.png)
The longest running program that the RGD offers, this annual competition recognizes communication design excellence from students across Canada. We are proud to offer our entrants the chance to win a $1,000 cash prize across 18 categories.
The entry deadline has now passed. Judging will take place over the summer. Student entrants will be informed of the results in late August/early September. The 2024 Student Awards will open in January 2024.
- 18 first place entries will be selected and will receive $1,000, awards certificates, recognition across RGD communications channels and free RGD Memberships through the end of 2024.
- 5 Student Trailblazer Award winners from underrepresented and marginalized communities will each receive $1,000 and recognition across RGD communications channels.
- Approx. 100 students will be selected to receive Honourable Mention and will receive awards certificates, recognition and exemption from the portfolio review required for Provisional RGD Membership.
- All entrants will receive constructive feedback on their work from one or more judges (100+ senior industry professionals).
- Students enrolled in an UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM at any time between September 2022 to August 2023 (with less than one year of professional experience in design) can submit up to 5 entries across the competition, but only one entry per category.
- Students enrolled in a POST-GRADUATE PROGRAM between September 2022 to August 2023 and with less than one year of professional design experience, can submit up to 5 entries in the Accessibility, UX, Information Design and Motion categories.)
- Students can be attending public and private institutions if listed as a designated learning institution by the Canadian Government.
- Students who are attending public institutions outside of Canada are eligible if they are Canadian citizens.
- Any work by an eligible Student may be submitted.
- Entries are limited to one per category, except for the Awards for Accessible Design, Motion, Retail Design, Web Design, UX Design and Placemaking. In these categories, you may enter up to can 5 projects.
- Please review the descriptions of the Awards below to determine in what categories your project(s) best fit. (A project can be entered in multiple categories.)
- Go to our Judgify Awards Page.
- Click 'Submit an Entry' and create a New User account (note: an RGD Member login will not work. Create a new account to log in to Judgify). Submit entries through the online submission form.
- For each project you enter, define the intended audience (max. 50 words) and clearly articulate the strategic objectives of the project and how you achieved them (max 100 words). We recommend taking time to think about how you are articulating your work. This is important information for the judges as they review your work and select winning entries.
- For each entry, submit no less than 1 and no more than 6 images of your project (1,000 pixels wide across is the recommended sizing). Choose images that make your work stand out. Think about quality of image, impact, how it helps sell your work. If your entry has multiple components or sides, consider showing them.
- If you are submitting a website or motion graphic, ensure that a URL to the project or a movie file is uploaded.
- Design (min: 0 | max: 10)
Is the design professional, compelling and appropriate for the audience? Are elements well-organized? Is information well-prioritized? - Creativity (min: 0 | max: 10)
Is the project memorable? Is it innovative, fresh and original? - Strategy (min: 0 | max: 10)
Does the rationale clearly outline the project goals? Does the final product address those goals for the intended audience?
- RGD will notify winners by September 2023.
- Feedback will be emailed to all entrants between September and December 2023. (Please ensure that the email you use to submit your entry will be active in the fall if you are graduating between April and December 2023.)
- We want to make it easy for you to enter this competition, setting you up for a successful entry.
- Visit our FAQ section, for some of the frequently asked questions we receive.
- If you don’t see an answer to your question, or just need more clarification, please email .
52 Pick-up Award for Typography: any project that uses typography to achieve its goals.
Arnold Street Media Award for Logo Design: any project that is intended to represent and identify a company, product, service or organization and its essence graphically to be applied consistently across all visual materials representing that company, product, service or organization.
Artista First Year Award: open to any student who has just finished (as of the deadline) their first year in a 3- or 4-year graphic design program (any type of work may be entered)
Context Creative Award for Storytelling Design: any project that communicates and engages with a strong sense of narrative and purpose, combining words, images, graphics and your choice of media.
Domtar Award for Print Design: any project designed to be presented in the print medium. This might be a poster, a book, a magazine, an invitation or a printed promotional piece.
Entro Award for Placemaking Design: any project that helps build community through design interventions. This might be a poster for an event, a website for a tourist destination, a wayfinding system for a university or the design of a retail space.
Forge Media + Design Award for UX Design: any project that applies UX design principles.
Gravity Award for Social Good Design: any project that provides value to the community and/or helps to solve a local or global challenge. This could be a poster to promote a cause, a website for a non-profit organization or a design solution to a global challenge.
Haft2 Award for Colour: any project that uses colour to achieve its goals.
Intent Award for Accessible Design: any project that applies accessible design principles in the development of the design solution.
Modern Design Academy Award for Motion: any project designed to communicate complex data and content in a visually appealing way that is easier to understand and use.
q30 Award for Brand Design: any project that involves a visual set of associations representing a company, product, service or organization.
Pivot Award for Information Design: any project that involves the design of clear, concise and visually attractive materials that enhance how people read, understand and use complex and/or detailed information.
SLD Award for Packaging Design: any project designed to enclose, protect and promote a product or series of products for sale.
SLD Award for Retail Design: any project the design for a physical store or as well as a virtual store created in the digital environment.
The Garden Award for Strategic Design: any project that uses strategy to achieve its goals.
Works Design Award for Web Design: any website that communicates a company or organization's mission, objectives, products and services.
Zulu Alpha Kilo Award for Advertising Design: any project created to promote a specific business, program, event or special offer.
Certificate Sponsor: Porchlight Press