Selection of the jury members

1. The jury will consist of representatives from leading communication design magazines in Europe.
2. Each magazine will appoint one jury member who is qualified to serve the specific task.
3. Additional members are chosen among design academics, publishers and curators of design institutions.
   
   

Chairperson

The judges shall elect a chairperson from among themselves.

Examination of the entries

The judges shall examine all the designs submitted by the participants, determine whether they conform to the rules and conditions, and exclude any which do not.

International Diversity

The jury must consist of members from as many different European countries as possible. No one country shall have a majority representation in the jury.

Substitutes

1. If for any reason an appointed jury member becomes unable to be present at the jury meeting, the magazine is entitled to appoint a substitute.
2. Any alterations of the jury members will be announced on the awards’ web site.
   
   

Pre-Selection

1. In the case where in any specific category the number of submissions is too high to be accommodated by the normal jury procedures, and in accordance to the International Council of Graphic Design Associations guidelines, a Pre-selection committee might be formed.
2. This will have a minimum of five members and it will be international in its composition.
3. The task of this body is to facilitate the work of the regular jury by providing it with a number of finalists among which the awards and distinctions will be decided.
4. The methods and criteria implemented by the Pre-selection jury will be the same as the ones implemented by the regular jury.

Standard Criteria

1. Design quality: Design excellence including use of images, typography etc.
2. Creativity: Originality and artistic quality.
3. Relevance: To what extent the design serves the specific purpose it was designed for.
   
   

Criteria for Websites

1. Usability.
2. Technical quality.
3. Design quality: Design excellence, including use of images, typography etc.
4. Creativity: Originality and artistic quality.
5. Relevance: To what extent the design serves the specific purpose it was designed for.
   
   

Criteria for Typefaces

1. Creativity: Originality and artistic quality.
2. Readability: How easily or comfortably a typeset text reads.
3. Legibility: The ease and speed with which the reader can decipher each letterform and word.

Awards

1. There are three levels of distinction: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
2. In each category, a Gold is only awarded if the jury believes that the specific work is of extremely high calibre. The Gold winners receive a trophy during the Award Ceremony. In rare cases, the maximum of two Gold awards may be given in one category.
3. Silver and bronze winners receive a diploma during the Award Ceremony. A maximum of two silver and two bronze awards can be given per category.
4. Silver and bronze winners might purchase a trophy as well, which they will receive by post or in the ED-Awards reception right after the ceremony.
   
   

Ed-Awards Catalogue

All award winners (gold, silver and bronze) and finalists will be published in the ED-Awards catalogue and on the ED-Awards website.

Announcement of Judges Decisions

1. The award winners will be informed at least one month before the award ceremony but not officially announced before the award ceremony.
2. The participants who did not win will also be informed via e-mail no later than two weeks before the award ceremony.

Time

1. The submission rules must be published at least one month before the submission period. The submission period is between 15 December 2024 and 21 February 2025. In order for a submission to be valid, the fee needs to be paid before the deadline and the posted sample must arrive to European Designs Greek office no later than 28 February 2025. The organizers reserve the right to extend the deadline provided that they announce it in due time.
2. Only work published during the previous calendar year and up to the day of the current deadline is eligible for submission.
   
   

Return

1. Any material submitted can be returned unless it has won a prize, in which case it becomes part of the festival’s archive and hence the property of the organisers.
2. All packaging and post costs (plus a non-refundable administration cost of €50 per submission) are to be covered by the submitter.
   
   

Reproduction Rights

1. Entries cannot be submitted without the prior permission of the client/owner of the rights to the work.
2. The organisers reserve the right to publish submissions in the ED-Awards catalogue, the ED-Awards website, promotional material and exhibitions. When doing so they must always acknowledge the designer/company. They also reserve the right to record and publish videos and pictures from the award ceremony.
   
   

Form of Submissions

The exact requirements for each submission are stated under each category (e.g. size, resolution, document formats). Submissions can be made online via the ED-Awards website.

Shipping

A customs invoice should be included with the shipment when applicable, marked “Contest material – no commercial value”. If the courier company requires a value of the goods, please use nominal values (e.g.  1€/item). It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure that the shipment is delivered to the European Design office in Athens and to cover all courier, mailing and insurance cost as well as any import duties.

Payment Fees

European Design will cover normal credit card fees. If the participants choose the bank or money transfer alternatives, any transfer or exchange fees are covered by them.

Withdrawal

The participants may withdraw their submissions at any time up to the jury meeting. If they withdraw them before the end of the submission period, the submission fee will be returned. A fee of 15% will be withheld in order to cover credit card fees and administration expenses.

Right to Participate

All designers living or working within Europe may participate. Designers in Europe may submit work done for clients outside Europe. Designers who are not based within Europe may only submit work that was created for the European market.

Excluded From Competition

1. Designers without a business or home address in Europe (unless they are submitting work that was created for European customers).
2. Jury members and their family members.
3. Employees of the magazines represented in the jury.
4. Organisers and their family members.
   
   

European Countries

1. Andorra
2. Albania
3. Armenia
4. Austria
5. Azerbaijan
6. Belgium
7. Bosnia & Herzegovina
8. Bulgaria
9. Cyprus
10. Croatia
11. Czechia
12. Denmark
13. Estonia
14. Finland
15. France
16. Georgia
17. Germany
18. Greece
19. Hungary
20. Iceland
21. Ireland
22. Italy
23. Kazakhstan
24. Kosovo
25. Latvia
26. Liechtenstein
27. Lithuania
28. Luxembourg
29. Malta
30. Moldova
31. Monaco
32. Montenegro
33. Netherlands
34. North Macedonia
35. Norway
36. Poland
37. Portugal
38. Romania
39. San Marino
40. Serbia
41. Slovakia
42. Slovenia
43. Spain
44. Sweden
45. Switzerland
46. Türkiye
47. Ukraine
48. United Kingdom

The results of the competition are final and binding, and entrants consent not to dispute the results except in the case of proven foul play. The competition organisers reserve the right to review and investigate any allegations of foul play, but in all other cases, the results will not be subject to review or appeal. Entrants agree to accept the results of the competition as conclusive, and acknowledge that the competition organisers shall not be liable for any damages or losses incurred in connection with the competition. Those who do not win are not eligible for reimbursement of their entry fees, regardless of the outcome of their submissions. By participating in the competition, entrants agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the competition organisers.