With just three weeks left to enter Dezeen Awards 2024, we asked past winners for tips on how to put together a winning entry.
Melbourne studio Reef Design Lab won for its breakwater marine habitats and told Dezeen a winning entry should have "excellent photography, interesting ideas and something that contributes."
Design studio RooMoo, which was awarded for its bar made from whiskey barrel offcuts, advised entrants to spotlight "new and fresh ideas and sustainable features used during the entire design process."
Dubai-based Agata Kurzela Studio, which won workplace interior (large), said that aesthetics is "just one aspect of your work, with fundamentals grounded in research, sustainability, and relevance."
Three weeks left to enter Dezeen Awards!
There are just three weeks left to enter Dezeen Awards, in partnership with Bentley. Enter your projects by Thursday 30 May at 23:59 London time for your chance to win. You can find out how to enter here.
Read on for more tips on how to put together a winning entry:
Captivating imagery
"Make sure to include the best imagery possible, which highlights the product in its best light," said New Zealand-based brand Noho, which took home furniture design of the year for its ergonomically sound dining chair for furniture brand Knoll.
Scottish craftsman David Taylor agreed with studio Noho, saying people should send: "The most obvious, high-quality descriptive images that explain everything about your product at a glance."
"All the well-written text in the world won't save you from rubbish images and the judges start by looking at the pictures," added Taylor, awarded lighting design of the year for his Knuckle collection for Swedish brand Hem.
New ideas
London-based start-up PulpaTronics said Dezeen Awards "differs from other awards as it doesn't only recognise creativity and design, but it values innovation, cutting-edge and impactful technologies."
"Identifying a key problem and proposing an innovative solution is the first step to putting together a winning entry," said PulpaTronics.
"What takes the idea to the next level is the way the idea is turned into a clear narrative through the means of visual and written storytelling, highlighting key motivations and values that went into the design process," added the start-up.
Storytelling
Swedish design studio Mizetto won workplace design for its minimalist log-like perch and said entrants should "focus on storytelling."
"Articulate the inspiration, concept, and impact of your design clearly and compellingly showcasing your work with high-quality visuals and multimedia content," Mizetto explained.
"Highlight any innovative techniques, materials, or technologies used and most importantly, be authentic and let your passion for design shine through in your submission."
Be concise
Restaurant and bar interior of the year and interiors project of the year winner Ruben Valdez Practice's best advice is to be "very concise on how you communicate your project so that the essential value of it is clearly understood."
"Do not be descriptive about the project, but identify the important ideas behind the building and make them explicit," agreed Mexican practice Estudio MMX, which was awarded workplace project of the year for its campus for a houseware company in Guadalajara.
"The building will be read through the architectural plans so it is necessary to take advantage of the descriptions to tell everything that can escape the drawings and photographs," added the studio.
Read the instructions and judging criteria
"We strongly recommend following the instructions of the Dezeen application form," stressed 2023 workplace project winner Estudio MMX.
"Taking advantage of the design of this platform and using the instructions to your advantage has been key in the number of times we have applied for the award and have been longlisted, shortlisted and winners," it added.
Meanwhile, workplace interior (large) winner Agata Kurzela Studio said the judging criteria are "a good reminder of the design principles and values that should be universal."
Iranian practice KA Architecture Studio's brick barrel-vaulted metro station in Tehran was crowned infrastructure and transport project of the year last year.
The studio's best advice? Remember to "look at the previous year's winners, write appropriate and comprehensive text and include diagrams."
Questions?
Do you have any questions or need more information? Reach out at awards@dezeen.com and someone from the team will help!
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Dezeen Awards 2024 in partnership with Bentley
Dezeen Awards is the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across the globe. The seventh edition of the annual awards programme is in partnership with Bentley as part of a wider collaboration to inspire, support and champion design excellence and showcase innovation that creates a better and more sustainable world. This ambition complements Bentley's architecture and design business initiatives, including the Bentley Home range of furnishings and real estate projects around the world.