Overview

Celebrating Impact Through Humanity-Centred Design (HCD+)

The DNDA Award Ceremony recognises early-career practitioners and educators advancing HCD+. Four awards will be presented: Excellence, for projects that strongly reflect HCD+ and demonstrate potential to advance the SDGs; Promising, which encourages the continued growth of emerging ideas; Education, which celebrates programmes that nurture the next generation of HCD+ leaders; and Organisation, which honors organisations that officially support HCD+ societal projects.

Types of Awards

Excellence

This award honours projects that exemplify the spirit of Humanity-Centred Design and show clear, evidence-based potential to significantly improve the lives of the communities they serve. It celebrates outstanding impact and recognises projects that meaningfully contribute to at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Promising

This award recognises projects that show strong potential but are still in development. It highlights teams on the path to excellence, offering encouragement to continue refining their work. This award celebrates emerging ideas with the promise to grow into impactful, humanity-centred solutions.

HCD+ Education Award

This award celebrates both traditional and non-traditional programmes that have effectively trained the next generation in Humanity-Centred Design. Recipients are acknowledged for their critical role in shifting design education and practice toward more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful outcomes for our global society.

HCD+ Organisation Award

This award is designed to honor any organisation that officially supports HCD+ societal projects. The organisation must show genuine support for projects that advance societal well-being. Recognition for organisations applies as long as the group is maintaining the appropriate activities.

You can also read more here.

DNDA25 Advisory Board

GUIDANCE FROM THE FOREFRONT OF DESIGN

The Board of Advisors for the Don Norman Design Awards consists of experts and thought leaders in design, education, and social innovation. Our advisors provide guidance on emerging trends, educational strategies, and best practices, ensuring that our programs are impactful and meaningful, helping address the many issues that face society. Their collective expertise ensures that the DNDA25 Awards celebrate initiatives that not only demonstrate design excellence but also drive meaningful change for people, communities, and the planet.