How-To

From the decision to enter to the Award Ceremony: the ICONIC AWARDS recognise pioneering projects in architecture, interior design and product design. Find out more about taking part now and put your name down for the next call for entries.

Join us in 2027!

  • 1. Who can take part?

    Projects that were published or launched within the last five years are eligible. Excluded are projects in the ‘Concept’ category, in which unrealised designs and visionary ideas are expressly invited.

    AGB lesen

  • 2. Nomination or self-entry? Both are possible!

    Have you been nominated?
    Then the German Design Council has discovered your project in the market and identified a particular design and innovative quality within it. You will receive a written invitation and can view your nominated project directly in the portal and decide whether you would like to accept the nomination. There are no costs involved.

    Want to enter yourself?
    No problem. You can also register your project independently in the portal. After internal review by our panel of experts, you will find out whether it has been accepted for entry. Registration is limited to one category. If your project is not accepted, no costs will be incurred.

    Good to know:
    Should your project receive an award, a service fee applies – in return, you receive a comprehensive service package including a label, certificate, online presence and much more.

    Funding Programme

    The organiser, German Design Council, offers all small businesses and freelancers the opportunity to apply for funding to be exempted from the service fees. Exemption is granted following a review of financial circumstances.

    The prerequisite is that annual turnover in each of the last two years (2024 and 2025) did not exceed EUR 100,000.00. 
    The application must be submitted via the online form by 13 April 2026 (to be received by German Design Council).

  • 3. Online Registration

    Entry to the ICONIC AWARDS takes place via the MyDesignCouncil portal. Don't have an account yet? Simply register with your email address. After registering, you will receive a confirmation along with the invoice for the entry fee.

    What you need for registration:

    • Project name 
    • Project title (DE / EN) 
    • Description text (DE / EN, max. 650 characters) 
    • Credits: website URL and photo credits
    • Year and location of market launch / completion
    • Details of designer / architect / agency 
    • Details of manufacturing company / client / commissioning party 
    • Discipline and category 
    • Billing address 
    • Optional booking of the Nominee Package 
    • Image material (up to 6 images)

    Duration: Please allow around 25 minutes for your registration.

    Pre-register now!

  • 4. Disciplines and Categories

    You can enter your project in one of five disciplines – each discipline contains several categories. 

    Tip: Sustainability and Circular Design. Our jury places particular emphasis on projects that show forward-looking responsibility. Show where your project stands on sustainability as early as the registration stage:

    • Is there a certificate in place? 
    • Is there a sustainability report? 
    • Has a product or building passport been created? 
    • What circular approaches have been implemented? 

    The more clearly you demonstrate your sustainable practices, the better the jury can assess your project – and the more visibly you position yourself in the competition.

    mehr zu Kategorien

  • 5. The presentation

    Once your registration is complete, we ask you to provide a presentation of your project or product.

    1. Keep the presentation clear and engaging: short English texts, photos, plans and technical drawings. 
    2. Photos are more convincing than renderings. If only renderings and visualisations are available, please label them accordingly. 
    3. Highlight what sets the project apart: for example use of resources, social value, circular approach, product specifications or innovation. 
    4. For transformations: name conversions and extensions clearly, for example energy input or reuse of materials. 

What happens after submission?

Here's what happens next once you've submitted your project …

  • 1. The Judging

    Your project is reviewed and discussed by an internationally staffed panel of experts – interdisciplinary, independent, with an eye for excellence – across several steps and based on set criteria.

    1. Sorting and pre-selection against basic criteria by the award team. 
    2. Individual assessment of the winning projects by the jury members, based on the assessment criteria. 
    3. Joint jury session: in the sub-juries and in the plenary session, the strongest projects are discussed – until the Best of Best and the special and honorary awards are decided. 
    mehr zur Jury

  • 2. The Award

    If your project is honoured as a Winner or Best of Best, we will inform you in good time with the next steps.

  • 3. Publication Approval

    You review your data and images in the portal yourself and can view your project profile in the Online Showroom and your catalogue entry via a preview link. Changes and corrections are possible within a set period.

  • 4. Presentation in the Online Showroom

    Before the Award Ceremony, the Online Showroom goes live, presenting your awarded project permanently to an international audience.

    to the Showroom

  • 5. The Awards Ceremony

    The big moment: at the Awards Ceremony, your project will be celebrated – in front of an expert audience, on stage and in front of the camera. A day full of visibility, exchange and design excellence.

    more about the Award Ceremony

Ready for your submission?

Raise your profile, make contacts and unlock new business opportunities.

Pre-register now!
Jump to top of page