A win provides independent, authoritative and unquestionable recognition of the impact of your work in the real world.
A win can help to make the case for design investment at board level, maintaining and growing budgets, and boost and motivate your team, helping to attract the brightest and best talent.
A win will powerfully demonstrate your ability to deliver competitive advantage through design, setting you apart from the masses and driving new business opportunities.
Leverage a unique winner's logo across your communications as the marque to demonstrate the tangible returns you've delivered and display a trophy proudly within your offices. Your work will be displayed on effectivedesign.org.uk and warc.com enabling you to globally profile your work in detail and demonstrate the scale of impact you've delivered.
Benefits of winning aside, entering these Awards will bring a discipline to your team that will enable you to continuously measure, track and prove the impact of your work to your clients.
June – 1 December 2026 – Call for entries
Gather your data, speak to the DBA team if you would like help (either with the thinking, planning or pointers on the writing), and make your case.
Download the Entry Pack for all the details you need to get started.
5pm GMT, Tuesday 1 December 2026 – Deadline for entries
Submit your entry online at: https://effectivedesign.awardsplatform.com/
The deadline is never extended. Really, it’s not.
April 2027 – Shortlist announced
If you’re in the shortlist, you are guaranteed to have won a Bronze, Silver or Gold DBA Design Effectiveness Award.
Late June 2027 – Winners announced
We’ll celebrate together at The Design Effect; a full day event exploring and recognising the impact design has in business, society and the world.
Entry fees
DBA members get one free entry. Additional entries are £595+vat.
Non-member entries are £1120+vat.
An early bird discount of £100+vat is available on entries paid for by 5pm BST on Friday 23 October 2026. You don’t need to submit your entry by that date, just pay for it on the awards platform.
If you would like to become a member of the DBA email [email protected].