A' Design Awards opens 2026 entries for 3D printed product design

A' Design Award & Competition has opened entries for its 2026 A' International 3D Printed Forms and Products Design Awards, with submissions due Sept. 30, 2026 and results set for May 1, 2027. The competition is aimed at designers and companies using additive manufacturing, and winners receive a prize package that includes publicity, exhibitions and promotional tools.

Why it matters: - The competition gives 3D printing designers and manufacturers a global platform for recognition across consumer products, furniture, prosthetics, jewelry, fashion, automotive parts and other digitally fabricated work. - Winners receive a prize package that includes publicity tools, exhibitions in Italy and inclusion in design ranking platforms. - The awards can help turn technical 3D printing work into broader media exposure and industry visibility.

What happened: - A' Design Award & Competition opened the call for entries for the A' International 3D Printed Forms and Products Design Awards 2026. - The competition is open worldwide to 3D Printing Designers, Industrial Design Studios, Product Designers, 3D Printing Brands, 3D Printing Manufacturers, Digital Artists, Visual Effects Artists, Digital Asset Creators, Composite Material Experts, Medical Device Manufacturers, Aerospace Companies, Automotive Companies, Toy Designers, Jewelry Designers, Fashion Designers, consultants and R&D companies. - Eligible projects must have been developed within the last 10 years. - The entry deadline is Sept. 30, 2026. - Results will be announced May 1, 2027.

The details: - The competition has two phases, starting with a complimentary preliminary evaluation of submitted work. - Projects that pass the preliminaries can move on to nomination, which carries a nominal fee. - Entries are judged anonymously by an international jury of more than 300 experts. - The jury includes industrial designers, product designers, additive manufacturing specialists, engineers, digital artists and material experts. - Evaluation criteria include innovation, form, functionality, manufacturability, material performance, customization, technical execution and design excellence. - Eligible work includes 3D printed products, furniture, prosthetics, architectural models, jewelry, automotive components, fashion accessories, sculptures and other digitally fabricated objects. - Sub-category information is available in the competition listing: Additional details. - Registrations can be made here: Submit an entry. - Past winners are available here: View past winners.

Between the lines: - The awards are designed to position 3D printed work as both a design discipline and a manufacturing category. - The prize package is built around promotion as much as recognition, with press kits, interviews and media distribution included for laureates. - The competition’s broad eligibility suggests A' Design Award is trying to pull in both creative and industrial users of additive manufacturing.

What's next: - Entrants can submit work now through the competition portal. - Professional-edition laureates will receive the A' Design Prize, which includes a design excellence certificate, a lifetime winner logo license, a yearbook of best designs, exhibitions in Italy, an award trophy and gala-night access. - Winners will also receive translation of awarded works into foreign languages, entry to Prime Clubs and inclusion in World Design Rankings, Designer Rankings, 3D Printing Design Classifications and Design Legends platforms. - Laureates will get an exclusive interview published on Designer Interviews and included in press kits. - Press kits will be distributed to thousands of accredited press members, and selected winners will be featured through confirmed press partners.

The bottom line: - A' Design Award is using its 2026 3D printing competition to reward technical excellence and amplify winning work through a built-in publicity machine.