FAQ

Since 2016, the German Brand Awards have stood for excellence in brand management, honouring brands that demonstrate clarity, relevance, and future viability. It was initiated by the German Design Council, the authority on design and business in Germany since 1953.

The awards are presented by the German Design Council – Germany’s leading authority for design, established in 1953. Only those entries are honoured that convince an independent, interdisciplinary jury. Transparent, professional, and unbiased.

The German Brand Awards are organised by the German Brand Institute. The institute was founded by the German Design Council and GMK Markenberatung.

The awards are decided by an independent jury of experts. It brings together professionals from marketing, branding, design, research, and consulting. The composition and number of jury members may vary from year to year.

The jury is appointed by the German Design Council. We ensure a high level of professional excellence, international experience, and an interdisciplinary perspective. The aim: a balanced panel capable of assessing brand work holistically and identifying forward-thinking projects.

All entries are judged independently according to defined criteria, including: originality and brand typology, brand distinctiveness, differentiation from competitors, target group relevance, consistency of brand implementation, design quality, degree of innovation, sustainability, continuity, future potential, as well as business performance such as growth, pricing power and economic success.

Yes. All decisions are made without commercial influence. The jury members are renowned experts from branding, industry, and academia, appointed by the German Design Council. Their decisions are based on expertise, dialogue, and a shared goal: to highlight brand excellence.

The German Design Council offers all small businesses, freelancers and start-ups the opportunity to be exempted from the service fees for winners by applying for funding. The exemption is granted after an examination of the economic circumstances. The prerequisite is that the annual sales in each of the last two years (2022 and 2023) did not exceed € 50,000.

The application must be submitted via the online form by 14 Febuary 2025 (receipt by the German Design Council).

In recent years, the German Brand Awards have received over 1,300 submissions from around 20 countries.

Companies, agencies, service providers, and institutions from all industries are eligible to participate, nationally and internationally. The only requirement: the submitted project must not be older than five years.

Registration is completed through the My Design Council portal.

If you're experiencing issues with your account or password, please email us at mydesigncouncil(at)gdc.de.

The following details are required:

• Project title and description (DE/EN)
• Discipline and category
• Information about the agency/company/brand
• Details on the client, manufacturer, or partners
• Market launch date
• Images (up to 5)
• Choice of presentation format for jury session (PDF or video)
• Delivery information (digital upload or postal delivery)
• Billing address
• Optional booking of the Nominee Package

The jury presentation is submitted separately. On average, registration takes around 25 minutes.

Yes, you can submit as many projects as you like – even across different categories.

Yes, product lines or collections that form a cohesive brand experience can be submitted as a unit.

The German Brand Awards are split into two disciplines: "Excellent Brands" for overall brand performance, and "Excellence in Brand Strategy and Creation" for specific branding measures. Each discipline includes main and additional categories.

Yes. You can submit your project to multiple categories, including across both disciplines. Each entry is judged independently.

Yes, submissions exclusively in an additional category are possible, as long as the content aligns with the category’s requirements.

Yes – even with previous recognition, you can submit your project if it has been further developed. Please provide proof of the update or refinement.

Absolutely. The German Brand Awards are international – submissions are welcome from around the world.

Please get in touch with the German Brand Awards team – our team will gladly provide guidance - brandaward(at)gdc.de

Once you have submitted your binding registration, you can no longer change your entry yourself. If you would like to make any changes, simply contact us at brandaward(at)gdc.de. We will be happy to support you.

No. A nomination is an invitation to participate – you still need to complete your registration in the submission portal.

Yes. You’re free to submit a different project – the nomination doesn’t require you to enter the exact one named.

Yes. You can submit product families or series if they represent a unified brand experience.

No. The nomination itself is free of charge. Fees only apply if you confirm participation and complete your submission.

No. The jury is not informed whether a project was nominated or submitted independently.

If you’ve been nominated, you’ll receive a personal email with a direct link to register.

This is possible. Please write to us at brandaward(at)gdc.de so that we can allocate the nomination accordingly.

Yes. You may communicate your nomination freely. However, official visuals and templates are only included in the Nominee Package.

Your jury presentation should be submitted as a PDF or video. It should be clearly structured and easy to compare. For guidance, download the Fact Sheet.

After registering, you’ll receive a personalised upload link. You can submit one PDF file and/or one video file (MP4, max. 20 MB, 180 seconds).

No. Only awarded projects (Winner and Best of Best) are presented in the online gallery.

The gallery goes live shortly after the award ceremony. You’ll be notified by email once it’s online.

If your project hasn’t been published yet, please email us to brandaward(at)gdc.de to request changes.

The gallery includes your submitted short description, main image, and project credits – exactly as entered. Please ensure all details are final before submitting.

Yes. Participation in the German Brand Awards is subject to a registration fee. Full details are listed in the registration section on the website.

No. Nomination is free of charge. Costs only apply if you choose to register your project and complete the submission process.

Yes. Additional categories are charged separately. You’ll find all costs listed in the official fee overview.

Yes. You can submit your project in any additional category, including Circular Design, provided your content reflects the thematic focus.

Fees are usually paid by the company submitting the project. However, billing can be redirected to a different contact person or partner company if requested. Just write to us at brandaward@gdc.de and we'll make the necessary adjustments.

Participation fees cover organisational costs, including jury coordination, communication, gallery presentation, and award assets. Winners benefit from additional services including labels, certificates, visibility, and media support.

Attendance at the award ceremony is included in most participation packages. Some options, such as additional guests or services, may incur extra fees.

Additional tickets for the award show can be booked through the event platform, subject to availability.

Yes. The deadline is listed in the order form and in the confirmation email you receive after your award notification.

You’ll receive the order form by email once your award has been confirmed. It’s also available via your My Design Council login.

Yes. If your project ID is missing, provide the project title and year. We’ll match it manually.

The invoice will be sent to the email address provided on your order form once the order has been processed.

No. For now, services are payable by invoice only.

Yes. For items that include customised text or engravings, we’ll send you a proof for approval before production.

No. All items will be delivered by post after production.

Shipping costs depend on the destination country, package size, and weight. All details are listed in the order form.

Yes. Content and design match exactly. The sample certificate is a preview of the original.

Please email gba@gdc.de with a photo of the incorrect certificate and a short explanation. We’ll check and send a corrected version if necessary.

Yes. You can choose between framed and unframed versions when ordering.

Yes – if your project was awarded as a Winner or Best of Best. The sculpture is exclusively available for these distinctions.

Yes. The sculpture includes an engraving with the project title, award level, and year.

Yes. Like the sculpture, the Kuboid features an engraved project label.

Yes. Both are made from high-quality, durable materials and produced with sustainability in mind.

Yes. Materials and production processes for the wall plaques are selected with a focus on durability and environmental responsibility.

Stickers are printed on adhesive film with a background. Vinyl cuts are individual letters or shapes without a background, for a premium finish.

If you ordered a video clip, you’ll receive it via a download link within 3–4 weeks after the award ceremony.