact with some of the most renowned designers and architects from all over the world during the gala-night of the A' Design Awards.

Why is it Important and Exciting?
What makes Designer of The Year Award truly amazing and original? Appointed by thousands of votes by award winning designers and the certificate itself is wet signed by 40 reknown designers who are all platinum and gold design award winners that have proven their worth. This certificate is truly unique, very precious, contains emotional and original content, feelings and good wishes of other world-class designers supporting your success.

Who are the Past Designer of the Year Recipients?
Please check the dedicated page at designeroftheyear.org to see past recipients.

Eligibility
The Designer of the Year is given to a living designer each year.  While the title is “Designer”, it could be given to any creative, innovators or architects as well who achieves the “Prime” criteria. The “Prime” criteria are as follows: 1. A Prime designer is a person who has dedicated himself to the practice of design, this should be easily observable by a paramount amount of quality designs output. 2. A Prime designer is a philanthropic person who wishes to better mankind with good design. 3. A Prime designer is a diligent person whose work reflects intelligence and high-detail. There is an age limit of 40; designers less than 40 years old are not eligible (they can apply for design pioneers award instead). - It is good to note that the Designer of the Year Awards is a free to join program, there are no costs for taking part or winning, nominees are selected among the A' Design Award winners who have "Professional" account type as well as individuals with other account types in which a person-brand is represented is also considered, with the exception of "Young" account types. If you are winner of the A' Design Award, and do not have "Young" account type, you will be automatically admitted to this program and you will be nominated for this award, free of charge. If you win the Designer of the Year Award, there are no charges, no costs, no winner's fees, and only further benefits.

Designer of the Year Application and Nomination Procedure
To apply for the Designer of the Year award, designers should: 1. Become a member of the International Association of Design (Membership is free of charge, apply here), 2.  Members who wish to apply, should afterwards send a suggestion email to designeroftheyear@iaod.net by answering the following question : Who should win the Prime Designer of the Year Awards, and Why he/she should win ? It is important to provide this information since these suggestions will also appear as testimonials for the winning designer. You may suggest multiple designer names (but not yourself since you will already be nominated). You may refer any member who is a past winner of A' Design Award & Competition; i.e. people you have met during the gala-night. Non-winners are not eligible. Application is free of charge. You can also suggest a designer via social media posts, by providing a link to the designer or their work at A' Design Award website and using hashtags #adesignaward and #primedesigneroftheyear in your social media post in which you nominate a designer.

The Winners’ Package
The Prime Designer of the Year award comes with the following: 1) “Designer of the Year Certificate” : a very unique 40x50 cm size document signed by at least 40 fellow designers, the certificate will be signed during the Gala-Night. 2) “Designer of the Year Trophy” : a very unique trophy, that is given only to one designer each year, the trophy will be also given during the gala night.  3) “Designer of the Year Exhibit” Special exhibition space allocation which honors the designer. 4) “The Designer of the Year Logo” : A Special logo that you can incorporate to your communication.  5) “Designer of the Year Press Release” : A Special press release that celebrates your status. 6) “Designer of the Year Press Kit” : A special press kit prepared for Designer of the Year title recipients.  7) “Designer of the Year Website” : Your name will be included together with past Designer of the Year recipients in a dedicated website.

The Winner
The winner will be selected among the nominees who have been suggested the highest number of times by other nominees. Each suggestion will be considered an +1 score towards the nominee. Furthermore each award will add from +2 to +7 score towards the nominee depending on the award status (+1 Runner-up +2 Iron, +3 Bronze, +4 Silver, +5 Gold, +6 Platinum, +7 Ultimate). Designers with the highest score will be chosen as the winner if all the conditions are met.

Conditions
The Prime Designer of the Year cannot be a company, design team or group of individuals; it is always given to a single living person. However, the recipient can honor an institution, a company or design team by providing an official thank you which would be included in the Designer of the Year certificate and website. Each individual could with the title only once in a lifetime.

Benefits of Becoming the Designer of the Year:

1. International Recognition: Winning the Designer of the Year award signifies global acknowledgment of the designer's talent and contribution to their field.

2. Career Advancement: Designer of the Year achievement serves as a major career push that boosts reputation and opens up new opportunities for further growth and success.

3. Networking Opportunities: The Designer of the Year Award allows winners to interact with some of the most renowned designers and architects from all over the world during the A' Design Awards gala night.

4. Brand Exposure: The Designer of the Year Award increases the visibility of the designer, both within the design and architecture community and among the general public, leading to potential collaborations, partnerships, and commissions.

5. Credibility Boost: Being selected for the Designer of the Year Award enhances the designer's credibility and expertise, which can help when competing for new projects or seeking funding for new ventures.

Unique Aspects of the Designer of the Year Award presented by the IAD:

1. Esteemed Signatures: The Designer of the Year Award certificate bears the signatures of 40 esteemed, award-winning designers, making it a uniquely prestigious document.

2. Peer Endorsement: The selection process involves nominations by peers, making the award a testament to the respect and recognition of the designer within their professional community.

3. Lifetime Achievement: Each individual can win the title only once in a lifetime, highlighting its significance as a crowning achievement in the recipient's career.

4. Philanthropic Element: The Designer of the Year Award isn't just about design excellence; it's also about the designer's desire to better mankind through their work, which makes it a unique combination of design acumen and social responsibility.

5. Open to a Wide Range of Professionals: The Designer of the Year Award can be given to any creative, innovator, or architect who achieves the "Prime" criteria, making it a diverse recognition not confined to traditional design roles.