Designing for Tomorrow
A Guide to 6 Competitions for a Better Future
As designers, studios, and makers, the choices we make today shape not only objects and spaces, but also systems, behaviours, and futures. Awards focused on social impact, sustainability, and carbon reduction are no longer just about recognition. They act as shared platforms where responsible design practices become visible, comparable, and open to collaboration.
The following six competitions have been selected with the ModularPlastik community in mind. They prioritise environmental responsibility, circular thinking, community impact, and measurable change over aesthetics alone. Whether you are working with recycled materials, designing for social good, or exploring low-carbon production models, these awards offer a way to test your ideas against global standards, refine your narrative, and connect with a wider ecosystem of like-minded practitioners.
The Green Good Design Award is presented by The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre and honours design approaches emphasising ecological responsibility, carbon reduction, and environmental restoration. It sits within the broader Good Design Awards legacy.
Deadline
15 January 2026
Pricing
€375 per project (online payment)
This award connects winners with an international design heritage and showcases projects across curated exhibitions.
Core77 has built a respected global design community platform that champions thoughtful design across industries. Its annual Design Awards include categories such as “Design for Social Impact” and “Sustainability”, welcoming projects that demonstrate environmental responsibility and community benefit.
Key deadlines & Pricing
Early Bird Entry (31 January 2026)
Professional Fee - $235
Student Fee - $70
Regular Entry (28 February 2026)
Professional Fee - $335
Student Fee - $85
Final Entry (28 March 2026)
Professional Fee - $435
Student Fee - $110
3. D&AD Awards
D&AD is one of the most established creative award programmes globally, recognising design and advertising excellence. Its Impact category specifically honours work addressing pressing social and environmental issues through creative communication, strategy, and design. D&AD’s jury reputation and industry influence make this valuable for design-driven sustainability storytelling.
Key deadlines & Pricing
Pricing is different for every category, you can find the Impact Category Fee’s below.
Super Early Bird Payment Deadline (14 January 2026)
Super Early Bird Submission Deadline (21 January 2026)
Future Impact Category - £25
Impact, Sustained Impact Category - £406
Early Bird Payment Deadline (11 February 2026)
Early Bird Submission Deadline (18 February 2026)
Future Impact Category - £28
Impact, Sustained Impact Category - £466
Standard Payment Deadline (19 March 2026)
Standard Submission Deadline (26 March 2026)
Future Impact Category - £35
Impact, Sustained Impact Category - £580
Dezeen is a leading online architecture and design publication known globally for showcasing innovation and creative excellence. Its annual awards celebrate outstanding design across multiple disciplines. In 2026, there are 5 categories under Sustainability that spotlight work addressing environmental challenges, carbon reduction, and ethical practices.
Key deadlines & Pricing
6 February 2025: Dezeen Awards 2026 opens for entry, 2025 dates and pricing as below for reference. (will be updated once announced)
Early Entry (26 March 2025)
Small Studio Fee (≤10 employees) - £100
Large Studio Fee (≥11 employees) - £200
Standard Entry (29 May 2025)
Small Studio Fee (≤10 employees) - £120
Large Studio Fee (≥11 employees) - £240
Late Entry (5 June 2025)
Small Studio Fee (≤10 employees) - £250
Large Studio Fee (≥11 employees) - £500
Upcoming in 2026
The Good Design Award, organised by The Chicago Athenaeum and Metropolitan Arts Press, recognises excellent design across industrial, product, and graphic categories. There is a Recycling category, shining a spotlight on projects that tangibly integrate recycled materials, reuse strategies, and low-carbon manufacturing.
Deadlines
Submissions open January 2026
Closing date typically June 1, 2026 (tentative based on past patterns)
Pricing
Around $399 per submission (standard fee)
This award’s heritage and broad reach make it excellent for showcasing material innovation.
Green Product Awards are internationally recognised for highlighting sustainable products and services that excel in design, functionality, and environmental impact. Organised by the Green Future Club, this award connects creators with influential networks and public engagement opportunities. These are the dates for last years, but can be guide for 2026 submission dates.
Key deadlines
Early Bird: 15 September 2025
Regular: 15 November 2025
Final submission & public voting end: 16 January 2026
Finalists announced 2 February 2026
Pricing
Standard entry fee €450
Finalist package €1,450
Students and graduates can enter some tracks for free
This award’s community focus and public voting phase provide unique visibility for sustainability-led innovations.
Participating in awards like these can strengthen your connection to the global sustainability design community, sharpen how you communicate through story telling, and open doors to collaboration, funding, and visibility. Each award values different forms of impact, so selecting the right category and framing your project honestly and clearly is often more important than scale or polish.
Good luck in the competitions, and to everyone working toward a more responsible future through design.
