How do I submit my entries?
Submissions are simple and fully online. You can complete an entry in 4 simple steps:
Entries may be submitted in more than one category at an additional cost. No additional materials are needed for the same entry.
Submissions
Who is eligible?
How long should my entry brief be?
It is recommended that you keep your description to approximately 350 words. We suggest you utilize this section of your entry to elaborate on the background, as well as the creativity and originality of your idea. The brief should strengthen your entry, as well as provide the jurors with a better understanding of your submission. A written translation or adaptation should accompany non-English entries.
Is there a limit to the number of entries I can submit?
There are no limits on the number of entries you can submit.
Can I enter my work into multiple categories?
Yes, you can enter the same work into as many categories as you see fit. There will be an additional fee applicable for each added category.
Can I submit an entry that has previously won an award, or has been entered in another competition?
Yes, previously submitted or award-winning entries are eligible. However, to inspire innovation and celebrate fresh creativity, we highly encourage submitting new designs or achievements.
Do I need to send a sample of my design to the competition? If so, will it be returned to me and do I need to send a return-handling fee?
It is not required that you send actual samples to the competition. Images, descriptions and other relevant materials of the design are sufficient.
How will I know if my submission is complete, and what do I do if it’s not?
If a submission remains incomplete at the time of the competition’s closing (for example, unpaid entries or incorrectly uploaded materials), it will not be eligible for judging.
While we make every effort to notify entrants and assist in completing submissions before the deadline, the responsibility ultimately lies with the entrant. Therefore, we are unable to offer refunds for entries that are incomplete when the competition closes.
Can I make changes to my entry after I have paid?
Yes, you may refine your entry whenever required up until the start of the judging period.
What does the option "Keep My Entry Private" mean?
If this option is selected, your entry will remain private and will not be displayed publicly after being announced as a winner. Only the entry thumbnail will appear on the Winners’ Page for identification purposes.
Please note that private winning entries will not be featured or promoted on our social media platforms.
Image Files
The submissions should be saved in a flattened JPEG or JPG format. (keep them under 4MB, 1,200px wide is preferable, 300dpi, RGB).
What if I have trouble uploading my images?
Firstly, check if the image does not exceed the maximum size (4MB) or width (1,200 px), and the file name only contains letters or numbers. Once checked, try to upload your images again. If you’re still having trouble after this, contact our team at info@thetokyodesignawards.com.
Audio/Video Files
Entries containing video or audio elements must include a direct URL that allows judges to access the work without restriction. If the file is password-protected, please provide the username and password for judging purposes.
All web videos (if applicable) will be evaluated solely based on the content provided. If additional context or explanation is required, you may upload a PDF brief instead.
Requirements for Individual Achievements
Ensure that all supporting materials are uploaded in PDF or JPEG format and kept within the maximum file size of 4MB. If your materials are hosted online, you may also include a URL link for reference.
Entry Fees
The regular entry fee is $219 for the first work submitted. If the same work is entered into multiple categories, an additional entry fee applies for each category. Each participant is also charged a $30 annual administrative fee with their first entry of the year. For individual achievement categories, the entry fee is $355 per submission during the Regular Entry Period.
Entry fees will not be refundable once submitted. Withdrawn entries (whether withdrawn by entrant or by the Awards for the entrant’s failure to comply with entry rules) will NOT be refunded as well. Please click here to see entry fees.
How can I pay for the entry that I submit?
Online. You may pay for your entry through Credit Card (VISA / MasterCard) or PayPal (AMEX / PayPal).
Are all the fees on your website in USD?
Yes, we only accept USD at this moment.
The jurors
The prestige of the Tokyo Design Awards is founded on the expertise and credibility of its jury panel. Each juror is carefully selected for their professional achievements and influence within the global design industry.
The panel includes experienced figures from various disciplines, such as architecture, interior design, product design, creative direction, education, marketing, and business. This diversity ensures that every entry is evaluated fairly, with insight and respect for creative excellence.
Judging criteria
Judges score on a scale of 1-100, based on the below criteria for general design categories:
Judges also score on a scale of 1-100, based on the below criteria for for Honorary Designer categories:
Decisions by the Tokyo Design Awards and the International Awards Associate (IAA) are final and binding. No correspondence or discussion will be entered into regarding the results or judging outcomes.
Judging Process
Judging is blind. All entrant information is removed from entries to prevent bias/conflict of interest.
The Tokyo Design Awards’ judging process is conducted with complete impartiality and independence. To ensure fairness, both the identities of the judges and the entrants are kept confidential throughout the evaluation process.
This anonymity eliminates potential bias and prevents any external influence from affecting the judges’ decisions.
How do we select Tokyo Design Awards winners?
Entries are judged at random without comparison to other entries in a category. Each submission is evaluated on criteria determined by the category's requirements. For example, freelancers are not compared to design firms in the same category.
To maintain high standards of quality, a category may have multiple winners or, in some cases, no winners at all. Each entry is critiqued and rated by consensus, with the panel of judges assigning a score on a 100-point scale.
Levels of winning and number of winning entries
There are FIVE (5) levels of achievement in the competition:
Entries scoring below 50 points will not be awarded. The number of awards presented by the Tokyo Design Awards is determined by the number of submissions in a given category, the scoring range and the number of tie scores.
Note: It is not necessary for each category to have a winning title for the Designs of the Year. The judges decision is final, and the selections are based entirely on the overall quality of submissions in the given category.
How do I know if I’ve won an award?
All winners will be announced on May 8, 2026 via the Tokyo Design Awards official page. All entrants can then login to view all winning entries.
We will duly notify all award winners by email. Do ensure that your email address is correct, as our notifications may get caught in spam filters or receive a non-deliverable return. You may change your email address by logging into your account and updating your information.
What do the winners receive?
The Tokyo Design Awards celebrates the best in design from around the globe, offering a platform for creators to showcase their vision and shape the future of the profession.
Why must winners’ trophies be purchased?
The mission of the Tokyo Design Awards is to honor exceptional creativity from firms and individuals who often stand in the shadow of larger organizations with greater resources. By providing an accessible platform, the award creates opportunities for emerging and independent talents to achieve international recognition without the burden of high entry costs.
The Tokyo Design Awards maintains affordable entry fees (the lowest in the design awards industry) to allow start-ups, one-person firms and young people the opportunity to enter, as well as firms from countries where the exchange rate or the economic conditions would otherwise make entering impossible. This approach also welcomes professionals or students beginning their journey in design, allowing them to compete, be celebrated, and receive the best exposure for less.
If an entrant is recognized as a winner, there is no additional fee. Many other awards programs charge an acceptance fee. Once you've won, you've won; there is no additional fee.
If a winner decides they want a statuette, the Tokyo Design Awards makes them available for purchase and orders them from its manufacturer. This offering process allows the Awards to maintain low entry fees and prevent non-winners’ subsidy of winners.
Some winners choose not to receive a physical memento. Their priority is the prestige of recognition and the exposure the comes with it. Others choose to order statuettes for individuals on their creative team as well as their client. It's all up to the winners!
Statuette shipping time
Winner awards are custom-made. Statuettes will ship directly from the manufacturer. Please allow 6 - 12 weeks for the statuettes to ship. Shipping time may be longer during off-season. Statuettes will be made available for order from our online store once winners are announced.
Note: Certain countries might impose customs / duty fees and taxes for imported items. We have no control over these charges, and we suggest to consult your country's customs department.
We strongly recommend recording a video while opening your package, including any enclosed certificate documents. This video is essential in the event you need to file a replacement or damage claim. Without this, we may not be able to proceed with your request.
Is the Tokyo Design Awards sponsored?
The Tokyo Design Awards is conducted solely by the International Awards Associate Inc (IAA). IAA is not tied to any advertiser, magazine, trade association, ad club or other outside influence.
IAA’s goal is to provide affordable, independent competitions on an international stage that are respected as fair and open to all, regardless of company size or bottom line.
IAA is an independent, international organization focused on creating a community of design creativity, effectiveness and excellence. It conducts impartial, 'blind' judged competitions and, once completed, it recognizes, celebrates and promotes creative, effective and design excellence in those winning companies and individuals.
Entry terms and conditions
The Tokyo Design Awards assumes all entries are original and the entrant either owns the submission or has permission from a client or other appropriate party to enter the work, with all rights granted therein. In the event that an entrant without such rights submits a site, the entrant will not be eligible for the competition. The Tokyo Design Awards are not liable for any copyright infringement on the part of the entrant.
Copyright and all other rights remain that of the entrant. All entrants understand and agree that any work submitted to the competition may be used by the Tokyo Design Awards and its media partners for marketing and promotional purposes of the competition only, including in any media such as exhibitions, print and digital media directly related to the Tokyo Design Awards competition.
Timely submission of an entry meeting the eligibility requirements and payment of the entry fee as stated herein ensures that an entrant's work will be reviewed and considered for recognition. No other representation or warranty is made by the Tokyo Design Awards concerning entries and all implied warranties are hereby expressly disclaimed.
If an entrant's submission receives an award, the manner and details of announcing such nomination and award is strictly within the discretion of the Tokyo Design Awards. Entrants understand that all awards may not be given or publicized in the same manner or form.
Refund Policy
Entries
Entry fees will not be refundable once submitted. Withdrawn entries (whether withdrawn by entrant or by the Awards for the entrant’s failure to comply with entry rules) will NOT be refunded as well.
Scam warning: Important information
There are many people and groups that attempt to obtain your money or personal information inappropriately through fraudulent means. Often, these people and groups misrepresent who they are in an effort to deceive you about the legitimacy of what they are claiming. Sometimes, although not always, they will claim that you have won a lottery or sweepstakes and ask that you send them money so that they can release your supposed winnings to you. In such a situation, you should be very careful and fully investigate any and all claims before you send any money. Please be aware that there are many scams that use SMS/e-mail in an attempt to defraud people using methods similar to these, and we warn strongly against your responding to this type of SMS/e-mail without rigorous investigation to establish whether it is of a genuine nature. Generally, you should treat unsolicited communication (e-mail, phone and letters) that offer financial gain with extreme suspicion; be aware that legitimate lotteries rarely, if ever, ask for a fee to release your winnings; you should not pay any requested fee in advance without fully investigating the matter; and you should not provide banking details or other sensitive financial information in response to emails, phone inquiries and letters without a thorough investigation. In recent years we have been aware of instances of individuals and fraudulent organizations that have been sending notices to people falsely claiming that the recipients have won a lottery.
These notices falsely claim to be from IAA (MUSE CREATIVE AWARDS, MUSE DESIGN AWARDS, MUSE HOTEL AWARDS, MUSE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NYX AWARDS, NYX GAME AWARDS, TITAN BUSINESS AWARDS, TITAN PROPERTY AWARDS, TITAN WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS, TITAN HEALTH AWARDS, TITAN INNOVATION AWARDS, TITAN BRAND AWARDS, TITAN AMERICAN BUSINESS AWARDS, NY PRODUCT DESIGN AWARDS, NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NY ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AWARDS, NY DIGITAL AWARDS, LIT MUSIC AWARDS, LIT ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS, LONDON PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, LONDON DESIGN AWARDS, LIT ADVERTISING AWARDS, EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, iLUXURY AWARDS, VEGA DIGITAL AWARDS, FRENCH DESIGN AWARDS, FRENCH FASHION AWARDS, GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NOBLE BUSINESS AWARDS, NOBLE TECHNOLOGY AWARDS, NOBLE WORLD HOTEL AWARDS,ROME DESIGN AWARDS, ARTE OF BEAUTY AWARDS and TOKYO DESIGN AWARDS) and even have the name and contact information of IAA (MUSE CREATIVE AWARDS, MUSE DESIGN AWARDS, MUSE HOTEL AWARDS, MUSE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NYX AWARDS, NYX GAME AWARDS, TITAN BUSINESS AWARDS, TITAN PROPERTY AWARDS, TITAN WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS, TITAN HEALTH AWARDS, TITAN INNOVATION AWARDS, TITAN BRAND AWARDS, TITAN AMERICAN BUSINESS AWARDS, NY PRODUCT DESIGN AWARDS, NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NY ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AWARDS, NY DIGITAL AWARDS, LIT MUSIC AWARDS, LIT ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS, LONDON PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, LONDON DESIGN AWARDS, LIT ADVERTISING AWARDS, EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, iLUXURY AWARDS, VEGA DIGITAL AWARDS, FRENCH DESIGN AWARDS, FRENCH FASHION AWARDS, GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NOBLE BUSINESS AWARDS, NOBLE TECHNOLOGY AWARDS, NOBLE WORLD HOTEL AWARDS,ROME DESIGN AWARDS, ARTE OF BEAUTY AWARDS and TOKYO DESIGN AWARDS) employees along with IAA (MUSE CREATIVE AWARDS, MUSE DESIGN AWARDS, MUSE HOTEL AWARDS, MUSE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NYX AWARDS, NYX GAME AWARDS, TITAN BUSINESS AWARDS, TITAN PROPERTY AWARDS, TITAN WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS, TITAN HEALTH AWARDS, TITAN INNOVATION AWARDS, TITAN BRAND AWARDS, TITAN AMERICAN BUSINESS AWARDS, NY PRODUCT DESIGN AWARDS, NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NY ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AWARDS, NY DIGITAL AWARDS, LIT MUSIC AWARDS, LIT ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS, LONDON PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, LONDON DESIGN AWARDS, LIT ADVERTISING AWARDS, EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, iLUXURY AWARDS, VEGA DIGITAL AWARDS, FRENCH DESIGN AWARDS, FRENCH FASHION AWARDS, GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NOBLE BUSINESS AWARDS, NOBLE TECHNOLOGY AWARDS, NOBLE WORLD HOTEL AWARDS, ROME DESIGN AWARDS, ARTE OF BEAUTY AWARDS, and TOKYO DESIGN AWARDS) branding.
These notices are completely fraudulent, cleverly designed to trick people into sending money for prizes they will never receive. IAA (MUSE CREATIVE AWARDS, MUSE DESIGN AWARDS, MUSE HOTEL AWARDS, MUSE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NYX AWARDS, NYX GAME AWARDS, TITAN BUSINESS AWARDS, TITAN PROPERTY AWARDS, TITAN WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS, TITAN HEALTH AWARDS, TITAN INNOVATION AWARDS, TITAN BRAND AWARDS, TITAN AMERICAN BUSINESS AWARDS, NY PRODUCT DESIGN AWARDS, NEW YORK PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NY ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AWARDS, NY DIGITAL AWARDS, LIT MUSIC AWARDS, LIT ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS, LONDON PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, LONDON DESIGN AWARDS, LIT ADVERTISING AWARDS, EUROPEAN PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, iLUXURY AWARDS, VEGA DIGITAL AWARDS, FRENCH DESIGN AWARDS, FRENCH FASHION AWARDS, GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS, NOBLE BUSINESS AWARDS, NOBLE TECHNOLOGY AWARDS, NOBLE WORLD HOTEL AWARDS, ROME DESIGN AWARDS, ARTE OF BEAUTY AWARDS, and TOKYO DESIGN AWARDS) is NOT AND HAS NEVER RUN a sweepstake, a lottery OR ANY FORM OF CONTEST OF THESE KINDS and has never asked anyone to wire money to redeem a prize.
Please do not respond to any SMS, email, or any other means of communication claiming that you have won a prize. If you have any question as to the validity of an offer, please contact us at iaa@iaaawards.org / info@museawards.com / info@musehotelawards.com / info@musephotographyawards.com / info@nyxgameawards.com / info@nyxawards.com / info@thetitanawards.com / info@thepropertyawards.com / info@thewomenbusinessawards.com / info@titanhealthawards.com / info@titaninnovationawards.com / info@titanbrandawards.com / info@titanamericanbusinessawards.com / info@nydesignawards.com / info@newyorkphotographyawards.com / info@nyarchitectureawards.com / info@litmusicawards.com / info@litentertainmentawards.com / info@londonphotographyawards.com / info@thelondondesignawards.com / info@litadvertisingawards.com / info@europeanphotoawards.com / info@iluxuryawards.com / info@vegaawards.com / info@frenchdesignawards.com / info@frenchfashionawards.com / info@nydigitalawards.com / info@globalphotographyawards.com / info@nobleawards.com / info@noblehotelawards.com / info@romedesignawards.com / info@arteofbeautyawards.com / info@thetokyodesignawards.com.
Can I request a refund after I receive my order from the Tokyo Design Awards?
Once the shipment or merchandise is received, we generally do not offer refunds under any circumstances. Exceptions might only be made if the item(s) you receive is damaged or if the item(s) you ordered is missing from your shipment.
If your item(s) arrive damaged, or any item(s) ordered is missing from your shipment please contact our support team at info@thetokyodesignawards.com immediately.
Any reported issues will be meticulously reviewed by our dedicated awards team before any resolution, such as issuing a refund, is considered. Please be advised that the final decision in such matters rests solely with the Tokyo Design Awards team, as we endeavor to protect the interests and uphold the rights of all parties involved.