Rules

Download the rules of the Henry van de Velde Awards 27 here

Products, projects, services or systems can compete for a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award within the following nine categories: 

Business Innovation: The prize for innovative solutions — business models, products, services or digital applications — in industry, the business world, healthcare or professional environments. The solutions should provide optimisation and efficiency of administrative, production, logistics or distribution processes; better working conditions; and/or a positive impact on the environment.

Consumer Innovation: The prize for (semi-)industrial end products, smart (digital) solutions and services that improve and facilitate the individual daily life of private individuals in the domain of food, well-being, leisure, mobility, media, lifestyle and recreation, etc.

Craft Driven Design by Bokrijk: The prize for products, objects or projects in which craftsmanship plays a central role and is deployed through 'design thinking' as a driver for innovation and renewal. This category honours creations in which artisanal knowledge and techniques are reinvented, combined or translated into contemporary applications and contexts. The focus is on materiality, the making process, experimentation, aesthetic quality and/or the integration of traditional (pre-industrial) and new techniques.

Projects submitted within the Crafts Driven Design category may be contacted by our partner Bokrijk to further review their file and/or to give it additional attention.

Digital & Interactive Design: The prize for digital and interactive designs that improve user experiences, enable new forms of interaction and stimulate digital innovation. This category honours products, platforms, applications or systems in which design plays a central role in user-friendliness, engagement and the connection between people and technology. The focus is on intuitive interactions, digital experience, ease of use and the integration of technology to create meaningful and functional digital experiences. These may include: websites, apps, digital platforms, interactive installations, interface design, UX/UI projects, digital tools for work or leisure, and experimental or educational interactive applications.

Graphic & Brand Design: The prize in which the graphic design, visual elaboration or illustrations of a product, digital application, campaign or system are boundary-pushing and distinctive, and ensure effective and compelling communication or identity. These may include: print or digital campaigns, typography, branding and identity, packaging, editorial design, motion design, signage and infographics.

Habitat: The prize for a product or object that contributes to pleasant living or comfortable (home) working and thereby contributes to personal well-being. These may include: furniture, lighting, textiles and objects for both indoor and outdoor use and for home, office or the project market; wall coverings, tableware and other accessories.

Service Design: The prize for innovative services and user experiences that help organisations optimise processes and interactions for customers or citizens. These are solutions that respond to the real needs of users, customers and stakeholders, and that through design lead to greater ease of use, accessibility and impact. The focus is on customer-centricity, co-creation, innovative digital and physical touchpoints using design methodologies and new technology. This applies both in retail environments, public services, healthcare and well-being, mobility and transport, financial services, education, culture and leisure, work and office environments, digital platforms and ecosystems, as well as in industrial and B2B contexts.

Social & Systemic Design: The prize for designs, systems or projects that, through design, contribute to societal change, large or small. The focus is on solutions that address societal challenges (such as poverty, wellbeing, sustainability, polarisation, inclusion, safety, inequality, ageing, education, etc.) by intervening at the level of behaviours, policy and systems, regardless of scale. This through social innovation projects; participatory processes with citizens or communities, interventions in public space, behaviour-changing campaigns, policy design, etc.

Spatial Design: The prize for designs and interventions that shape a private, public or professional environment — indoors or outdoors — and improve the experience, functionality and quality of use. This category honours projects that, through design, respond to how people experience or use spaces. The focus is on spatial experience, use logic, materiality and the relationship between people, objects and environment. These may include: (re)design of work and living environments, scenography, temporary or modular installations, retail and exhibition concepts, spatial interventions (indoors & outdoors), repurposing of existing spaces, etc.

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. 3.1 can be voted for online. The laureates Lifetime Achievement, Young Talent, Company and Ecodesign by OVAM are not eligible. 

The competition is open to products and services that meet the criteria described below:

1. The entry has a clear Flemish connection. Either because the designer was born in
   Flanders, or through the commissioner, the design studio or the client.
2. The project in its current form was launched on the market between 28 May 2025 and
   24 May 2026. A prototype or a product offered via pre-order is not eligible.
3. The submission file is complete. The submitter can return to their file at any time up to
   and including the submission deadline to complete it.

1. Participation in the Henry van de Velde Awards is possible via the designer, design agency or client. 
2. Entries can be done online at the website henryvandevelde.be from April 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. to May 24, 2025 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. 

You can find some frequently asked questions and answers about participating in the Henry van de Velde Awards below.