The Don Norman Design Award (DNDA) recognises innovative projects and educational organisations that make a sustainable contribution to society through Humanity-Centered Design (HCD+).
The DNDA focuses not only on formal design solutions, but also on all initiatives based on the principles of HCD+: taking into account the needs of people, the environment and society as a whole. The DNDA is open to early-career professionals worldwide, regardless of age or background. The award recognises both early-career professionals and educational institutions that address today’s societal challenges with a human-centred and sustainable approach. German designers are also eligible to apply, provided that their project follows the principles of human-centred design (HCD+) and addresses one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Criteria
- Projects must relate to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- They can take a variety of forms – from physical products and software to structural changes in organisations.
- The key is that the project has a proven track record of improving the lives of a community.
- The project must have already been implemented and tested to demonstrate its impact.
The Awards
- Excellence: For projects that have already demonstrated a positive impact on a community and have the potential to create sustainable change in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Promising: For promising projects that show great potential but have not yet reached the level of the Excellence category – with encouragement for further development.
- HCD+ Education: For educational programmes – whether traditional or innovative – that successfully teach humancentred design and train future designers for societal challenges.
Application Deadlines
- For projects (Excellence and Promising) 31 March 2025
- For educational initiatives (HCD+ Education) 30 June 2025
Participation in the Awards not only provides recognition, but also valuable support for the further development of the winning projects. The winning Excellence and Promising projects receive a monetary award and iconic trophy. Entrants have the opportunity to promote their work internationally and become part of a growing community of change-makers.
Video: Don Norman Design Award
Award ceremony at the DNDA25 Summit in Singapore
The winners will be announced in August 2025. Their projects will be showcased at the DNDA25 Summit in Singapore, 19-21 November 2025 – an international forum for human-centred design that brings together experts from around the world.
19. – 21. Nov. 2025
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