IDSA’s Student Merit Award program is free to enter and open to industrial design students from any North American college or university with an active IDSA Student Chapter. 

Participating individuals must hold a current IDSA student membership. Visit www.idsa.org/Membership to sign up. Student membership is $50 annually.

The SMA program begins February 10, 2025. IDSA recommends completing the School Finalist selection by April 11, 2025 to give Finalists time to complete their submissions before the May 23 deadline.

The faculty advisor(s) assembles a jury of at least three (3) professional designers from the surrounding community. These individuals should have demonstrated proficiency in their practice. These individuals should represent diverse gender and cultural backgrounds. These individuals do not need to be IDSA members, but membership is encouraged. These individuals should not be full or part-time faculty at the school.

On a set date, student candidates will present their work for the jury of professionals, their student peers and other attendees from the local IDSA community. This can be done as an in-person event or as a video conference via Zoom, Facetime, etc.

The student’s verbal and visual presentation submission should meet the following:

• Presentation length is strictly limited to 8 minutes in length start to finish.
• Presentations should include images, graphics, video, etc. that detail project work in a professional and comprehensive way.
• Presentations should be delivered live, in real-time … not prerecorded
• It is highly encouraged to record these student presentations so that this video may be included in SMA School Finalist submission materials.

Jurors must use the IDSA provided scoring forms to rate students in the areas of: scope of work, quality of work, quality of thought, visual presentation, and verbal presentation.

The scores will determine the top candidate in that school. If the scores result in a tie, a discussion among jurors present will be conducted in order to choose that school’s SMA Finalists.

One Undergraduate student and one Graduate student from each participating school is chosen as an SMA School Finalist. Once selected, please notify IDSA using this form.

Undergraduate SMA Finalists must finalize their entries no later than May 23, 2025.

Only one Undergraduate SMA Finalist per school may participate in the District Winner Selection.

Undergraduate SMA Finalists will use IDSA’s online awards platform to complete their submission for review.

Undergraduate SMA Finalists’ submissions will be comprised of:

• Project Portfolio, detailing up to three (3) individual projects. PDF format, not to exceed 15 pages in length. The portfolio should address and display competency in the following areas:
  • Your problem statement and design solution
  • Your research and synthesis
  • Design approach and process
  • Clearly define student role in the group
  • How your work is forward-thinking and unique
  • How your work addresses real-world challenges and advances the design profession
• Project Images
  • Three (3) individual images that best represent the projects in your portfolio; one image per project; 300 dpi high resolution
• Verbal Statement
  • A two (2) minute video statement verbally addressing the following prompts
    • What’s an experience you’ve had in your design education (project, presentation, etc.) that’s helped shape who you are as a designer?
    • What’s an example of something in the world (product, experience, service, etc.), where you feel like design has made a powerful impact?
• Additional Option: Video recording of your Round 1 school presentation

All submissions must be completed by May 23, 2025

GSMA School Finalists must finalize their entries no later than May 23, 2025.

Only one Graduate SMA Finalist may participate in the District Winner Selection. 

GSMA School Finalists will continue to use IDSA’s online awards platform to complete their submission for review. Submissions will be comprised of:

• A project Portfolio detailing up to three (3) individual projects. PDF format, not to exceed 15 pages in length. Your portfolio should address and display competency in the following areas:
  • Your problem statement and design solution
  • Your research and synthesis
  • Design approach and process
  • Clearly define student role in group work
  • How your work takes risks, is unique and future-oriented
  • How your work can be implemented in practice/academia
  • How your work contributes to the body of knowledge of design
• Project Images
  • Three (3) individual images that best represent the projects in your portfolio, one image per project; 300 dpi high resolution
• Verbal Statement
  • A three (3) minute video statement verbally addressing the following prompts:
    • How would you explain what a designer does to a 6-year-old and an 80-year-old? 
    • What did you learn in your program of study that shapes you as an industrial designer?
    • If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself related to your design education?
• Additional Option: Video recording of your school presentation 
• Written Statement
  • Written responses to the following questions:
    • In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges for designers?
    • What would you like to design to make a positive impact for society?

All submissions must be completed by May 23, 2025

Each school level Undergraduate and Graduate SMA Finalist receives the following:

• Recognition on IDSA.org and social media with other SMA Finalists.
• A commemorative digital certificate delivered at the conclusion of the competition.

Each District level Undergraduate and Graduate SMA Winner receives the following:

• A complimentary 1-year membership to IDSA.
• A profile in INNOVATION magazine.
• Recognition on IDSA.org and social media with other SMA District Winners.
• A complimentary registration to attend and be recognized on stage at the 2025 IDSA International Design Conference & Education Symposium (IDC) (travel not included).
• A commemorative trophy.
• A commemorative print certificate.

Students at the school and District levels are evaluated using the same criteria and rubric framework. Download the SMA 2025 Jury Evaluation Scoresheet.

Scope of Work
The submitted portfolio of projects should demonstrate proficiency across multiple mediums, project categories and/or problem areas. The student should display an in-depth understanding of the entire design process and design research from start to finish; this should be reflected within the body of their work.

Quality of Work
The submitted portfolio of projects should demonstrate a high-level of proficiency in industrial design skills such as: user research, ideation (sketching/rendering and prototyping), modeling (3D and physical), materials and/or manufacturing. The final solutions or presentations of process or ideas should be aesthetically fitting and exhibit appropriate balance between form and function.

Quality of Thought
The student should demonstrate in-depth and holistic understanding of a problem/opportunity scoping, design criteria and context. The student is effective in making connections between their work and practice/academia, and demonstrates thinking that contributes to advancing the design profession. This critical analysis should be reflected (and communicated) in their research and process, and/or final solution(s). The work should be forward thinking and unique.

Visual Presentation
The submitted materials should be clearly organized, well composed and visually compelling. The work should be representative of a cohesive collection and communicate an intelligible narrative throughout.

Verbal Presentation
The student should articulate their thoughts, work and process in a clear and succinct manner. Verbal statements should be delivered with a compelling narrative and demonstrate holistic understanding of the subject matter.

District Jurors will use the tools built into IDSA’s online awards platform to rate students. The resulting scores will determine the top candidate in each District or top overall candidate. If the scores result in a tie, phone/video conference call discussion among District jurors will be conducted in order to choose the SMA Winner(s).