C-IDEA Design Award 2027: AI, Interaction, Animation and Game Design — All Fee Stages
C-IDEA Design Award is accepting international work for its 2027 edition from 25 September 2026 through 31 January 2027. Its broad design disciplines include film and animation, game design, interactive installations, UI/UX, product, architecture and visual communication. Applicants can enter either the open Free Theme or 'Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Future', a theme addressing responsible use of machine intelligence in healthcare, sustainable design, public service and social experience. C-IDEA operates a TWO-PHASE FEE STRUCTURE; early-bird registration is cheaper but shortlisted professional and company entries incur a further nomination charge. This is an award and design publicity opportunity, not a guarantee of grant money.
Who can compete?
Professional designers, studios, companies, design schools, teachers and design institutions from around the world.
Student applicants must be under 26, and may be junior college, undergraduate or graduate students.
Both new concepts and publicly launched design products may apply when entrants own the underlying work and can document authorship.
Animation, video, game design, intelligent interactive systems, UI/UX, visual communication, architecture and other categories are each explicitly listed.
The AI in Future theme invites uses in service, green, medical and social design; the Free Theme accepts design subjects without a specific AI connection.
Fees: Stage 1, early-bird until 30 November 2026
Professional designer or company: €35 per submitted design in the early period ending 30 November.
Student: the FIRST participation entry is free, with any additional submission €10 during early-bird registration.
Regular period from 1 December to 31 January: professional/company €50 per design; student's first entry remains free, additional entries €15 each.
Register and pay in the organiser's stated system; the current official page also provides an email backup submission method with a specific entry form.
Fees: Stage 2, if shortlisted
Student: first nominated entry free; other nominated student work €50 each.
Professional individual: €150 nomination fee per selected design.
Company: €300 nomination fee per selected design.
The nomination charge is additional to the first-stage participation fee and must be paid to proceed to the final jury.
Example: one professional early entry reaching the final costs €35 plus €150, totalling €185. A company submitting late and shortlisted would pay €50 plus €300 = €350, before shipping or other extras.
File requirements and design judgement
A current work image should be A4 at 150dpi, RGB JPEG and at most 5 MB, with a project description of at most 150 words. Video or animation submissions can provide a link or sample file below 30 MB; interactive work may include a working preview URL. Submitted work and registration fields cannot be revised once finalised, so check credits and team members in advance. C-IDEA's judges assess originality, quality and the appropriateness of each design category. The programme announces nomination results in February 2027 and winners in March.
Awards, merchandise and shipment risks
Benefits announced by C-IDEA include a winner certificate, award logo, possible yearbook inclusion, an awards-event admission ticket and media opportunities. Some trophy items can be purchased separately, while specific high awards receive a complimentary trophy. The first-party page does not promise an unconditional cash prize. Artists opting to ship a physical finalist work must pay forwarding, return shipping and insurance; unclaimed physical work may be disposed of under the detailed rules. Retain ownership documentation and confirm any reproduction license before uploading.
Organiser and authenticity
The C-IDEA International Design Education Association operates this international design award and provides category-specific instructions, payments, staff contact locations, downloadable 2027 rules and award archives. The page identifies contacts in Adelaide, Taiwan and Beijing and publishes financial terms directly. Use the official event page and domain before making payments rather than trusting unsolicited prize messages.
Official entry conditions
C-IDEA official 2027 call and ALL entry and finalist fees: https://cidea-union.com/2027-call-for-entries/
C-IDEA official award mission and history: https://cidea-union.com/2027-about/
Checked 24 October 2026. Early registration ends November 30; final deadline January 31, 2027. Check both-stage fee obligations before applying.