Student Design Awards

Student Design Awards

Think differently about design

The Student Design Awards are the world’s longest-running design competition and in 2024 we'll be celebrating 100 years of recognising innovative ideas.

Every year, we’ve invited young designers and students from across the globe to apply their skills and creativity to design briefs that focus on the most pressing social and environmental challenges. Since the first prizes were given out 1924, the Student Design Awards have welcomed over 110,000 projects from over 20 countries.

The awards have been a prestigious springboard for participants’ careers. Our alumni include:

  • Richard Howarth - Apple, VP of Design
  • Betty Jackson MBE - Fashion designer
  • Matt McGrath - Aircraft Medical founder and inventor of the video laryngoscope.

The Student Design Awards offer the chance to learn from, and be inspired by, this century's old tapestry of incredible changemakers.

Join and be part of a hopeful collective of innovators creating meaningful impact for our people, place and planet.

 

Key dates

2023

  • Sep: Briefs launch, register for a briefing session with the team
  • Oct: Free brief information sessions
  • Nov - Dec: Free learning and skills workshops

2024

  • 31 Jan: Submissions open
  • 16 Feb, 4pm GMT: Early bird submissions deadline (£25 entry fee)
  • 28 Feb, 11.59pm GMT: Bursary application deadline
  • 16 Mar, 4pm GMT: Final submissions deadline (£35 entry fee)
  • Mar - May: Judging (two stages: shortlisting and interviews with finalists)
  • Jun: Winners announced and awards ceremony

Design briefs

See all the 2023-24 design briefs

Information and resources for...

Students

Access tools on design thinking and find out more about our bursary offer.

Educators

More information on how to integrate the awards within your curriculum and careers offer.

About the competition

Find out about more about the Awards.

Judging

Find out more about the judging process and the submission criteria.

News and events

See the latest news and events.

Student Design Awards winners

See the winning submissions from past Student Design Awards.

 

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Contact

+44 20 7451 6845 | [email protected]

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Read blogs and Comment articles about the Student Design Awards

  • Century of innovation

    Comment

    Anton Howes Anna Markland

    The Student Design Awards celebrate 100 successful years supporting visionary products.

  • Student Design Awards 2023: meet the shortlist

    News

    Aoife O'Doherty

    The RSA Student Design Awards 2023 shortlist has been announced. Across nine briefs, 70 students are working to bring positive social change to people, place and planet.

  • Inclusive solutions

    Comment

    Jillian Linton

    The winners of the 98th cycle of the RSA Student Design Awards (SDA) are shifting their understanding of who design is for by prioritising inclusive design solutions.