Judging Criteria

*Housewares Design Awards entries and judging coordinated by International Housewares Association

Entries for the 2012 Awards soon will be
accepted in these 12 product categories*

Finalists and 'Best in Category' winners will be selected in each of the 12 awards categories.

Additionally, 'Best of the Best' Gold, Silver and Bronze awards winners will be selected from among the category winners.

Cookware & Bakeware

Countertop Cooking & Beverage Appliances

Countertop Food Prep Appliances

Countertop Kitchenware

Cutlery

Floor Care & Cleaning Appliances

Gadgets & Kitchen Tools

Home Environment Appliances

Home Organization, Laundry Care & Non-Electric Cleaning

Home & Outdoor Décor

Personal, Health & Garment Care

Tableware, Serveware & Beverageware

Eligible Products*

All manufacturers and marketers of housewares products are invited to enter designs that have been introduced and made available for consumer purchase in the U.S. via retail stores, TV retailers, electronic sales or direct marketing during the period October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. The product may be designed and manufactured in any country.

Designers or public relations agencies may submit a product on behalf of the company that developed it. Licensed or controlled brands (for example, a product made especially for Disney or a private label/branded line for Target or Williams-Sonoma) are acceptable, but entry must be made in the name of the company that makes the product.

Any product that is the subject of a dispute concerning ownership of its intellectual property rights is ineligible. Entries that do not meet these requirements will be refused.

Evaluation Criteria*

Judges will consider several product characteristics:

Unique appearance and/or function
Recognized or unrecognized consumer needs addressed by product
Appropriate aesthetics
Innovative materials or technology
Human factors and safety issues
Market positioning and competitive performance
Social impact
Emotional Appeal
Environmental benefits (materials, processes, etc.)

Environmental benefits also will be evaluated to select the third annual "Green House Award" winners for eco-responsible housewares innovation. All 2012 Housewares Design Awards entrants may choose to enter the Green House Awards for an additional fee of $45 per product (a special value of $295 to enter both the core Housewares Design Awards and Green House Awards).

Review Process*

A multi-disciplinary jury of designers, retail buyers and champions of design in the housewares fields will review all categories. Twelve judges study the entry forms before meeting to examine and review all eligible products.
Judges will disqualify themselves from evaluating any product in whose development they have been involved.

*Product submission and awards judging process managed exclusively for HDA by the International Housewares Association

How to Enter:

1) Complete the online entry form available here,

2) Send a product sample
(See details in online entry form for address to send samples and be sure to indicate if you want products returned.)

3) Pay the Entry Fee: $275 per product: $50 additional per product to opt in to Green House Awards
(Online entry form includes instructions for credit card payment.)

Companies may enter as many products in as many categories as they choose. A separate entry form with electronic images, product sample is required for each product entered.

Deadline: November 4, 2011

Online entries should be submitted by 5 p.m. CST on Friday, November 4, 2011. Product samples must be delivered by Wednesday, November 09, 2011. See online entry form for shipping details.
Questions about entries?
Contact Vicki Matranga at 847-692-0136 or email vmatranga@housewaresdesignawards.com

Results

Finalists will be notified following judging, and the list of finalists will be published by HomeWorld Business. The announcement of winners will take place at an awards ceremony on January 31, 2012 in New York City at the Marriott Marquis.

Housewares Design Awards organizers and members of the jury reserve the right to investigate and confirm any information presented in an entry. HomeWorld Business and IHA reserve the right to clarify or amend the rules and procedures pertaining to the Awards program at any time. The jury's decisions are final. HomeWorld Business and IHA assume that, for all submitted images, entrants have secured permission from any third-party individuals to include these images in HomeWorld Business magazine, on its website, on the Housewares Design Awards website and on IHA's website should the entry be selected as a winner. By entering this program and accepting the prize, entrants grant program organizers the right to edit, publish, promote and otherwise use the entry without further permission, notice or compensation.