de Velde
Rules
At this page you'll find more information about the rules of the Henry van de Velde Awards.
Download the rules of the Henry van de Velde Awards 23 here.
Categories
Products, (research) projects, services or systems can compete for a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award within the following nine categories for the 2023 edition:
Business Innovation: a design award for innovative solutions in industry or professional settings that provide optimization and efficiency of logistics and production processes and better working conditions, and also contribute to a healthier planet. The focus is on efficiency gains, dismountability, modularity, new technology, automation, robotization.
Consumer: a design award for new or improved (semi-)industrial end products and smart solutions that improve and facilitate individual lives, within the realms of lifestyle, well-being, food, mobility, media and leisure.
Crafts: a design award for a meaningful product, object or project that has been elevated to a higher level in its production process, choice of materials, form, finish, through design-driven craftsmanship. ‘Meaningful’ is a product that pushes boundaries, creates added value in a broad social context, an object that moves you and what you cherish, is initially not intended for mass production and that is special in its DNA.
Design Research: a design award for meaningful, inspiring and visionary scenarios and concepts that are the result of a design practice based on solid research and that offer opportunities for the future of mankind and the planet.
Digital Product: a design award for a new or improved digital product where design is used strategically. This may include websites, digital campaigns and applications, and other services that allow people to see creative online communication. This category highlights designers who push the artistic and technological limits of the medium.
Environment: a design award for research, new or improved systems, services and products that address complex environmental issues from a collaborative approach and bring society closer to the solution or better deal with the issues. These systems, services or products that are the result of cross-fertilization can provide solutions to climate change and air pollution, the scarcity of raw materials, the promotion of sustainable food production, the structural solution of traffic congestion or noise pollution, etc.
Graphics: a design award for a product, service or system, analogue or digital, in which the form of communication or the communication medium clearly has an added value and ensures clear communication that effectively reaches its target group. This may include: the design of letters, books, catalogs, brochures, magazines and newspapers, announcements and posters, invitations, calendars, but also illustrations, storytelling and infographics, web design and motion graphics, corporate identity, campaigns and signage.
Habitat: a design award for a new or improved product that ensures pleasant living or comfortable working at home and thus contributes to personal well-being. This may include indoor and outdoor furniture, office furniture and accessories, interior textiles, lighting, tableware, high end interior objects.
Spaces: a design award for new or improved systems or services that shape, (co-)organize a private, public or professional environment/space and make being in this space more enjoyable and fluent. This can include: furnishings for homes, offices, public spaces, commercial spaces, but also modular concepts and project lighting.
In addition to these nine categories, a Henry van de Velde Gold Award is also presented for:
Lifetime Achievement: a design award for a designer or design agency that has been active for at least 30 years and has had national impact on an economic, social and/or cultural level with his/her design activities and is an international player in the sector. This award is nominated by the members of the jury.
Young Talent: a design award to encourage a young talent or agency that has been active within the sector for a maximum of 10 years. The assessment focuses on the designer or agency and looks at the social relevance and quality of the entire portfolio. This award is nominated by the members of the jury. The laureate receives a cash prize of 10,000 euros.
Company: A design award for companies that strategically use designers and design for their business or institution. This rewards good commissioning in relation to design. Important criteria are the degree of professionalism, strategy, sustainability and innovation. This award is nominated by the members of the jury.
Ecodesign by OVAM: a design award for a company or designer who acts as a role model for other designers. This laureate convinces the jury by a well-considered choice of ecodesign principles as a common thread throughout the entire company culture and strategy and/or throughout the designed products and services. Important criteria are the impact, potential growth, vision and continuity within the sustainability theme. This award is nominated by the members of the jury.
Public: The public prize is awarded to the product or project with the most preference votes from the public. All awarded products, projects and services in the nine categories described in Art. 6 can be voted for online. The laureates Lifetime Achievement, Young Talent, Company and Ecodesign by OVAM are not eligible.
Criteria
The competition is open to products, services and research that meet the criteria described below:
- The entries have a clear Flemish link, either through the designer or design studio, or through the client or customer.
- Participating projects meet the 'good design' criteria: good design has impact, is meaningful, innovative, functional, formally well thought out, environmentally friendly and sustainable, professionally finished and with respect for the techniques and materials used.
- Submitted service, systemic and social design projects or research projects will be judged based on the outcome and on what characterizes this methodology or attitude: people are key; solutions emerge from collaboration; the full context is considered; design techniques provide concrete and solution-oriented thinking; it is a step-by-step process with regular testing and evaluation.
- The product in its current form is launched on the market between April 1, 2021 and May 31, 2022, and the path of research, services and projects is completed after April 1, 2021.
- The submission is made online via the registration form at henryvandevelde.be, in full and within the set deadline.
Procedure
1. Participation in the Henry van de Velde Awards 23 is possible via the designer, design agency or client.
2. Entries can be done online at the website henryvandevelde.be from March 29, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. to May 31, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.
3. Participation is completely free.
4. One project can be submitted in a maximum of two categories.
5. For each category for which one applies, a clear motivation must be written of why the project is of added value within this category and what impact it has.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can find some frequently asked questions and answers about participating in the Henry van de Velde Awards below.
Yes, you can enter with multiple projects. Consider these as separate entries, for which you will have to fill out a separate entry form each time. Exceptions on this are product families (or variants), which can be considered as one entry.
You can submit a project in a maximum of two categories. We recommend that you read the descriptions of the various categories carefully. If you are still in doubt, you can contact us for advice at info@henryvandevelde.be.
Participation in the Henry van de Velde Awards is completely free. Participation in the exhibition at Bozar is also free. All it takes for you is to describe and illustrate your project sufficiently for the jury to assess it. Once you are selected for the second selection round, you are responsible for the transport to and from the location of this selection round (location and dates: see rules). If you win an award, you automatically take part in the exhibition in Bozar and are also responsible for making the winning project available for the duration of the exhibition and for transport to and from Bozar.
Projects eligible for the 2023 edition awards must have launched in the market between April 1, 2021 and May 31, 2022. Are you launching after May 31, 2022? No worries! The Henry van de Velde Awards return every year. As of March 2023 you can submit your entry for the next edition and you will have an equal chance of winning an award.
Since you can only enter a project in a maximum of two categories, it is very important to make the right choice. The description of the different categories can be found at the top of this page. If you still have doubts, you can contact us at info@henryvandevelde.be.
You cannot register for these awards. These will be designated by the judges.
The Henry van de Velde Awards are the most prestigious design awards in Flanders. By participating, you have the chance to add your project to the list of award winning designs. You can do this without any financial contribution. It is a unique opportunity to get noticed, not only by the professional jury, but as an award-winning designer you also build on your credibility towards potential clients, and as a client you get the chance to put your valued product in the spotlight. The winners are honored during a festive ceremony and a networking moment in the presence of almost the entire design sector. Each winner will also be included in an exclusive exhibition in Bozar, as well as in the publication, and will be part of an extensive international communication campaign.
“After receiving this award, I got an enormous amount of positive reactions. It gave me great visibility and recognition and also boosted my sales.”
Timeline
The call for entries for the Henry van de Velde Awards 23 is open.
Designers and companies can submit their best work from the past year for free.
The jury meets a first time to go over all the projects submitted. The best projects from each category are selected to go to the next round.
The jury will meet a second time to physically view the selected projects from the first round and determine the winners.
The 27 award winners are announced.
People can now vote for their favorite project.
You can vote for your favorite project until December 20.
The annual festive presentation of the Henry van de Velde Awards takes place at Bozar in Brussels and is followed by the opening of the exhibition in the Foyers and a reception in the Horta Hall.
First day of the exhibition of the Henry van de Velde Awards 23 which can be visited for free.
Last day of the exhibition. Until then, visitors can come and enjoy the free exhibition at Bozar in Brussels.
