Entries open for Design Guild Mark 2027

The Design Guild Mark is calling on British designers and UK-based design practices to put their best work forward. Entries for the 2027 edition are now open in three categories: Furniture, Lighting and Interior Design Elements.

Established in 2008 by The Furniture Makers’ Company, this not-for-profit recognition programme raises the profile of British industrial design and celebrates excellence in the design sector.

Any project is welcome from a single standout product to a full collection, as long as it is in production and was designed for, and made through, an industrial design process. Domestic, office, hospitality, educational or corporate, indoors or out: all are welcome. The award is open to British designers working in the UK or abroad, and to designers with UK-based practices.

The final deadline on 29 January 2027. Entries are invited to submit their applications here.

What makes the Design Guild Mark different? Applicants present their work to a panel of independent judges, each a leading expert in their field. A Design Guild Mark celebrates exceptional design quality, recognising products that meet the highest standards of excellence rather than competing for a single winning spot. Every design that meets these echelons of originality and innovation in industrial design earns a Mark.

Alex Crofts, chairman of the Design Guild Mark and CEO of Crofts & Assinder Ltd, said: “As Chairman, I am delighted to announce the opening of the Design Guild Mark application process for 2027. The Design Guild Mark celebrates the wealth of creative talent we have working in the UK. The Design Sector is a major contributor to the UK economy and the DGM continues to promote UK design as a leading global creative force. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or a rising talent, the Design Guild Mark is a unique opportunity to have your creativity and craftsmanship celebrated on a national stage.”

Each entry is tested against five demanding criteria:

• Innovation: Does it show new, original thinking? Does it solve a problem or do something better?
• Function: Is it fit for purpose, intuitive and beneficial to the user?
• Form: Is it aesthetically appealing, well made, and does it use innovative materials or processes?
• Brand: Does it strengthen the brand’s position or give it a competitive edge?
• Environment: Does it advance sustainable and circular practice, and is it designed for longevity of appeal and use?

Designs awarded a Mark gain wide recognition across the design industry and beyond, for designer and manufacturer alike. Recipients from each of the three categories will also be put forward for the Jonathan Hindle Prize for Excellence.

Amy Heffernan, formerly Interiors Director at Wallpaper* and a regular contributor to Elle Decoration as a stylist and art director, has joined the Design Guild Mark committee.

She said: “I am delighted to work with the Design Guild Mark. Their mission to elevate and celebrate the exceptional creative talent working in contemporary UK furniture, lighting, and textiles is incredibly important.”