IDEA Entries Up 18 Percent. Does it Herald Brighter Days Ahead for Design?

IDEA 2012 jury contemplating finalists at the Henry Ford Museum last year.

This year the number of entries submitted to IDSA’s International Design Excellence Awards grew by 18 percent. And, that increased participation was on a global scale. Not only were submissions from the US up from previous years, but this year IDEA also saw an upswing in entries from countries in Europe and Asia. Most notably, Germany’s participation increased by an impressive 185 percent.

Submitted by kayceec on April 17, 2013 - 4:26pm

75 Percent of the World's Top 20 Brands Are IDEA Winners

How do businesses grow and thrive in challenging economic times? They build strong brands that resonate with consumers and engender loyalty. They understand and address people’s innermost needs and desires. Sometimes, as was the case with Steve Jobs, they are true visionaries that fulfill needs and desires that consumers and end users aren’t yet aware they have.

Submitted by Anonymous on January 23, 2013 - 7:24pm

Gold IDEA Winner Q&As

Every year we see some of the most innovative and thought-provoking products and concepts come out of the IDEA competition crowned as gold winners. These projects always leave us craving more information about the approach, their inspiration and what made them stand out from the other entries each category.

Submitted by benc on December 10, 2012 - 3:48pm

Thomas Overthun | IDEO | IDEA 2013 Jury Chair

Thomas Overthun | IDEO, IDEA 2013 Jury Chair

IDSA has selected Thomas Overthun of IDEO as the 2013 International Design Excellence Awards' jury chair. Overthun's experience as an IDEA 2012 juror makes him a perfect candidate for his new role. This spring he will lead the discussions and deliberations during the physical judging round at The Henry Ford.

Listed below are jury members that have been asked to participate in IDEA 2013.

Roger Swales, GRO design

Submitted by benc on December 6, 2012 - 1:09pm

IDEA Travels Two Roads

IDEA winners, selected from this year’s IDSA International Conference in Boston, have been touring ever since the conference began—both in Boston and in Korea. Whether in America or abroad, the message is the same: Good design is the basis for improved products, better business and a richer life.

Boston

Submitted by colleenb on October 15, 2012 - 2:20pm

IDEA 2012 Jury Chatter | Rhys Newman, IDSA

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

Submitted by tadkins on September 15, 2012 - 12:36am

IDEA 2012 Jury Chatter | Why a Business Person Should Care About a Design Award

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

Submitted by tadkins on September 15, 2012 - 12:33am

IDEA 2012 Jury Chatter | Design Competitions

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?

Submitted by tadkins on September 15, 2012 - 12:23am

IDSA Unveils Best in Show at IDEA Ceremony

Nike Captures Top Honor for Design Excellence

HERNDON, Va., Aug. 27, 2012 – On Aug. 18, the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) unveiled the Best in Show for the 2012 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) at its annual international conference in Boston. Nike claimed the Best in Show nod for its Nike+ FuelBand.

Submitted by roxannh on August 27, 2012 - 10:55am

IDEA 2012 Jury Chatter | Measuring Design Success (& More)

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