After this year's IDEA jury made its final decision regarding which designs were most excellent, we stole a few minutes with Jury Chair Rhys Newman, IDSA from Nokia to ask him about how the process went, what trends he observed and the story that ought to be told about what makes Nike+ FuelBand the Best in Show.

Run time: 3:21

You care about a design award because you, the designer, earn them when you do great work.

We care about a design award because we hand them out to celebrate your great work.

But what about a business person? Why should they care about a design award if they're not directly involved in the give-receive equation?

Matt Jones, Mike Kruzeniski, Sam Lucente, IDSA and Rhys Newman, IDSA made the case when we posed the question to them while the IDEA jury was assembled in Dearborn, MI in May 2012.

Run time: 4:03

In addition to the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), there are dozens (hundreds?) of design award schemes operated by organizations around the world.

What distinguishes one from the others? Is there anything particularly unique about IDEA?

We like to think the answer to the second question is obvious. (Yes.)

But what do IDEA jurors think? And how would they answer the first--perhaps more important--question?

Near the end of their dual interview at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, MI this May, IDEA 2012 Jurors Mike Kuzeniski and Matt Jones paused to consider what it means to think of a design as successful. Notably, they contemplated which criteria are integral to legitimizing a design as something that achieves success.

This tangent took a tangent or two of its own as Mike and Matt also observed some ways design practice is changing, and some new opportunities for how a design awards scheme could define design excellence.

Run time: 6:17

In 2011, the Windows Phone 7 earned a Best in Show distinction from the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) jury.

Making his first appearance on any IDEA jury in 2012, Mike Kruzeniski, who had been creative director for the Windows Phone Design Studio, talks about the impact the award had on his design team.

This excerpt comes from a May 2012 interview conducted at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, MI.

Run time: 1:09

Sam Lucente, IDSA has a story to tell.

It’s about the Wright Brothers.

It somehow ties into the 2012 International Design Excellence Awards.

But, mostly, it’s about the Wright Brothers.

This excerpt comes from a May 2012 interview conducted at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, MI.

Run time: 2:53

When the 2012 IDEA Jury convened at the Henry Ford to evaluate this year's entries, we posed a few questions to some jurors to gain some insight on what they saw and how they went about judging the most excellent design in the world.

• In your categories, what trends did you observe? What challenges did you face?
• How do you distinguish good from great design?

Run time: 8:39

When the 2012 IDEA Jury convened at the Henry Ford to evaluate this year's entries, we posed a few questions to some jurors to gain some insight on what they saw and how they went about judging the most excellent design in the world.

• What trends did you observe in the categories you evaluated?
• How do you distinguish good from great design?
• Is there a secret to creating an outstanding entry?

Run time: 2:49

When the 2012 IDEA Jury convened at the Henry Ford to evaluate this year's entries, we posed a few questions to some jurors to gain some insight on what they saw and how they went about judging the most excellent design in the world.

• What trends did you observe in the categories you evaluated?
• How do you personally define great design?
• Is there a secret to creating an outstanding entry?

Run time: 3:44