Don Norman Design Award

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The Don Norman Design Award (DNDA) honors educational groups and early-career practitioners who impact society through humanity-centered design.

See dnda.design. Don Norman Design Award (DNDA) is a global platform for early-career practitioners and educational organizations to showcase projects that profoundly impact society and then, to host an international summit for all groups that are working to benefit society through Humanity-Centered Design. What kinds of projects? See the United Nations’ list of 17 Sustainable Development Goals at https://sdgs.un.org/ (and read deeply into the numerous specialized websites branching off from that site). The awards celebrate young professionals and educational institutions, helping them to get started on a lifetime of contributions. The summit allows everyone to share their knowledge, their lessons learned from both failures and successes, and to provide guidance and a platform for sharing. Our mission is to champion humanity-centered design, emphasizing the rights and well-being of all people and the shared ecosystem we call “the earth.”

09/30/2026

🚨 Today is the day! Applications for the Awards close today, September 30.

Your project, learning initiative, or organization is creating change worth sharing. Tell your story, celebrate the people behind the work, and put your impact on a global stage.

Laureates join an international community committed to Humanity-Centered Design, exchange ideas with fellow changemakers and DNDA Advisors, and take part in the DNDA26 Summit in India.

⏰ Don’t miss your final chance.
🔗 Submit your application now: https://dnda.design/award/

Your work matters. Make today count!

09/29/2026

⏳ Only 2 days left to share your impact with the world!

The Awards celebrate projects, learning initiatives, and organizations using Humanity-Centered Design to improve lives, strengthen communities, and shape better futures.

If your work is creating meaningful change, this is your moment. Apply for the opportunity to gain global visibility, connect with changemakers and DNDA Advisors, and bring your perspective to the DNDA26 Summit in India!

📅 Applications close September 30.
🔗 Apply now: https://dnda.design/award/

Two days can make all the difference. Take the next step today!

09/28/2026

⏳ ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT!

Your work is creating change. Now put it on a global stage. 🌍

The Awards celebrate bold projects, learning initiatives, and organizations using Humanity-Centered Design to improve lives, strengthen communities, and shape a better future.

📅 Applications close September 30.

Become a DNDA Laureate and:

✨ Join a global community creating societal impact
🤝 Connect with DNDA Advisors and mentors who can help scale your work
🇮🇳 Participate in the DNDA26 Summit in India

In 2025, DNDA recognized 40 outstanding teams and organizations worldwide. Your impact story could be next.

🔗 Apply now: https://dnda.design/award/

06/26/2026

Some journeys come full circle.

Last year, The Design Village stood among the recipients of the Don Norman Design Award, a recognition that affirmed our belief in design as a force for meaningful change. Today, we are proud to see our founding member, Mridu Sahai Patnaik, join the Advisory Team for DNDA26, helping shape conversations around the future of impact-driven design.

As the next chapter of the award unfolds, we invite designers, educators, organizations, and changemakers from across the world to share the work they are doing to advance humanity through design.

If your work is creating positive social, environmental, cultural, or systemic impact, this is an opportunity to bring it to a global stage.

Key Deadlines:
• Qualifying Project Applications: July 15, 2026
• Full Project, Organization & Education Applications: August 17, 2026

Here's to ideas that challenge, inspire, and transform, and to the communities that make them possible.

06/26/2026

✨What does Humanity-Centered Design look like in action? The Sapna Rannaghor (Dream Kitchen) Cookbook Project, a DNDA25 Laureate for Project Excellence, shows how something as familiar as a recipe can become a powerful tool for language learning, confidence, cultural pride, and community connection.

Co-designed with emergent bilingual Bangladeshi immigrant women in the Bronx through Sapna NYC’s ESOL classes, Dream Kitchen centers the strengths learners already bring: Bangla language, food traditions, family knowledge, and lived experience.

🌱 That’s the kind of community-led, care-driven design DNDA honors.

Is your project using design to address societal challenges and create meaningful impact? Apply for the DNDA26 Project Award: https://dnda.design/awards/

📅 Qualifying project applications due July 15, 2026
📅 Full project, education and organization applications due August 17, 2026

06/24/2026

🎓 Humanity-centered design starts in the classroom — and in the community.

Meet JK Lakshmipat University in India, a Education Laureate preparing the next generation of designers through systems thinking, co-design, and community immersion.

Through its Systems Design program, JKLU students partner with communities, NGOs, government bodies, and industry to tackle complex challenges in education, healthcare, sustainability, accessibility, public transport, and more.

🌍 Is your school, studio, lab, or learning community preparing students to design for a more inclusive and sustainable future?

Apply for the Education Award.

⏰ Qualifying project applications: Due July 15
📅 Education/organization and full project applications: Due August 17

🔗 Apply now: https://dnda.design/award/
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03/24/2026

✨ Exciting News! ✨

Applications are OPEN for the DNDA26 Awards!

🌍 The Don Norman Design Awards celebrate incredible Humanity-Centered Design work from around the world—honoring those who drive meaningful change and nurture future leaders.

🌐 Every year, a panel of international judges selects Laureates who show how design transforms society and the environment.

🏆 Laureates are invited to the DNDA26 Summit and Awards Gala to recognize their achievements and inspire others to make a difference.

Ready to apply? Review the guidelines and submit your application now at 🔗https://dnda.design/award/ 🔗 and be part of the movement for innovation and positive impact!

Don’t miss the important dates!
📅 Qualifying Project Application due May 17
📅 Full Project, Education for HCD+ and Organization Applications due June 15

DesignAwards

04/17/2025

🌍 Are you designing for real-world impact?
We want to celebrate YOU.

🚀 Applications are OPEN for DNDA25 — honoring projects that create humanity-centered change.

This is your moment to shine — and scale your impact.

📅 Project Deadline: April 30
📅 Education Deadline: June 30

👉 Apply now: https://dnda.design/apply
Tag someone who should apply! 💡

04/14/2025

⏳ Only 16 days left to share your vision!
The Project Qualifying Application closes on April 30—if you’ve been thinking about applying, this is your sign.
https://dnda.design/apply

We want to see what you’re working on. Don’t wait—apply now and be part of something bigger.

04/11/2025

Because the world needs more than beautiful things. It needs meaningful ones. 🌍✨

The Don Norman Design Award (DNDA25) is back—spotlighting bold, early-career changemakers and educational institutions using design to shape a better world.

Whether you're designing with pixels or policy, health or housing, we're looking for work that puts people—and planet—first. 💡❤️🌱

Think your project fits?
🌐 Apply now at https://dnda.design/apply
🗣️ Tag a designer who's making a difference.

Address

100, Via De La Valle, Suite 200
San Diego, CA
92014

Website

https://dnda.design/

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