Graduates of the Year Awards 2025

Australian tertiary institutes that are DIA Education Members or registered higher education providers are invited to each nominate up to 6 graduates per category per state. 

Nominations are open to graduates who have completed their formal studies in 2024 in a full time or full time equivalent undergraduate or honours tertiary course. 

Graduates are entered via nomination into one of four categories: Place, Use, Interact and Convey. The award categories are forward-looking and praised for their exemplary approach that dissolves traditional silos and reflects multidisciplinary problem solving for the future. 

Educational institutions are invited to submit their nominations into either of two qualification levels HIGHER EDUCATION and VOCATIONAL and the categories PLACE, USE, INTERACT and CONVEY. Entries are judged not only on the graduate’s work but also the graduate’s work ethic and perceived ability to transfer their skills to the workplace. Before nominating, educators must review the Entry Information Pack. Submitting a nomination indicates that you have read and agree to all GOTYA conditions. First step is to select the qualification level and category you wish to enter, please note winners will be acknowledged and awarded at State and National level.

For each graduate, institutions are required to purchase an entry and complete the nomination form identifying:

• Nominated graduates name

• Course name + AQF Level

• Graduate personal email + mobile number

Tertiary institution details

• Tertiary website

• Educator name

• Educator email + mobile number

• DIA membership number for education members

Start the process by clicking the Nominate Here button, and the tertiary institution will be asked for total entries and payment. Once the entry is paid your receipt will be forwarded by email with a link to the nomination form.

On completion of an educators nomination, each graduate will be sent advice officially notifying them of their nomination and what is required to submit an entry:

• Personal Details

• 3 x digital presentation boards Demonstrating projects that illustrate your design skills, up to 20 MB each. Include drawings and illustrations that will assist in demonstrating your development and decision-making process through to design resolution. For judging purposes, your boards should be anonymous. Do not include any identifiable features including your name, course or institution. Suggested Format: Landscape orientation, PDF, high resolution 300 DPI, A3

• Academic transcript

• Skill showcase – 500 Characters (100 words) per answer

• Approach to practice - methodology, goals, and aspirations.

• Achievements - academic and practical achievements.

• Work Experience - Work Ready File upload - Profile picture.

• Profile Picture

• Links – any online portfolios

• Links – any social media handles

• Nominaiton certificate - would you like a PDF or hard copy verison - if hard copy please include a home address

• Waiver – Agree to the T & Cs

Judging Panels

The DIA will appoint a panel of practicing designers and industry figures and DIA members.

Committed to forming diverse and balanced judging panels, the DIA will ensure that judging composition will be representative, where possible of design disciplines, geography, cultural backgrounds, age, gender and ability.

Tertiary educators who taught in 2024 participating tertiary institutes are not eligible to judge the GOTYA 2025 program.

Judges will not serve on the same judging panel more than two years consecutively.

Round 1 – An Online review of each nomination is assessed anonymously and shortlisted.

Round 2 – Shortlisted graduates will attend an online interview with a selection of the judging panel to present their work and discuss their methodology, goals, aspirations, academic and practical achievements and any design related work experience.

Judges Duties

The judges shall:

• Review entries impartially based on a graduates merits using the GOTYA judging process and criteria based on international awards regulations and best practices.

• Uphold the integrity of the DIA, and adhere to the DIA code of conduct

• Complete judging during the allocated timeframes.

• Attend all judging sessions as appropriate.

• Maintain the confidentiality of the judging process at all times including prior to, during and following the judging rounds.

• Be available if necessary to participate in any pre produced video component for the Awards celebration

Category Convenor

In addition to the Judges duties the Jury Convenor is required to:

• Ensure that judging proceeds in accordance to process outlined in the GOTYA Judging Information Pack.

• Select the date and assist in facilitating in the online interviews.

• Provide judging notes, 50-100 words on the overall category winners including key observations and positive advice for graduates .

• Provide judging notes, 50-100 words on the State and National GOTYA Winners outlining why each graduate was awarded their prize.

Judging Process

The judging panel will assess all of the Graduate of the Year Awards entries, across all states.

All judges are expected to review entries impartially and uphold the integrity of the Design Institute of Australia.

The judging panel, will shortlist finalists to be interviewed, Shortlisted finalists are invited to attend an online interview with a selection of the Jury.

Winners will be identified and awarded at State level initially, and are then eligible to be selected at national level.

Throughout all rounds of the assessment process, the judges should seek a high level of consistent performance and presentations that make the design solution immediately apparent.

The judging panels will assess the entries in each of category against the following equally weighted criteria:

Concept

Clear understanding of the parameters of the original brief from tertiary course work. Evidence of research, development and resolution of the original brief from tertiary course work.

Creativity

Innovative ideas translated from conceptual approach. Effective communication of ideas.

Space / Function / Materials / Technology

Design intent reflects and is supported by spatial arrangement. Demonstrated functional practicality. Appropriate and innovative selection of materials. Demonstrated understanding, integration and resolution of manufacturing processes.

Sustainability

Demonstrated understanding and use of sustainable resources. Consideration of economic, social, ecological and life cycle design practices.



For each category, the judges will assess the following:

• USE
Honouring designers who create the tangible objects we interact with daily 

Industrial / Product Design

Object, light fixtures or packaging applications: designs should demonstrate excellence in ergonomic considerations, functional innovation, and aesthetic refinement. Judges will evaluate how effectively entries respond to human usage patterns and behaviours while incorporating sustainable design practices. Solutions that elegantly balance form, function, and environmental responsibility will be highly valued. 

Fashion Design

Wearable applications: designs should exemplify a sophisticated balance between functional performance and aesthetic expression. Judges will assess the thoughtful relationship between apparel and the human form, including considerations of movement, comfort, and identity. Entries must demonstrate commitment to sustainable design practices through material selection, production methods, and lifecycle planning. 

Textile Design

Fabric applications for use in furniture, soft furnishings, clothing, vehicles, finishes, plastics or other products: designs should demonstrate mastery of aesthetic expression while fulfilling functional requirements. Judges will evaluate material innovation, appropriate weights and textures for intended applications, technical execution, and integration of sustainable design practices throughout the development process. 

Jewellery Design

Wearable applications: designs should excel in their consideration of ergonomic comfort, functional wearability, and aesthetic distinction. Judges will assess excellence in craftsmanship, material selection and treatment, cultural relevance, and commitment to sustainable design practices. Entries that thoughtfully balance tradition and innovation will be highly regarded. 

• PLACE
Celebrating designers who shape the physical spaces we inhabit 

Interior Design

Residential, commercial or retail applications: designs should demonstrate thoughtful resolution of spatial planning, structural integration, and traffic flow. Judges will assess how furniture, fixtures, furnishings, lighting strategies, and surface finishes collectively create cohesive environments. Entries must show consideration of sustainable design practices throughout all elements. 

Exhibition  Design

Temporary or permanent exhibition applications: designs should showcase innovative spatial storytelling that meaningfully engages visitors. Judges will evaluate effectiveness of visitor flow management, engagement strategies, materiality choices, lighting design, and implementation of sustainable installation practices. Success in creating memorable, accessible experiences will be highly regarded. 

Hospitality & Healthcare Design

Service-oriented environments: designs should achieve harmony between aesthetic appeal and practical functionality. Entries will be assessed on their understanding of diverse user needs and behaviours, selection of appropriate materials for durability and maintenance, consideration of acoustic properties and sensory experiences, and implementation of sustainable design practices that enhance wellbeing.

• INTERACT
Recognising designers who craft the digital interfaces and service experiences 

Digital Experience Design

Web, mobile or software applications: designs should exemplify excellence in user-centred approaches that create intuitive, engaging experiences. Judges will evaluate navigation structures, information architecture clarity, implementation of responsive and accessible design principles, and consideration of sustainable digital practices. Entries that demonstrate meaningful innovation while maintaining exceptional usability will be highly valued. 

Service Design

Customer journey applications: designs should demonstrate empathetic understanding of user needs, create coherent touchpoints across channels, show evidence of co-design methodologies, utilise appropriate research techniques, and implement sustainable service delivery practices. 

• CONVEY
Celebrating designers who communicate ideas visually 

Visual Communication Design

2D text, symbol or picture-based applications: designs should demonstrate exceptional clarity in visual communication that resonates with intended audiences. Judges will assess how effectively information styles are matched to audience requirements, the innovative application of evolving technologies, and implementation of sustainable design practices. Entries that achieve communication objectives with distinctive visual approaches will be highly regarded. 

Brand Identity Design

Visual identity applications: designs should demonstrate strategic thinking, versatile application across platforms, distinctive visual language, appropriate typography and colour systems, and sustainable implementation practices. 

Editorial & Publication Design

Print or digital publication applications: designs should demonstrate sophisticated information hierarchies that create engaging reader experiences. Judges will evaluate the integration of text and imagery, navigation clarity, typographic refinement, and commitment to sustainable production practices. Entries that balance visual impact with functional readability while reflecting content identity will be highly valued.  

Information Design

Data visualisation or wayfinding applications: designs should prioritise clarity of complex information, demonstrate appropriate information hierarchy, show accessible visual encoding techniques, consider context of use, and implement sustainable design practices. 

Before completing your GOTYA nominations or submitting an entry, please carefully read these Terms and Conditions.

1. Entry into this awards program is deemed to be an acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

2. Information on the awards portal and the prizes themselves form part of the Terms and Conditions.

3. The Organiser may extend the program dates or vary the awards program at any time in its absolute discretion.

4. The Organiser may cancel the awards program at any time without the awards being presented.

5. Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, currency and reliability of the information included in this document and elsewhere. However, changes in content and process may become necessary at the absolute discretion of the Organiser. The Organiser accepts no liability for any use of the said content or reliance placed upon it.

6. Failure by the Organiser to enforce any of its rights at any stage does not constitute a waiver of those rights.

Nomination + Entry Information

1. Nominations are open to graduates who are Australian permanent residents or international students residing in Australia with a valid Student Visa.

2. Nominations are open to graduates who have completed their formal studies in 2024 in a full time or full time equivalent undergraduate course. Nominations are also open to honours graduates who have completed their formal studies in 2024 immediately after their Bachelor degree.

3. In certain circumstances, the Organiser may allow additional nominations per tertiary institution.

4. Officers, directors, and employees of the Organiser as well as those individuals’ immediate family members and the residents of their household, are not eligible to enter.

5. Entries must be the entrant’s own unrealised or realised original design using authorised software.

6. Entries must be the work of one graduate. Group work will not be accepted.

7. The Digital Presentation Boards must not include identifying features i.e. the Entrant’s name, course or institute. Text and diagrams must be legible from at least one metre.

8. Nomination fees may be paid by credit card at submission or by invoice post submission. The educator must pay all required nomination fees and the entrant must submit all required entry information, materials and images before an entry can be considered.

9. The Organiser reserves the right, at any time, to verify the validity of entries and entrants including an entrant’s identity and place of residence.

10. The Organiser reserves the right to remove any entry from the awards program without explanation.

11. Entry fees are non-refundable. If a nominated graduate is unable to participate, the nomination fee may be transferred to another graduate however their entry must be received by close of entries date.

12. Entrants wishing to cancel their submission are required to advise the Organiser in writing by email.

Judging + Prizes

1. The judging process will be conducted by an Organiser appointed Judging Panel and a Convenor who will have a casting vote.

2. Design educators nor officers, directors and employees of the Organiser as well as those individuals’ immediate family members and the residents of their household are not eligible to judge the GOTYA program.

3. To facilitate openness and transparency, DIA Members will be encouraged to nominate prospective Branch and National Judges but the final judging panel composition will be determined by the National Office. Every effort will be made to ensure equality on the selected judging panels.

4. Judges must declare any conflicts of interest to the Organiser as soon as possible.

5. Judges will not serve more than two years consecutively.

6. All judging processes and decisions will be kept strictly confidential until announced at the Branch or National Awards Ceremonies.

7. Entries in each category will be judged based on the following equally weighted criteria: Concept, Creativity, Sustainability, Space / Function / Materials / Technology.

8. Prizes

   • The GOTYA winner will be awarded to the entry in each category which best fulfils the judging criteria.

   • Runner Up in each category will be awarded to the entry which secondly fulfils the judging criteria.

   • At the judges’ discretion, Commendations may be awarded.

9. The judging panel, at its discretion, may withhold awards or divide the awards in other proportions.

10. Judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to the conduct of the award program, or the methodology adopted to determine the Overall or Category GOTYA, Runner Up or Finalists.

11. All finalists will be notified of the results by email within two months after the end of the Awards Program.

Privacy + Intellectual Property

1. The Organiser collects personal information in order to conduct the Awards Program and may, for this purpose, disclose such information to third parties, including, but not limited to, Australian regulatory authorities. Entry is conditional on providing this information. Unless otherwise advised, the Organiser may also use the information for promotional, marketing and publicity purposes including sending electronic messages. Entrants should direct any request to access, update or correct information to the Organiser.

2. All copyright and intellectual property rights reside with the Entrant.

3. Where the entrant does not own the copyright, the entry must be accompanied by a written agreement from the copyright holder stating that the work may be entered for an award.

4. The Organiser reserves all rights to use headshots, entries and photo reproductions for promotional purposes. The entrant and institution will be credited where possible.