IDEA 2024 entry is closed
There are 20 competition categories for the IDEA program.
These subject areas demonstrate the expansive nature of industrial design and its impact on daily life. Further, the span of categories is a reflection of the magnitude of modern human need and a designer’s remarkable ability to respond to challenges through creative thinking and thoughtful design. A detail of each category is found at the bottom of the page.
Automotive & Transportation
Branding
Children’s Products
Commercial & Industrial
Concepts & Speculative Design
Consumer Technology
Design Strategy
Digital Interaction
Environments
Furniture & Lighting
Home
Lifestyle & Accessories
Medical & Health
Office & Accessories
Outdoor & Gardens
Packaging
Service Design
Social Impact
Sports & Recreation
Student
PROFESSIONAL
- Automotive & Transportation: Automotive & Locomotive Exterior and Interior / Marine & Aircraft Exterior and Interior / Motorcycles / Recreational Vehicles / Bicycles / Scooters
- Branding: Identities / Collateral / Additional Logo Applications
- Children’s Products: Children’s Toys & Games / Learning Tools / Children’s Accessories / Children’s Apparel / Children’s Furniture
- Commercial & Industrial Products: Building Equipment & Systems / Heavy Machinery / Construction & Industrial Vehicles / Other Equipment or Tools
- Concepts & Speculative Design: Any product, service, or experience that does not yet exist in production. Speculative work that envisions future products, services, or experiences with new technologies or features.
- Consumer Technology (including Entertainment): Phones and VOIP / Cell Phones, Smart Phones, PDAs / Navigation Devices / Earpieces & Headsets / Accessories / Desktops / Laptops, Notebooks, Ultra-Mobiles / Tablets / Servers & Housings / Portable Devices / Display Screens, Monitors & Projectors / Input Devices / Peripherals / Stereos, Speakers / TVs, DVD players / Headphones / Cameras & Camcorders / Personal Audio Players / Accessories & Cable Management / Home Theater / Musical Instruments / Multimedia & Gaming Equipment / Multi-Function Devices / Mobile Entertainment
- Design Strategy: Design Strategy & Management / Design Thinking / Design Research Projects
- Digital Interaction: User Interface / Web & Applications
- Environments: Corporate, Public & Private Spaces / Environmental Graphics & Signage Systems / Museum Exhibits & Set Designs / Showrooms & Retail Merchandising / Trade Show Exhibits / Street Lighting and Furniture
- Home (including Kitchen & Bath): Accessories / Flooring / Carpets / Décor / Bedding / Windows / Materials / Bathroom & Sanitary Furnishings / Wellness Rooms and Equipment / Control Elements and Systems / Appliances / Tableware / Utensils / Cookware / Cutlery
- Furniture & Lighting (including Outdoor Furniture): Furniture / Kitchen Furniture / Lighting / Garden & Outdoor Furniture
- Lifestyle & Accessories (formerly Personal Accessories): Apparel / Bags & Cases / Eyeglasses / Footwear / Hats / Watches
- Medical & Health: Clinical & Diagnostic Products / Industrial & Scientific Products / Surgical & Therapeutic Products / Home-Care & Self-Care Products
- Office & Accessories: Supplies & Organizers / Equipment & Fixtures / Writing Instruments / Office Furniture & Lighting
- Outdoor & Gardens: Camping / Hiking / Climbing / Scuba Diving / Gear / Helmets / Backpacks / Hydration Products / Outdoor Cooking / Pet Accessories / Garden Equipment & Tools/ Garden Lamps & Lighting / Décor / Accessories
- Packaging: Packaging Graphics / Packaging Structures
- Service Design: Revenue Generating Services / Non-Profit Services / Government Services
- Social Impact Design (Products or Services): Environmental Impact / Sustainability / Design for the Majority / Humanitarian and NGO / Public Spaces / Government
- Sports, Leisure & Recreation: Toys & Games / Sporting, Fitness & Camping Gear / Sporting & Fitness Accessories
STUDENT
- Any physical or digital product, service, or experience created during collegiate student coursework