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Rule
The AWDA Award is open to all individuals who identify as women, regardless of sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, or any transition journeys.
Eligible projects include visual communication design works produced from 2023 to the present.
Eligible projects include visual communication design works produced from 2023 to the present.
The Award includes the following three categories:
Professionals
Eligible participants include: studio owners, independent professionals, studio employees, freelancers, and female-led or predominantly female collectives.
For employees and freelancers, a release form, signed and stamped by the owning studio or agency, certifying intellectual property rights of the submitted project, must be attached.
Researchers
Eligible participants include: scholars, researchers, university lecturers, lecturers from academies or secondary schools, public and/or private institutions, PhD holders, and scholars who have developed studies, research projects, publications (including self-published works), doctoral theses, or educational projects related to visual communication design.
Students
Eligible participants include: students enrolled in public and/or private universities or academies, specialist schools, whose academic curriculum includes visual communication design projects; graduating students or graduates (within the last four years) who have developed or are developing undergraduate or master’s thesis projects in visual communication design.
Projects submitted within the deadlines specified in the call will be selected by an international jury composed of leading figures in the field of design. Projects in the Researchers' category will be evaluated by a dedicated jury, primarily consisting of university professors and researchers. The composition of both the international jury and the research category jury will be announced by May 2026.
Among the selected works deemed worthy of publication, the jury will announce the winning graphic designer of the AWDA 2026 Prize and award three honorable mentions (one for each category) and any special mentions. Since 2023, a special award has been added: AWDA for RIGHTS!. This is granted to the project – among all those selected – that best addresses social issues regarding women's rights and labor, and more broadly, gender inequality in any field. The Lifetime Achievement Award (which may also be awarded posthumously) will be presented to a national or international designer who has distinguished themselves through their professional and research career, contributing significantly to the dissemination and growth of design culture within the field of communication design. Summarizing the awards and mentions given will be:
— AWDA 2026 Award
— AWDA Lifetime Achievement Award 2026
— AWDA for RIGHTS! Award 2026
— AWDA Honorable Mention 2026 Professional Category
— AWDA Honorable Mention 2026 Students Category
— AWDA Honorable Mention 2026 Researchers Category
The call will remain open from March, 31st to June, 30th 2026.
The official award-giving ceremony will take place in Italy, in November 2026.
Among the selected works deemed worthy of publication, the jury will announce the winning graphic designer of the AWDA 2026 Prize and award three honorable mentions (one for each category) and any special mentions. Since 2023, a special award has been added: AWDA for RIGHTS!. This is granted to the project – among all those selected – that best addresses social issues regarding women's rights and labor, and more broadly, gender inequality in any field. The Lifetime Achievement Award (which may also be awarded posthumously) will be presented to a national or international designer who has distinguished themselves through their professional and research career, contributing significantly to the dissemination and growth of design culture within the field of communication design. Summarizing the awards and mentions given will be:
— AWDA 2026 Award
— AWDA Lifetime Achievement Award 2026
— AWDA for RIGHTS! Award 2026
— AWDA Honorable Mention 2026 Professional Category
— AWDA Honorable Mention 2026 Students Category
— AWDA Honorable Mention 2026 Researchers Category
The call will remain open from March, 31st to June, 30th 2026.
The official award-giving ceremony will take place in Italy, in November 2026.
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