Design awards can be a great way for a company to build credibility, and the benefits can flow much further. From opening doors with investors, clients, and talent, to generating PR exposure, winning awards helps build your brand.
But how do you stand out from the crowd?
Sam Lanyon, Planet Innovation’s Co-Founder and Good Design Juror, shares what it really takes to craft a winning submission to the Good Design Awards.
1. Write like the people who did the work
Not like someone marketing it. Once an entry is written two or three layers away from the design team, it shows – the insight disappears. The language skims the surface and it becomes harder for the Jury to assess the quality of decision making behind the product.
2. Do not trivialize the problem solution space
Great products do not win because they are declared great. They win because they are proven, used and valued over time.
3. Focus on the core technology
When it comes to technical detail, focus on the engine that delivers the value proposition and supports safety and efficacy. Features can help, but too many bells and whistles distract unless they clearly strengthen the case.
4. Show impact and outcomes
A strong entry proves itself through tangible outcomes, third party validation and credible case studies. Hullbot was a standout example where this was done well, because the application didn’t just describe what it was – it used specific real world case studies to show why it mattered and what it changed, including impacts that were not obvious at first glance.
5. Aim for clarity
The strongest entries invite understanding, build confidence and help the Jury advocate for the work because it’s grounded in evidence, shaped by insight and proven through use.
Read more advice from other past Jury Members here: Write the perfect entry tips and tricks for a winning entry
