WEBSITES | UX & UI | SOCIAL | EMAIL | ADS | EBOOKS | VIDEO | APPS | MORE
We invite you to enter GDUSA’s 2026 Digital Design Awards™. The contest formerly known as ‘Web Design’ honors the power of design to enhance online and interactive experiences – for websites, yes, but also social media, email marketing, digital ads and publications, interactive and interface design, video and animation, and more. It’s a great opportunity to be recognized by clients, managers, colleagues and the community for design excellence in this critical area of need. Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) has been publishing to and organizing competitions for, the creative community for 63 years; this is the 26th annual digital design awards.
CATEGORIES
- 1. Websites/Microsites/Mobile Sites
- 2. UX/UI/Interactive Design
- 3. Social Media
- 4. Email Marketing
- 5. Digital Ads/Banners
- 6. Digital Branding Assets
- 7. Digital Pubs/eBooks/eNewsletters
- 8. Video/Motion/Animation
- 9. Data Visualization/Infographics
- 10. E-Commerce
- 11. Apps/Widgets
- 12. Displays/Exhibits/Kiosks
- 13. Games
- 14. Student Work
- 15. New Category: AI Integration (Requires Narrative)
HOW TO ENTER
Entries may be submitted by any company or individual involved in the creation or production or distribution of the work. Eligibility dates: January 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026.
SPECIAL NOTE TO ENTRANTS
Now in our 63rd year, GDUSA competitions have grown so large that we have engaged a respected specialized awards firm — OPENWATER — that greatly simplifies the entry process and makes the flow easier and more intuitive. Among the upgrades: you can start an entry, save it in draft, and finish it later; and we have created a CART system that lets you collect all the entries and pay once at the end of the process with all major credit cards. GDUSA will, of course, continue to control all design, content, and review activities.
1. CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT OR LOG IN
In most cases you will need to open a new account. This is quick and easy; just a few lines of basic information such as name, company, address, email. If you already have an OpenWater account, you can simply log in.
2. SELECT THE CATEGORY
Select the category that best describes your entry.
3. SUBMIT ENTRY DETAILS
For each entry, note the design firm or creative agency or inhouse department plus client, title of entry, any creative credits you wish to provide.
4. UPLOAD DIGITAL FILES/ELECTRONIC ARTWORK
Specifications are provided for all types of categories. In most cases, you will be asked to upload 1-4 images that display your entry or 1 composite image that includes the highlights. When relevant, such as for websites and videos, we ask for the URL as well as the 1-4 supporting still images. For images, we much prefer JPGs but will accept other formats.
5. PAYMENT FOR ENTRIES (AND PAST WINNER DISCOUNT)
Each entry automatically appears in a CART and you can pay once for any or all entries at the end by CHECKING OUT through the CART. We accept payment by major Credit Cards or via Paypal. There are deep volume discounts built automatically into the entry fee schedule. AND if you are a Past Winner of any GDUSA competition, you are entitled to additional 20% discount; please email us – awards@gdusa.com – for the promo code to use at checkout.
6. ENTRY FEES
$120 … 1 Entry
$200 … 2 Entries
$260 … 3 Entries
$280 … 4 Entries
$300 … 5 Entries
$320 … 6 Entries
$340 … 7 Entries
$360 … 8 Entries
$380 … 9 Entries
$400 … 10-20 Entries
Over 20 entries add $20 per entry.
QUESTIONS OR ASSISTANCE
awards@gdusa.com
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Winning entrants grant Graphic Design USA the right to reproduce the winning pieces in the GDUSA Digital Design Awards Annual in print, digital, web and mobile editions, and in any and all materials and media produced for promotional purposes by Graphic Design USA.
