FAQs

Why is there an age limit? And why is the age limited to writers under 40 years old?
Historically, some of the most observant commentators and critics of design were designers, who wrote thoughtfully about the effectiveness and beauty of design. In recent years, AIGA has noticed that younger designers seem not to share the same inclination that earlier generations had in articulating their reactions in reasoned essays. Educators who have encouraged students to express themselves report the same phenomenon.

We believe it is important to encourage design writing and criticism, both for the strength of the profession and to explain design to other audiences. Our particular concern is to encourage a new generation to write. Hence, we have developed an award program aimed at designers under 40 as of this year’s deadline: June 2, 2008.

For us, it is a program aimed at strengthening design writing and criticism. A few members have expressed a concern that it discriminates against older writers. AIGA’s publications already favor older, or established, writers and are likely to continue to in the absence of new, emerging writers. In this respect, it does not discriminate against publishing any group. However, it is clearly a form of affirmative action to strengthen the quality and range of design writing over time.

How many pieces do I need to enter?
For the Writing Award, you need to submit three separate pieces of writing. For the Education Award, you need to submit one piece of writing.

Is there a maximum word count or page length suggested?
There is no maximum word count. But you should use your judgment and aim for essay-length (10 pages) rather than book-length entries. Longer works may be excerpted; therefore, it is acceptable to add an abstract to introduce or conclude what comes before or after in a longer work.

You say submissions must be text-only. But what if my essay analyzes images that are essential to the piece? Will my entry be disqualified if I submit it with images?
Entries should not include graphics or images of any kind, in order to be judged solely on writing ability. Submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines will be disqualified. If the images are, as you say, essential, then you would need to describe the visual elements in written form and include them in your essay.

How “old” can the writing be and still be eligible?
For the Writing Award, where three pieces of writing are required, the jury will accept one of the pieces being older if two others were written in the past three years. For the Education Award, where one piece of writing is submitted, the piece must have been written in the past three years. (Three years, or July 2, 2005, either as date of publication or, for unpublished work, date of author manuscript.)

If I entered last year but did not get selected, can I enter the same work again this year?
Yes. Since a different group of jurors will judge this year, you have a new opportunity to submit your writing for consideration. However, your submissions must have been written within the past three years.

Can a U.S. citizen who lives outside the United States enter the awards?
Yes. The awards are open to U.S. citizens or full-time residents of at least three years. Although international response has been significant, the Winterhouse Institute and AIGA maintain that the value of design writing and criticism should be fostered and promoted in the United States.

Is there an online archive of previous winning entries?
Yes. The PDF submissions from the 2006 and 2007 award recipients are all available to download.

Is a body of related writing samples looked upon more favorably over three diverse samples of writing?
No. The relationship among the pieces will be up to you. They can be as diverse or as similar as you'd like. Preference will be given to writing that initiates new ideas (or challenges old ones).

How should co-authored work be handled? Is this considered any “less” of an entry and to be avoided as a result or is partnering of this type supported?
Co-authored work is acceptable as long as both authors fit the eligibility requirements. All work for the awards will be judged equally.

How are footnotes and endnotes to be treated?
Just including them in the body, clearly marked, is perfectly fine.