Presentation Guidelines

Main Image : Core Specifications

• Canvas size: 3600 × 3600 pixels. (square)
• Format: JPEG.
• Color mode: RGB.
• Resolution: 72 DPI.
• Composition: single, centered view; one key visual; no collage.

Allowed Backgrounds

• White or light, neutral. background recommended for print workflows.
• Professional photograph. permitted when quality is exceptional and the design remains dominant.
• Full Background. is allowed when you have truly Professional Photography. with proper bokeh, focus, clarity.

Strict Prohibitions

• No added text., logos., borders., watermarks., QR codes., annotations., or award marks.
• No multi-view composites., collages., or split frames.
• No visible third-party brand signage unless intrinsic to the design itself.

Quality Controls

• Exposure bright and balanced; avoid crushed shadows and clipped highlights.
• Sharp edges; no motion blur; minimal noise.
• Accurate white balance; avoid heavy filters.
• Subject fills the canvas appropriately; avoid excessive empty margins.
• No aspect ratio distortion; avoid upscaling beyond 150%.

Centering and Framing Essentials

• Center the subject horizontally and vertically; avoid unintended tilt.
• Maintain original proportions; no horizontal or vertical stretching.
• Prefer precise crop to remove dead space rather than padding.
• Scene photography allowed especially when aligned with the relevant Award Category guidance.

Legal and Rights Requirements

• All assets must be original or fully licensed. for global PR, print, broadcast, and exhibition.
• Signed model releases. required for identifiable persons.
• Photography rights must be owned or explicitly licensed for competition usage as well as to be able to provide us with a license to publish it worldwide. It is better to take in-house photographs for having full rights to license us the images for unlimited display.

Permitted Category-Specific Allowances

• Interior design. real-world settings allowed to show spatial performance.
• Fashion. human models allowed with signed model releases.
• Packaging. on-product labels allowed if integral to the design.
• Always consult the relevant Award Category page for visual expectations and examples. In general, we allow highly professional photos even if they break the mold. When unsure, simply upload, we will let you know.

Common Rejection Triggers

• Wrong canvas size or non-square image.
• Added text, logos, borders, watermarks, or award marks.
• Collages or multi-view composites in the Main Image.
• Dark, low-contrast, color-cast imagery; visible noise or blur.
• Excessive upscaling; pixelation; distortion; off-center subject.
• Background clutter or third-party brand signage not integral to the design.

Optional Practical Notes

• Full-bleed square source photography or renders simplify compliance.
• Light, neutral backgrounds ease downstream printing and color management.
• For extremely slender products (for example, bottles), duplication of the same object up to 2–3 instances may be acceptable solely to communicate thickness and profile, provided the composition remains minimal and non-collaged.

Templates

• Main Image (3600 × 3600): Download .
• Optional Images (1800 × 1800): Download .
• These are technical templates for Image Size and Resolution for Main image and Optional Images, not visual templates..

Self-Check Before Upload

• Canvas is 3600 × 3600., JPEG., RGB., 72 DPI.
• Single, centered view; no collage or multi-view composition.
• No added text, logos, borders, watermarks, or QR codes.
• Background white or professional photograph; design remains dominant.
• Bright, balanced exposure; sharp edges; accurate color.
• No upscale beyond 150%.; no distortion; subject fills canvas.
• Rights secured for all imagery; model releases attached where applicable.

Core Specification

• Count: up to 4. supplemental images (#1 required; #2, #3 and #4 are highly recommended).
• Canvas size: 1800 × 1800 pixels. (square).
• Format: JPEG.
• Color mode: RGB.
• Resolution: 72 DPI.
• Composition: single, clean view. per image; no collage or multi-frame grids.

Recommended Role Mapping

• Optional Image #1 — Alternate Angle:. Secondary perspective that reveals geometry, volume, or profile unseen in the Main Image; maintain similar lighting and camera height when possible.
• Optional Image #2 — Detail / Close-Up:. Craftsmanship, interfaces, joinery, texture, surface finish, mechanism, or control layout; ensure critical edges are sharp and informative.
• Optional Image #3 — In-Use / Contextual Scene:. Realistic usage scenario demonstrating interaction, ergonomics, and scale; professional photography or high-quality render required; human models permitted with signed releases.
• Optional Image #4 — Packaging / Components:. Packaging layout, unboxing, accessory kits, modular assemblies, or exploded but single-view arrangement; keep presentation aligned with the rest of the set.

Allowed Backgrounds

• White or light, neutral. background preferred for publication.
• Professional scene. or environment allowed where the category benefits from context (for example, interior, architecture, fashion), provided the design remains the focal point and visual clutter is avoided.
• Full Background. is allowed when you have truly Professional Photography. with proper bokeh, focus, clarity.

Strict Prohibitions

• No added text., logos., borders., watermarks., QR codes., annotations, or UI callouts.
• No collages., split frames., or multi-view composites in a single Optional Image.
• No mixing of photographs, renders, and illustrations in the same image. (except graphic-work categories).
• No visible third-party brand signage unless inherently part of the submitted design.

Quality Controls

• Bright, balanced exposure; avoid clipped highlights and crushed shadows.
• High sharpness on critical edges; avoid motion blur; minimize noise.
• Accurate color and consistent white balance across all Optional Images.
• Consistent lens choice and camera height where applicable to maintain a coherent set.
• Subject scale and centering appropriate for the square canvas; avoid excessive margins.

Centering and Canvas Usage

• Center the subject on both axes unless asymmetry serves evaluation.
• Prefer precise cropping to remove dead space; avoid padding bars.
• Maintain original proportions; no horizontal or vertical stretching.

Scaling Constraints

• Do not upscale beyond 120%. of native resolution for Optional Images.
• Prefer re-rendering at target size or re-shooting to avoid pixelation and artifacts.
• For vector-based graphic works, rasterize at exact canvas size to ensure crisp edges.

Legal and Rights Requirements

• All images must be original or fully licensed. for global PR, print, broadcast, and exhibition.
• Signed model releases. required for identifiable persons; property permissions recommended when applicable.
• Photographer or studio rights must allow onward licensing for competition usage and media distribution.

Category-Specific Direction

• Interior/Architecture:. Contextual room shots with controlled lines, correct verticals, and realistic dynamic range; avoid extreme HDR effects.
• Fashion:. Full-figure and key detail shots; neutral or editorial backdrop; avoid brand marks not integral to the garment; retain garment drape and texture fidelity.
• Packaging:. Front/side angle, closure/open state, structural inserts, and material finish; ensure label readability without added overlays.
• Digital/UI/UX:. Single-frame device shot depicting a representative state; no floating callouts or captions; additional flows belong in the PDF.

Common Rejection Triggers

• Incorrect canvas size or non-square format.
• Added text, logos, borders, watermarks, QR codes, or award marks.
• Collages or split-frame compositions within a single Optional Image.
• Dark exposure, heavy noise, color casts, or inconsistent white balance.
• Excessive upscaling beyond 120%., visible pixelation, or sharpening halos.
• Mixing photos and renders in the same image outside graphic-work categories.
• Background clutter or dominant scene elements that distract from the design.

Self-Check Before Upload

• Image is 1800 × 1800., JPEG., RGB., 72 DPI.
• Single view; no collage, grid, or overlays.
• Background white/neutral or professional scene with the design dominant.
• Exposure bright and balanced; accurate color across the set.
• No upscale beyond 120%.; no distortion; centered and appropriately cropped.
• Rights secured for all imagery; model releases. retained where applicable.

Core Writing Rules

• Use simple, factual English; keep sentences short and unambiguous.
• Avoid hype, slogans, and subjective claims; provide evidence where claims are made.
• Respect character limits; remove filler text and repeated information.
• Use Title Case. where specified; never use ALL CAPS.
• Use only Latin alphanumeric characters. avoid special symbols.
• Maintain anonymity; do not place names, logos, or identifying information in descriptive fields.
• Use ISO-metric units. for dimensions and technical data.

Project Name

• Short, original, and brandable; function must not be included. in the name.
• Use Title Case. 1 to 2 words preferred; 5 to 15 characters ideal. It is best to use just 1 word when possible.
• Latin alphanumerics only; avoid numbers, acronyms, and year tags.
• Detailed naming rules appear in the Project Naming Guidelines section.
• Think Project Name like the First Name of your design. The Primary Function, would be the Surname. Make sure that when First Name and Surname are put together, they are not weird or repetitive.

Primary Function

• One to two words that indicate the product type (for example, Chair, Folding Chair, Corporate Identity).
• Use Title Case. avoid sentences and avoid “It is a…” formulations.
• Think Primary Function as the Surname of your design. The Project Name, would be the First Name. Make sure that when First Name and Surname are put together, they are not weird or repetitive.
• Keep Primary Function name short. Don't over do it. Don't explain the project. Explain it indicatively, not like a story, in one word preferably.

Unique Properties (≤ 500 characters)

• Explain what makes your design unique and different from others in the market, or other projects or concepts.
• State differentiators and measurable benefits; focus on features, performance, or novel methods.
• Include concise evidence when possible (for example, “Energy use reduced by 22% in a 30-home pilot”.).

Competition Category & Inspiration

• Competition Category:. Select the most relevant category; if uncertain, the jury may suggest reassignment; review category pages for visual and documentation expectations.
• Inspiration:. Describe the origin of the idea and the reasoning behind form and function; keep language neutral and evidence-oriented.

Production, Materials, and Specifications

• Production or Realization Technology and Materials (≤ 500 characters):. Summarize manufacturing or realization methods and key materials; for digital/service work, specify methodology, frameworks, or tools.
• Specifications / Dimensions / Package / Technical Properties (≤ 500 characters):. Provide metric dimensions in Width mm × Depth mm × Height mm format; add essential specs such as weight, capacity, power, resolution, or performance ratings.

Team Members & Tags

• Team Members:. One per line in Title: Name Surname format (for example, Designer: Jane Smith); no blank line at the end; adhere to account-type limits.
• Tags / Keywords:. Provide 5–10. keywords or key phrases, separated by comma + space, with no final period; use terms that support search and discovery.
• Governed by Account Type:. Depending your Account Type, there are limits on the number of team members you can note in this section. If you note more than allowed number of team members, we may have to change your Account Type and charge you for the difference or we may ask you to remove the names, if there is time. Make sure to review Account Types page to learn about how many team members you can input for each.

Operation, Duration, Research, and Challenge

• Operation / Flow / Interaction (≤ 500 characters):. Explain operation in non-technical language; describe key steps and why the flow is effective.
• Project Duration and Location (≤ 500 characters):. Provide start and end dates with city and country in formal style; include notable exhibitions or milestones only when directly relevant.
• Research Abstract (≤ 500 characters):. Here you should mention, Type of Research, the Objectives of your research, the Methodology you used for research, your Data Collection / Tools process, and your Participants or Experiments and the Results these all yielded and the Insights gained or Impacts observed as Real-Life Effects.
• The Creative / Research Challenge (≤ 500 characters):. Describe major obstacles, constraints, and how these were addressed, including internal and external factors.

Links (Visibility and Formatting)

• External Link (≤ 240 characters; not public):. Include protocol (http://, https://, or ftp://user:password@server/path); use for deeper technical documentation for the jury.
• Video Link (jury access; not embedded):. Provide a direct link to hosted video (for example, YouTube or Vimeo) for extended or high-quality footage.
• Public Link (≤ 60 characters; public):. A short, public-facing URL that appears on the design page; use link shortening if the canonical URL exceeds the character limit.
• Check your Links. Make sure to check your links and ensure they are working.

Image / Photo Credits

• Use format: Image #No : Photographer / Illustrator / Creator (Job) Full Name, Work/Series Title, Year..
• Map numbers: Main Image = #1., Optional #1 = #2., Optional #2 = #3., Optional #3 = #4., Optional #4 = #5.
• Credit video on a new line: Video Credits: ….
• Credits for images inside the PDF must be written inside the PDF.

IP / Patents / Copyrights

• For patents use precise statements (for example, “Patented. Patent No. 123456. Patent Holder. 2025. Jurisdiction.”).
• For copyrights use: “Copyrights belong to Name Surname, 2025.”.
• This information appears under “IP / Patents / Copyrights” on the design view.

Style Conventions and Prohibitions

• Do not reveal designer names, studio names, or client names in descriptive text.
• Do not add URLs inside descriptive fields; use the dedicated link fields only.
• Do not write subjective judgments or superlatives.
• Do not paste code, tracking parameters, or scripts into any field.
• Keep all text press-ready and translation-friendly.

Self-Check Before Submit

• Simple English, neutral tone, Latin alphanumerics only.
• Character limits respected; numbers and units in ISO-metric format.
• No URLs inside descriptive fields; link fields used for External, Video, and Public links.
• No names, brands, or identifying information in descriptive text.
• Evidence provided for claims where relevant.
• Credits and IP statements follow required formats.

Core Specification

• Optional: Unless noted in Award Category page, the PDF is generally optional. PDF is required if you have claims to performance, and if your entry can directly affect people's health.
• Format: PDF, fonts embedded; no passwords; export from native sources where possible.
• Length: Up to 40 A4 pages.
• Layout: White or light background; left-aligned body text; consistent grid and styles.
• Color: Full color preferred; accurate, bright, and neutral; avoid heavy filters.
• Graphics: Vector diagrams for clarity; high-quality raster imagery without artifacts.
• Units: ISO-metric units for dimensions and technical data.
• Anonymity: No names, logos, addresses, signatures, email, or branding in the body.

Recommended Structure

1. Cover Page: Project title only; no designer or client names; no logos; optional one clean visual.
2. Executive Summary: Purpose, primary function, key innovation, measurable outcomes.
3. Context and Problem Definition: Target users, environment, constraints, objectives.
4. Research and Evidence: Methods, sample sizes, tools, results, insights; cite test protocols and metrics.
5. Design Rationale and Development: Concept evolution, alternatives, decisions, risk mitigations.
6. Technical Description: Architecture, components, mechanisms, materials, tolerances, exploded views, wiring/flow or IA.
7. Manufacturing / Realization: Processes, tooling, assembly, quality control, sustainability.
8. Usability / Interaction: Key tasks, flows, ergonomics, accessibility, installation.
9. Performance and Validation: Benchmarks, test data, field trials, reliability, safety factors, limitations.
10. Compliance and Certifications: Applicable standards (for example, IEC, ISO, EN), lab reports, material safety, regulatory overview.
11. Packaging / System / Service Context: Packaging structure, service touchpoints, lifecycle, deployment.
12. Appendices: Model releases, asset licenses, third-party attributions, IP statements, figure lists.

Licensing and Attribution Requirements

• Ownership: All images, diagrams, 3D assets, fonts, icon sets, audio stills, and textures must be original or licensed for global PR, print, broadcast, and exhibition.
• Stock / Purchased Assets: Include license type and proof of purchase in an appendix or reference log.
• 3D Assets: Note asset source, license scope, and modifications performed.
• Music / Audio (if referenced): Provide license and allowable media uses.
• Model Releases: Signed releases required for identifiable persons; redact personal contact details to maintain privacy.
• Attribution: Credit third-party assets in a dedicated appendix table; do not include entrant, studio, or client names.

Regulated and Sensitive Categories

• Medical / Health: Device classification, intended use, applicable standards (for example, ISO 13485 context, IEC 60601 family as relevant), usability engineering summary, validation data, risk management overview.
• Children's Products / Safety-Critical: Safety testing and certification references; age grading and warning logic as appropriate.
• Food / Cosmetics / Skin-Contact Packaging: Material conformance and migration testing references where applicable.
• Built Environment: Code compliance statements and structural or fire-safety documentation where relevant.

PDF Tips

• Use figure numbers and captions; cross-reference in text.
• Keep typography readable; maintain consistent heading hierarchy.
• Present data with labeled axes, units, and sources.
• Provide concise legends for diagrams and color keys.
• Place licenses, releases, and certifications in an appendix.

Things to Avoid for PDFs

• Include designer, studio, company, or client names, emails, or addresses.
• Watermark pages or add promotional badges.
• Embed tracking scripts, external analytics, or active content.
• Rely on external links for core evidence; include essential material in the PDF.
• Obscure critical details with heavy effects or low contrast.

Self-Check Before Upload

• Length ≤ 40 A4 pages; exported as accessible PDF with embedded fonts and no passwords.
• Anonymity preserved; no designer, studio, client, or brand identifiers in the body.
• Imagery and diagrams bright, legible, and free from artifacts; vector where appropriate.
• All units in ISO-metric; figures numbered and captioned; data labeled and sourced.
• Licenses, model releases, and certifications logged and appended where applicable.
• Regulated-category evidence included and cross-referenced in the text.
• Essential materials included in the PDF; no reliance on external links for core evidence.

Core Specification

• Optional: Unless explicitly noted in Award Category page, the Video is optional.
• Duration: ≤ 45 seconds.
• Upload size: ≤ 10 MB (compressed AVI acceptable for platform upload).
• High-quality stream: Provide a Video Link (YouTube/Vimeo) for HD or higher; include view keys if required.
• Anonymity: No designer, studio, client, or brand names; no logos; no watermarks; no promotional slates.
• Focus: Demonstrate function, interaction, installation, or context; keep visuals steady, bright, and clear.
• Color & Exposure: Full color preferred; balanced exposure; neutral white balance; avoid heavy filters.
• Audio: Use licensed audio only; narration optional; maintain clear, consistent levels.

Recommended Narrative Structure

1. Optional: Unless noted in Award Category page the video is generally optional, and not required however, if your product has a dynamic nature, movement, or is interactive, uploading a video and linking a video would add great value.
2. 0–5 s — Orientation: One establishing shot that identifies the product or environment without text overlays.
3. 5–20 s — Core Function: Show the primary interaction or mechanism in real time; keep framing stable; maintain visible hands or controls where relevant.
4. 20–35 s — Secondary Behavior: Demonstrate installation steps, transformation, configuration changes, or typical user flow.
5. 35–45 s — Summary Cue: Final, unbroken shot that confirms the outcome or steady-state use; no branding or title cards.

Filming and Capture Guidance

• Framing: Use a stable tripod or gimbal; maintain consistent camera height; avoid distracting pans or zooms.
• Lighting: Employ soft, even lighting; avoid harsh shadows and flicker; prevent overexposure on reflective materials.
• Color: Maintain consistent white balance; avoid stylized tints that obscure material reality.
• Focus/Sharpness: Prioritize critical edges and interface elements; avoid motion blur that hides detail.
• Continuity: Maintain consistent backgrounds or scene logic; minimize jump cuts; keep edits purposeful and minimal.
• When Demonstrative: If you are not submitting a professional Interaction Design Work, for example when you want to simply show your chair from different angles, your production does not need to be Professional, you can use your phone camera, but ensure the environment is literally clean, figuratively clean and well lit.

Graphics, Text, and Subtitles

• Overlays: Do not add captions, banners, badges, or animated callouts; no logos or awards.
• Subtitles: If accessibility captions are required, embed burned-in, small, neutral subtitles that convey speech only and do not reveal identities; ensure legibility without obstructing the design.
• Diagrams: Complex diagrams belong in the PDF; avoid technical overlays in the video unless intrinsic to the interaction.
• Keep it Clean: In general, it is better not to introduce overlay graphics and adds if you are just showcasing your product.
• No Logos: Make sure not to introduce identifiable graphic elements to video (remember our anonymous voting requirement - we may allow elements if they are integrated directly on the product.

Audio Policy

• Music: Use only music with licenses that permit global PR, broadcast, and online distribution; retain proof.
• Voice: Neutral narration if necessary; avoid promotional language and personal identification.
• Levels: Keep loudness consistent; avoid clipping; ensure that ambient sounds do not mask key actions.
• Better Without Music if the Music is Not Licensed: If you do not have a license to the music, don't put music, because if you don't put a music, when and if we choose to display in a gallery or museum or online, we can add it, but if you put a music and is unlicensed, this will cost us and you.

Category-Specific Notes

• Digital/UI/UX: Record the interface in real time; avoid composited callouts; show finger or cursor paths naturally; ensure screen flicker control.
• Furniture/Product: Show operation, assembly, transformation, and scale with a person if needed; ensure signed model releases for any identifiable person.
• Architecture/Interior: Use slow, stable motion; maintain verticals; avoid extreme wide-angle distortion; show circulation and lighting transitions.
• Fashion: Show movement, fit, and drape; neutral backdrops; retain fabric texture fidelity; obtain model releases.

Legal, Rights, and Releases

• Ownership: All footage, motion graphics, stills, and audio must be original or fully licensed for global PR, broadcast, and exhibition.
• Model Releases: Signed releases required for identifiable persons; retain records and redact personal contact details.
• Location/Property: Secure permissions for private properties or recognizable artworks where applicable.
• No Infringements: Avoid third-party brand signage, copyrighted imagery, or trademarked content unless rights are documented and integral to the design.

Delivery and File Handling

• Upload: Provide a ≤ 10 MB compressed file (for example, AVI) to guarantee basic access.
• Streaming Link: Provide an additional Video Link to a high-quality stream (HD or higher); include access keys where required.
• File Naming: Use a neutral, anonymous file name (for example, project-video-v01.avi); avoid names that contain personal or company identifiers.
• Fallback: Ensure the uploaded file is a faithful summary of the linked master in case of network restrictions.

Common Rejection Triggers

• Duration longer than 45 seconds or file size larger than 10 MB for the platform upload.
• Presence of logos, brand names, watermarks, intros/outros, or promotional slates.
• Text overlays, animated callouts, or captions that reveal identities or add marketing claims.
• Unlicensed music or footage; missing model releases for identifiable persons.
• Dark, noisy, or unstable footage; extreme color grading that hides material reality.
• Host links that are inaccessible, geo-blocked, or missing required access keys.

Self-Check Before Upload

• Video length ≤ 45 seconds; uploaded file ≤ 10 MB and compressed appropriately.
• Streaming Video Link provided for HD or higher review; access keys included where required.
• No branding, logos, watermarks, intro/outro slates, or text overlays that reveal identities.
• Footage steady, bright, color-accurate; interaction clearly visible.
• All audio and music properly licensed; narration neutral and non-promotional.
• Model releases and location permissions secured where applicable.
• Anonymous file naming; no identifying metadata in filenames or slates.

Core Canvas & Export Spec

• Main Image: 3600 × 3600 px · JPEG · RGB · 72 DPI.
• Optional Images: 1800 × 1800 px · JPEG · RGB · 72 DPI.
• Subject fill ratio: Target 70–90% of canvas on the shorter dimension; allow negative space only when shape or function requires it.
• Aspect integrity: 0% distortion; no horizontal/vertical stretching; maintain original proportions.
• Background: White preferred or professional photograph per category guidance.
• Proportions: No stretching; scale proportionally only.

Centering & Fill Rules

• Center on both axes; verify with vertical and horizontal guides.
• Target subject fill ~70–90% of the canvas on the limiting dimension.
• Avoid letterboxing/pillarboxing; if unavoidable, use pure white padding symmetrically.
• Correct unintended tilt; residual rotation ≤ 0.5°.
• Do not place borders. Avoid Borders.
• Do not fill background with patterns. No background patterns..
• Scale before centering. Scale to Canvas before you center the design.

Scaling vs Cropping — Choose Correctly

• Scaling (preferred) when: The whole subject fits the square without distortion; details remain legible.
• Cropping (preferred) when: Scaling would distort proportions, reduce clarity, or shift composition.
• Limits: Do not upscale beyond 150% (Main) or 120% (Optional).
• Fit the smaller side; crop the longer side; then re-center precisely.
• Do not upscale very small images, better take new photos or renders.
• If you have to upscale small images, use AI Rendering to fill the details so the final image is high resolution redrawn, not algorithmically scaled.

10-Step Cropping Workflow

1. Prepare source: Open the highest-resolution render or photo; disable filters and overlays.
2. Normalize perspective: Correct lens distortion and keystone where applicable; maintain verticals for built environments.
3. Set canvas: Create a square canvas at target size; set background to white.
4. Scale proportionally: Fit the longest subject dimension to the square without distortion; do not exceed upscaling limits.
5. Center precisely: Align the subject's geometric midpoint to the canvas center; verify with vertical and horizontal guides.
6. Trim dead space: Crop evenly on both axes until the subject achieves the target fill ratio.
7. Refine edges: Remove halos from background removal; avoid feathering artifacts; ensure crisp, natural boundaries.
8. Check brightness and color: Apply balanced exposure and neutral white balance consistent with the set.
9. Final verification: Confirm pixel dimensions, DPI, color mode, and JPEG export quality (high or medium-high).
10. Anonymity scan: Ensure zero text, logos, watermarks, or identifying marks.

Case Recipes — Quick Actions

• Large Square Source: Scale down proportionally → center → export 3600 × 3600.
• Small Square Source: Scale up proportionally (≤ 150% Main / ≤ 120% Optional) → center.
• Wide Rectangle: Fit height to canvas → crop excess width → center.
• Tall Rectangle: Fit width to canvas → crop excess height → center.
• High-Res Non-Square: Crop to square around subject → center → export.

Common Errors & Rejection Triggers

• Non-square canvas or wrong pixel size.
• Off-center subject; asymmetrical padding; letterboxing/pillarboxing.
• Stretching, distortion, excessive upscaling, or pixelation.
• Halos from poor background removal; feathered edges.
• Added text, logos, borders, or watermarks.

Self-Check Before Export

• Canvas 3600 × 3600 (Main) or 1800 × 1800 (Optional), JPEG · RGB · 72 DPI.
• Subject centered on both axes; fill ~70–90%; no letterboxing.
• Proportional scaling only; within 150% (Main) / 120% (Optional).
• Clean edges; no halos or artifacts; neutral white balance.
• No text, logos, borders, or watermarks present.

Centering & Framing — Quantified Rules

• Canvas: 3600 × 3600 px (Main), 1800 × 1800 px (Optional), RGB, 72 DPI, JPEG.
• Centering tolerance: ≤ 1% of canvas width/height from geometric center.
• Padding: Avoid; if required, use pure white (#FFFFFF) and apply symmetrically on both axes.
• Rotation: Correct unintended tilt; residual rotation ≤ 0.5°; maintain verticals for architecture/interior.
• Upscaling: Main ≤ 150% of native; Optional ≤ 120% of native; prefer re-render/re-shoot if limits are exceeded.
• Edge safety: Maintain ≥ 3% margin from any critical edge to the canvas boundary to prevent trim conflicts in print layouts.

Optional Images Content Guidance

• #1 Alternate Angle: Reveal geometry, thickness, and profile not visible in the Main Image; match camera height and lighting for continuity.
• #2 Detail / Close-Up: Show joinery, texture, mechanism, interfaces; keep edges tack-sharp; avoid shallow depth of field that hides information.
• #3 In-Use / Context: Demonstrate interaction and scale; use professional photography or high-quality render; include hands or figures if interaction clarity requires it; obtain model releases for identifiable persons.
• #4 Packaging / Components: Display unboxing sequence, accessory kit, modular parts, or exploded but single-view arrangement; maintain order and legible spacing without annotations.

Scene, Lighting, and Color Consistency

• Exposure: Bias toward bright, non-clipped mid-high values; avoid crushed shadows.
• White balance: Neutral; avoid stylized tints that misrepresent materials.
• Specular control: Manage reflections on glass/metal with diffused lighting to preserve edge definition.
• Lens & perspective: Use equivalent focal lengths across angles to avoid visual jumps; correct keystone for interiors and façades.
• Backgrounds: White or light neutral preferred; scene backgrounds must remain clean and subordinate to the design.
• Clean Background: Make backgrounds literally and figuratively clean and neat.

Background Removal & Edge Quality

• Cutout integrity: Eliminate color fringing; keep matte lines under 1 px at 100% zoom.
• No glow effects: Avoid outer glow, drop shadows, and gradients that simulate depth.
• Hairline elements: Ensure adequate contrast against white backgrounds; allow only natural shadows captured in-camera if they do not simulate compositing.
• Keep Good Backgrounds: If your background is clean, the image is professional, has bokeh, depth of field, looks good, you can keep the background.

Consistency & Sequencing for Publication

• Order: For optional images, we recommend showing #1 geometry or overall design first, then you may want to show #2 craftsmanship or intricate details, then you may want to focus on #3 interaction, changing states or movement, or provide a different angle, and then you may want to demonstrate #4 system/packaging and other details. In Award Category Pages we note what to show for each optional image.
• No Logos: Avoid personal or client identifiers.
• Set coherence: Maintain uniform lighting, angles, and color so images paginate cleanly in books, museum displays and posters.

Common Errors and Rejection Triggers

• Off-center placement exceeding 1% tolerance; asymmetrical padding.
• Letterboxing/pillarboxing or non-square canvases.
• Visible halos, jagged cut lines, or feathered edges.
• Over- or under-exposure; inconsistent white balance across the set.
• Upscaling beyond limits; visible pixelation or sharpening halos.
• Collages, split frames, added text, logos, watermarks, or promotional badges.
• Scene clutter or dominant third-party brand signage.

Verification Methods (Quick Tests)

• Guide overlay: Enable center crosshairs; confirm equal distances to subject extremities.
• Bounding-box check: Measure left/right and top/bottom margins; difference ≤ 1% of canvas.
• Histogram scan: Compare exposure across images; similar mid-tone distribution indicates consistency.
• Pixel-peep edges: Inspect at 200% zoom for halos and fringing; edges must remain clean.
• EXIF review: Confirm target dimensions, RGB color, and 72 DPI prior to submission.

Self-Check Before Upload

• Canvas is 3600 × 3600 (Main) or 1800 × 1800 (Optional), RGB, 72 DPI, JPEG.
• Subject centered with ≤ 1% deviation; target fill 70–90%; no letterboxing or pillarboxing.
• No distortion; scaling within 150% (Main) and 120% (Optional) limits.
• Exposure bright and balanced; white balance neutral and consistent across the set.
• No halos, feathering, or artificial shadows; edge quality verified at 100–200% zoom.
• No text, logos, watermarks, or promotional marks present.
• Model releases and location permissions secured where applicable for contextual images.
• Filenames neutral and anonymous; no identifying metadata.

Project Naming — Core Rules

• No function in the name: Function appears separately (for example, “Lyra” + “Chair” → “Lyra Chair”).
• Title Case only: No ALL CAPS; no stylistic lowercase branding.
• Characters: Latin alphanumerics only; no special characters, diacritics, or emojis.
• Length target: One word preferred; two words maximum; short and memorable.
• Pronounceability: Easy to say and spell; passes a “phone test”.
• Timelessness: Avoid model numbers, version codes, and year references.
• Uniqueness: Minimize collision with common terms; enable distinct search results.
• Legal readiness: Avoid infringing trademarks; ensure protectability where applicable.
• Anonymity: Do not embed designer, studio, or client names.

Project Naming — Prohibitions

• Function appended inside the Name field (for example, “Excalibur Lamp” - Here "Excalibur" would be the name, and "Lamp" is the function, so you would type "Excalibur" to Name section of your design and "Lamp" to Primary Function, of course write your own name, the Excalibur here is just an example.).
• ALL CAPS, mixed casing tricks, or non-Latin characters.
• Excessive Numerals, letter-number codes, or year stamps (for example, “MX2700 PRO,” “Lamp 2024”).
• Special symbols or punctuation beyond standard spacing.
• Hype or adjectives (“Super Premium,” “Ultimate”).
• Identity leakage (designer, studio, client, brand).
• Avoid model number (use broader product name possible, not extremely specific sub product identifier code like QR82RHM78WH2025Q6, especially avoid vendor specific product codes).

Project Naming — Workflow

1. Use existing product name or alias if you already have a name for the product, do not create a new name. If you do not have any name but have a model number, you may use the model number or you may follow the workflow to generate new product name.
2. Generate 15–20 short candidates without functional nouns.
3. Remove entries with numerals, acronyms, special characters, or ALL CAPS.
4. Run quick web and trademark checks for conflicts in relevant classes.
5. Read aloud and check spelling simplicity.
6. Select top three; verify clean pairing with the function (for example, “Name + Chair”).
7. Finalize one candidate; set Title Case; confirm Latin alphanumerics only.
8. Avoid other's trademarked names or names very similar to others' trademarked names.

• Lyra, Kairo, Heyra, Praxis, Bruno.

• Lyra Lamp (function included).
• THE ORION (ALL CAPS).
• Aurôra (non-Latin character).
• Best Minimal Lamp (hype + function).
• Trademarked Name (legal).

• MX2700-PRO (numbers/acronym).

Yearbook / Press-Ready — Purpose and Tone

• Audience: General public, editors, curators, buyers.
• Perspective: Formal third-person only.
• Tone: Factual, neutral, precise; no marketing language or superlatives.
• Clarity: Short sentences; simple vocabulary; global readability.
• Evidence: Include measurable outcomes or method summaries where relevant.
• Compatibility: Translation-friendly; no idioms; no slang.
• Language: English.

Yearbook / Press-Ready — Structure (Suggested)

• Lead sentence: Succinct purpose and primary function.
• Core innovation: Distinct value and problem-solution fit.
• Materials & production: Key materials and realization approach.
• Interaction / use / context: Operation or experience.
• Specifications: Notable metrics in ISO-metric units.
• Impact: Research findings, performance indicators, user value.
• Closing line: Category context or intended setting.

Yearbook / Press-Ready — Formatting Rules

• Latin alphanumerics only; no special symbols.
• No designer names, studio names, client names, emails, addresses, or links.
• No ALL CAPS emphasis; standard capitalization only.
• No subjective judgments (“iconic,” “game-changing”); include evidence instead.
• No embedded code, tracking, or calls to action.
• Text prepared for direct copy-paste by media.
• Objective, fact-based.
• Polite, apolitical, diplomatic tone.
• No email, no website, no identifying content.
• English, Latin-characters only.
• No haiku, no poems - fact based, emotion filtered, translatable objective text.

• Compressed, Third-person, Objective Language is Recommended : Lyra is a task light designed to reduce eye strain in compact workspaces. The head houses a low-glare optic that distributes 400 lx at desktop height with a 15 W draw. The arm uses recycled aluminum and a friction-hinge mechanism for one-hand positioning. Touch control provides three levels and a night mode. Prototyping combined goniophotometer testing and 300-hour endurance trials. The fixture mounts with a concealed clamp for cable-free edges, supporting small desks in home or education settings.

• Subjective / Promotional Language is Not Acceptable : This groundbreaking, ultra-premium lamp delivers perfect lighting for every task. The design is iconic and innovative, offering unmatched quality.

Self-Check Before Submit

• Name field contains a short, unique word in Title Case with no function and Latin alphanumerics only.
• No ALL CAPS, numerals, acronyms, years, or special characters in the name.
• Yearbook text uses third-person, simple English, and neutral tone.
• No hype, superlatives, identity details, contact data, or links in the description.
• Evidence included where claims are made; units expressed in ISO-metric where applicable.
• Text is press-ready and translation-friendly; sentences are clear and concise.

Brand Logo — Technical Specification

• Canvas: 1800 × 1800 px, RGB, 72 DPI, JPEG.
• Composition: Single logo, centered horizontally and vertically; no additional elements.
• Background: Pure white (#FFFFFF); no gradient, pattern, or texture.
• Scaling: Do not upscale beyond 120% of native raster size; prefer vector export.
• Brightness/Contrast: Bright, neutral rendering for print; avoid low-contrast grays.
• Color Fidelity: Use official brand colors; do not recolor trademarks.
• Edge Quality: Crisp edges; no halos or antialiasing artifacts; no drop shadows or glows.
• File Integrity: No passwords; high or medium-high JPEG quality.

Brand Logo — Strict Prohibitions

• No text strings beyond the logo itself; no taglines, URLs, or captions.
• No borders, watermarks, QR codes, or additional marks.
• No photographs, screenshots, mockups, or lifestyle imagery.
• No collages or multi-logo compositions in a single image.
• No distortion, skewing, or rotation not specified by brand guidelines.
• Permission based. Don't use client's logo if you do not have permission. Do not upload your own brand logo if you do not have permission from the corporate.
• Do not use colorful backgrounds. Absolutely use clean white background whenever possible.

Brand Logo — Best Practices

• Export from vector master (AI, EPS, SVG) directly to 1800 × 1800 JPEG.
• Maintain a clear-space margin so edges do not crowd the canvas. Give a bit of breathing space.
• Provide the primary brand mark unless the project requires a sub-brand variant.
• Verify small-size legibility; avoid ultra-thin strokes that break on print.
• Obtain permission from corporate / legal before uploading brand logo.
• Absolutely, never ever distort the logo, if you have to scale down, scale with proportions intact.

Brand Details — Fields and Formatting

• Relevance: Select whether the entry was for a brand, a studio/department, or a designer's own brand.
• Name: Official company, brand, studio, or institution name; correct capitalization; no special symbols.
• Profile (≤ 1500 characters): Concise, third-person description: sector, focus, location context, and relevant activities; avoid promotional language.
• Legal Rights: Upload only if rights to publish name and logo exist; ensure public mention is contractually permissible.

Brand Details — Writing Rules

• Formal third-person; factual, neutral tone; publication-ready.
• Latin alphanumeric characters only; no special characters or emojis.
• No emails, phone numbers, street addresses, or tracking links inside the profile text.
• No slogans, superlatives, or unverifiable claims.
• Short sentences for global readability; avoid idioms and region-specific references.

• Concise, Third-person Descriptions are Acceptable : ABC Inc. is a materials-focused design brand based in Tokyo. The studio develops lighting and small furniture with emphasis on recycled alloys and modular construction. Recent work includes hospitality installations and residential task lighting programs across APAC.

• Promotional or Subjective Descriptions are Not Acceptable : ABC Inc. is the most innovative global leader, delivering the ultimate premium solutions for every client everywhere.

Legal and Permissions

• Confirm trademark usage permission in writing; retain documentation.
• Ensure that uploaded logo and profile are free of third-party restrictions that would limit press reuse.
• Respect brand guidelines for color, clear space, and permitted backgrounds.
• Do not reveal non-public partnerships or confidential brand information.

Common Rejection Triggers

• Non-square canvas or incorrect size (not 1800 × 1800 px).
• Extra text, borders, watermarks, taglines, or URLs in the logo image.
• Low-contrast, dark, or pixelated logos; heavy compression artifacts.
• Screenshots or photographs of stationery or products used as “logos”.
• Brand Profile written in first person or containing subjective, promotional statements.
• Use of special characters or non-Latin scripts in the profile text.

Self-Check Before Upload

• Logo file is 1800 × 1800 px, RGB, 72 DPI, JPEG, single centered mark on white.
• No added text, borders, watermarks, or photographic elements in the logo image.
• Vector-source export performed; edges are crisp; color matches official brand values.
• Brand name accurate; rights to publish name and logo confirmed.
• Brand Profile is third-person, factual, Latin alphanumerics only, and ≤ 1500 characters.
• No contact data, links, slogans, or subjective claims in the Brand Profile.
• Assets are press-ready and not visible to the jury.