Submissions must demonstrate clear relevance within their application field or industry.

• Solutions should be grounded in real human insights, obtained through user research, observation, or participatory design.
• Designs must address substantial human challenges, improve everyday experiences, and create meaningful value – for individuals, communities, organizations, and the planet.
• Consideration of sustainable principles, resource-consciousness, and long-term impact is essential.

Entries should propose new ways of addressing challenges in both physical and digital contexts.

• Innovative use of materials, forms, systems, or technologies to enhance human wellbeing.
• Application of existing solutions in novel, human-centered ways.
• Solutions should not only apply technology creatively but also humanize interactions between people, products, and environments.

Great design considers the full ecosystem of use.

• Processes should integrate research, design, engineering, and business perspectives.
• Products and services must account for both direct users and the wider context of stakeholders, environments, and support systems.
• Designs should consider the entire lifecycle: from production and use to repair, reuse, and disposal.

Solutions should empower people by extending their abilities, improving quality of life, or opening new opportunities.

• Physical products: support ergonomics, comfort, safety, and usability.
• Digital services: ensure intuitive interaction, accessibility, and inclusivity.
• All entries should demonstrate sensitivity to differences in age, physical and cognitive ability, cultural context, and education.
• Designs should strengthen participation, inclusion, and dignity, fostering trust and social cohesion.

Entries must show how the solution delivers tangible outcomes and sustainable business or societal value.

• Impact: measurable benefits such as improved wellbeing, efficiency, or safety.
• Feasibility: realistic pathways for implementation, production, or scaling.
• Responsibility: ethical use of materials, resources, and technologies, with transparency in processes (e.g., AI, automation, or data use).
• Designs should build trust and responsibility, whether in physical safety or digital privacy.

Excellence in design execution is a core criterion.

• Physical design: attention to ergonomics, haptics, durability, materials, and craftsmanship.
• Digital design: clarity, coherence, intuitive navigation, accessibility, and responsive interaction.
• Hybrid experiences: seamless integration across physical and digital touchpoints.
• Entries should demonstrate aesthetic quality, functional simplicity, and coherence with brand or purpose.
• Language, communication, and storytelling should complement the overall experience.