GDC Award runs every other year to praise and recommend the best designs with an aim to encourage creative designers since its foundation in 1992. Attracting designers from all over the world, GDC developed from “a top design award among Chinese designers” to “one of the most important global design awards”.
GDC Award is more than an award, but a design community that is full of creativity and continuous improvement. Through a two-year series of activities such as competitions, exhibitions, lectures, interviews, etc., GDC Award gathers top designers together to explore the value of design and promote the concepts of design.
GDC is curated and operated by Shenzhen Graphic Design Association (SGDA), a non-profit professional design association. SGDA expects GDC to continuously discover and motivate new creative forces, making efforts to shape a fairer and more sustainable future. The SGDA Council, which is elected every two years, is responsible for the operation and management of GDC.
The GDC Award (Graphic Design in China) was initiated in 1992 by the Shenzhen Graphic Design Association (SGDA) and was originally launched as the "Graphic Design in China Exhibition." It is China’s first global biennial design competition of comprehensive scale. Through three decades of evolution, it has become the industry’s most influential and authoritative top-tier design competition in China.
In 2025, the GDC Award will refocus on its essential proposition of "Graphic Design in China." Amid accelerating globalization and digital evolution, and against the backdrop of ongoing transformations in social structures and cultural concepts, The GDC Award 2025 aims to establish an academic platform for the presentation and dissemination of global design achievements in China. By bringing together outstanding creativity shaped by diverse cultural contexts, it seeks to foster in-depth dialogue with the Chinese design community, facilitating mutual inspiration and the co-evolution of global design thinking and Chinese design practice.
■ Creative Expression & Technical Innovation: Leading the diverse exploration of design languages and media
■ Social Value & Humanistic Concern: Addressing real-world issues and evoking public resonance
■ Future Exploration & Foresight: Stimulating design conceptions and experiments for future lifestyles
GDC Award | Call For Entries
GDC Award | Show
GDC Award | Design Forum
GDC Award | Gala Ceremony
GDC Award | Exhibition
GDC Award | World Tour
■ GDC Award | Grand Prix
■ GDC Award | Gold Award
■ GDC Award | Silver Award
■ GDC Award | Bronze Award
■ GDC Award | Merit Award
■ GDC Award | Jury Award
■ GDC Young Award | Gold Award
■ GDC Young Award | Silver Award
■ GDC Young Award | Bronze Award
■ GDC Young Award | Merit Award
■ GDC Young Award | Jury Award
■ GDC Young Award | Outstanding Organization Award
■ GDC Young Award | Outstanding Mentor Award
-Open to global professional designers and design institutions.
-All entries must be created between October 1, 2023 and October 10, 2025.
-Entries may be submitted by companies or individuals holding copyright ownership of the work.
- Open to full-time undergraduates, graduate students, continuing education students, and recent graduates (within two years after June 2023).
-All entries must be created between October 1, 2023 and October 10, 2025.
- The number of submitted works is not limited and is subject to participants.
- Any works involving members of the GDC Award 2025 jury panel are disqualified from eligibility.
A Brand Communication Design
a-1 LOGO
a-2 Campaign Identity System (Exhibition, Event, Competition, Performance)
a-3 Brand Identity
a-4 Promotional Design (product catalogue, corporate brochure, calendar, flyer, ticket, invitation, booklets)
B Packaging Design
b-1 Retail Packaging (fast-moving consumer goods, beverages, and snacks, with sales barcodes for sale in supermarkets and convenience stores)
b-2 Limited Edition Packaging (gift boxes, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea)
b-3 Music Album Packaging
C Editorial & Book Design
c-1 Book
c-2 Album, Newspaper & Magazine
c-3 Conceptual Publication
D Poster Design
d-1 Commercial Poster
d-2 Cultural Poster
d-3 Dynamic Poster
E Typography
e-1 Typeface Family
e-2 Creative Typography
e-3 Application of Typeface
e-4 Variable Font
F Illustration
f-1 Commercial Illustration
f-2 Creative Illustration
f-3 Brand Illustration
G Digital Media Design
g-1 Film & TV Title Sequences / Animated Shorts
g-2 Website & APP
g-3 Multimedia Interactive Installation
H Cultural & Creative Product Design
h-1 Cultural Derivative Products
h-2 Merchandise Design
I Information Design
i-1 Infographics
i-2 Information Visualization
i-3 Dynamic Visualization
J Environmental Graphic Design
j-1 Signage System
j-2 Space Graphics
K Integrated Design
k-1 Integrated Media Design
k-2 Social Practice Design
The GDC Award 2025 jury process consists of two rounds:
The preliminary evaluation will be conducted online with digital submissions only.
Upon announcement of the finalists, shortlisted entrants must submit physical works for the final round of on-site judging.
The GDC Award 2025 jury Panel will comprise 13 globally renowned design professionals, who will assess all eligible entries based on the official judging criteria. The jury reserves the right to reassign categories and does not guarantee awards in every category.
All winners will be invited to attend the GDC Award 2025 Gala Ceremony (December 2025) in Shenzhen, China. Among them, GDC Grand Prix, GDC Gold Award, and GDC Jury Award will be presented on stage during the ceremony. Other awards (except for recipients of the Merit Award) will also be officially announced and presented at the event.
Awarded works will be showcased at the GDC Award 2025 Exhibition (held concurrently with the ceremony) and published in The Yearbook of GDC Award 2025. Physical submissions are mandatory for final judging and exhibition display. Winners must ship their works to the designated address as instructed.
The jury will conduct online evaluation of all qualified entries, selecting Merit Awards (shortlisted works for final review) based on GDC Award 2025 criteria.
Submission requirements:
1-10 images per entry
Image specifications: JPG format, RGB color mode, ≤5MB each
Optional video supplements: ≤150MB
After the shortlist is announced, selected entrants must deliver physical works to the designated address as required. The jury will then evaluate these entries on-site according to the GDC Award 2025 criteria to determine all category winners.
- Submissions must be created between October 1, 2023 and October 10, 2025.
- Open to professional students, designers, and design institutions worldwide.
- For details, please visit the official GDC Award website: www.gdcaward.com
- GDC Award 2025 is divided into GDC Award and GDC Young Award . Confirm your participation status before registering.
- GDC Award 2025 features 11 categories. Review the details to select the most suitable category for your work.
- Please login the GDC Award official website: www.gdcaward.com.
- Sign up with a valid e-mail address to create your GDC Account.
- Previously registered GDC Accounts remain valid.
- After registering, log in to your GDC Account and select "Create Entry" under your desired category.
- Fill in the entry details (title, creative summary, etc.) after selecting the category.
- Click "Add New Entry" to submit additional works.
- Submit 1–10 images per entry (RGB, JPG format, ≤5MB). Optional video support (≤150MB).
- Provide a bilingual creative summary (no more than 500 Chinese characters and 500 English words) for the jury's evaluation.
After confirming your entry details, choose a payment method:
Online payment channels for Mainland China participants:
Alipay, WeChat
Online payment channels for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas participants:
GDC PayPal Account: info@sgda.cc
Follow GDC Award 2025 updates via official channels:
Website: gdc.sgda.cc
WeChat Account: GDC-1992
RedNote: @GDC设计奖
Instagram: gdc_award
If your work wins, we will contact you via email or phone. Please do not contact us directly for results.
| Single | Series | |||||
| Early Bird Period | Regular Entry Period | Final Entry Period | Early Bird Period | Regular Entry Period | Final Entry Period | |
| GDC Award | 240 RMB | 300 RMB | 360 RMB | 400 RMB | 500 RMB | 600 RMB |
| GDC Young Award | 80 RMB | 100 RMB | 120 RMB | 160 RMB | 200 RMB | 240 RMB |
Submission Deadline: Entries must be registered by October 10, 2025, at 24:00 (UTC+8). The system will automatically close after the deadline.
June 7 to July 7, 2025
July 8 to September 15, 2025
September 16 to October 10, 2025
November 3 to 5, 2025
December 5 to 6, 2025
December 6, 2025
December 7, 2025
Physical Work Submission Guidelines
Note:
-To ensure the best presentation quality for the Award-winning Works Exhibition and the Domestic and International Tour Exhibitions, the GDC Organizing Committee recommends submitting 2 physical copies of each winning work (a minimum of 1 is required).
- All submitted physical works will be fully displayed during the final review. The presentation of works in the Award-winning Works Exhibition will be uniformly adjusted based on the actual conditions of the exhibition site.
-For small physical items, we recommend placing them in an envelope or sealed bag and clearly marking them to avoid loss.
- If contestants choose to print their own presentation boards, framing is not required, and the paper weight must not exceed 250gsm.
-Each physical work/presentation board must have the Artwork Label affixed to the bottom-right corner of the back or base (the label can be downloaded and printed from the official website).
A Brand Communication Design
a-1 LOGO
a-2 Campaign Identity System
a-3 Brand Identity
a-4 Promotional Design
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
Display Table Size: 1,200 × 1,200 mm
Display Wall Size: 800 × 1,200 mm
If the physical work includes posters or environmental images, you may provide printed pieces or presentation boards. These items will be displayed on the exhibition wall. (Recommended no more than 3 pieces. If the artworks exceed the wall display limits, the final arrangement will be adjusted according to the actual exhibition conditions.)
Artwork Presentation Board (Official Production Available)
If environmental images need to be displayed or if physical works cannot be provided, submit 2–3 A2 (420 × 594 mm) landscape presentation boards for each work. These do not need to be framed, and the layout of the images on the boards can be freely arranged. The boards can be in either landscape or portrait orientation, with no more than 4 images per board. The boards should be image-based and no textual explanations are required. (Note: Failure to provide physical works may affect the final review results, so choose this option with caution.)
Artwork Video
If a video needs to be presented, you may submit 1 video for each work. The video should follow the video file format specified in the [Finalist Artwork Files_ Online Promotional Images], and no need to resubmit the video.
B Packaging Design
b-1 Retail Packaging
b-2 Limited Edition Packaging
b-3 Music Album Packaging
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
Display Table Size: 600 × 600 mm
Each entry must submit at least one finished packaging piece.
For packaging works with a maximum dimension exceeding 1,000 mm, please submit presentation boards instead.
Artwork Presentation Board (Official Production Available)
You may provide 1–2 A2 (420 × 594 mm) landscape presentation boards for each work. The layout of images on the boards can be freely arranged, with no more than 4 images per board. Boards should be image-based, and no text descriptions are required.
Note: This option is only available for works whose largest physical dimension exceeds 1,000 mm. Works that do not meet this size requirement will not be accepted for final review without physical submissions.
C Editorial & Book Design
c-1 Book
c-2 Album, Newspaper & Magazine
c-3 Conceptual Publication
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
Display Table Size: 600×600 mm
Submit at least 1 printed final piece for each work.
Note: Works in the above category without physical submission will not be accepted for final review.
D Poster Design
d-1 Commercial Poster
d-2 Cultural Poster
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
Submit at least 1 printed final piece for each work, and no more than 6 pieces for a series. No framing required. The minimum size of each printed piece is 364×515 mm, and the maximum size is 1,200×1,800 mm. The type of paper used is not restricted.
Note: Works in the above category will not be accepted for final review without physical submissions or official production services.
d-3 Dynamic Poster
Artwork Video
You may submit 1 video for each work. The video should follow the video file format specified in the [Finalist Artwork Files_ International Tour Images], and no need to resubmit the video.
Note: Printed works will not be accepted in the above category. Please do not send printed materials.
E Typography
e-1 Typeface Family
Artwork Presentation Board (Official Production Available)
Submit 1-2 portrait-oriented A1 (700×1,000M) presentation boards for each work.
The boards can be freely formatted, with the work representing fonts suitable for use in books, newspapers, magazines, screens, and other media. Works based on existing computer fonts that have been altered with distortions, shadows, or other effects are not accepted. The boards must demonstrate various paragraph formatting in different sizes, both horizontal and vertical.
| No less than 60 different characters | For Chinese typefaces |
| For Latin typefaces | ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890*&$%@#!?.，;;”-/ (total of 78 characters) |
e-2 Creative Typography
e-3 Application of Typeface
Artwork Presentation Board (Official Production Available)
Submit 1-2 portrait-oriented A1 (700×1,000M) presentation boards for each work.
Presentation boards can be freely formatted, including type specimen sheets or images showcasing the application of the typeface. Manuscripts are not accepted. Formatting should maintain proper rhythm, and no more than 4 images per board.
Note: Works of the above category must provide presentation boards as required.
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
If physical artworks are available, please submit them if possible. The exhibition layout will be adjusted uniformly based on the actual exhibition site and the physical works received. For printed works larger than 1,200 × 1,800 mm or physical works with a maximum dimension exceeding 1,000 mm, please submit presentation boards instead.
e-4 Variable Font
Artwork Presentation Board (Official Production Available)
Submit 1-2 portrait-oriented A1 (700×1,000M) presentation boards for each work.
Presentation boards can be freely formatted, including type specimen sheets or images showcasing the application of the typeface. Manuscripts are not accepted. Formatting should maintain proper rhythm, and no more than 4 images per board.
Note: Works of the above category must provide presentation boards as required.
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
If physical artworks are available, please submit them if possible. The exhibition layout will be adjusted uniformly based on the actual exhibition site and the physical works received. For printed works larger than 1,200 × 1,800 mm or physical works with a maximum dimension exceeding 1,000 mm, please submit presentation boards instead.
Artwork Video
If a video is available, it may be submitted to assist with final review, but it is not mandatory. For each work, you can submit up to 1 video. The video should follow the video file format specified in the [Finalist Artwork Files_Online Promotional Images], and no need to resubmit the video.
F Illustration
f-1 Commercial Illustration
f-2 Creative Illustration
f-3 Brand Illustration
Artwork Presentation Board
You may submit 2-3 portrait-oriented A2(420×594MM) presentation boards for each work.
Presentation boards can be freely formatted and include illustrations or derivative application images. Manuscripts are not accepted. The formatting should maintain proper rhythm, and no more than 4 images per board.
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
If physical artworks are available, please submit them if possible. The exhibition layout will be adjusted uniformly based on the actual exhibition site and the physical works received. For printed works larger than 1,200 × 1,800 mm or physical works with a maximum dimension exceeding 1,000 mm, please submit presentation boards instead.
G Digital Media Design
g-1 Film & TV Title Sequences / Animated Shorts
Artwork Video
Submit 1 video for each work. The video should follow the video file format specified in the [Finalist Artwork Files_ International Tour Images], and no need to resubmit the video.
Note: The above category requires the submission of an artwork video as specified.
g-2 Website & APP
Artwork Video
For each work, submit 1 video which should demonstrate the actual use of the website or app. The video should follow the video file format specified in the [Finalist Artwork Files_ International Tour Images], and no need to resubmit the video.
Note: The above category requires the submission of an artwork video as specified. Additionally, the specific website/APP/mini-program must be indicated in the creative description section of the [GDC Award 2025 Selected Works Information Form].
g-3 Multimedia Interactive Installation
Artwork Video
Submit 1 artwork video for each work. The video should follow the video file format specified in the [Finalist Artwork Files_ International Tour Images], and no need to resubmit the video.
Note: The above category requires the submission of an artwork video as specified.
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
If physical artworks are available, please submit them if possible. The exhibition layout will be adjusted uniformly based on the actual exhibition site and the physical works received. For printed works larger than 1,200 × 1,800 mm or physical works with a maximum dimension exceeding 1,000 mm, please submit presentation boards instead.
H Cultural & Creative Product Design
h-1 Cultural Derivative Products
h-2 Merchandise Design
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
Display Table Size: 600×600MM
Artwork Presentation Board (Official Production Available)
If you need to showcase the cultural creative product in its usage context or if physical works are not available, you may submit 1–2 A2 (420 × 594 mm) landscape presentation boards for each work, without the need for framing. The boards can be freely formatted, with no more than 4 images per board. Boards should be image-based and no textual explanations are required. (The absence of physical artwork may affect the final review, so choose this option with caution.)
I Information Design
i-1 Infographics
Artwork Presentation Boards (Official Production Available)
For each work, you may submit 1-3 portrait-oriented A1（594×841MM）presentation boards . Manuscripts are not accepted.
Note: Works of the above category must provide presentation boards as required.
i-2 Information Visualization
Artwork Presentation Boards (Official Production Available)
For each work, you may submit 1-3 portrait-oriented A1（594×841MM）presentation boards . Manuscripts are not accepted.
Note: Works of the above category must provide presentation boards as required.
Artwork Video
If a video is available, it may be submitted to assist with final review, but it is not mandatory. The video should follow the video file format specified in the [Finalist Artwork Files_ Online Promotional Images], and no need to resubmit the video.
i-3 Dynamic Visualization
Artwork Video
Each work must submit 1 artwork video. The video should follow the video file format specified in the [Finalist Artwork Files_ International Tour Images], and no need to resubmit the video.
Note: The above category requires the submission of an artwork video as specified.
J Environmental Graphic Design
j-1 Signage System
j-2 Space Graphics
rtwork Presentation Boards (Official Production Available)
For each work, you may submit 6-8 A2 (420×594mm) landscape presentation boards. The boards can be freely formatted. Manuscripts are not accepted. Formatting should maintain appropriate rhythm, with no more than 4 images per board. Boards should be image-based and no textual explanations are required.
Note: Works of the above category must provide presentation boards as required.
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
If physical works (models) are available, please submit them for exhibition if possible. The exhibition layout will be adjusted uniformly based on the actual exhibition site and the physical works received. For printed works larger than 1,200 × 1,800 mm or physical works with a maximum dimension exceeding 1,000 mm, please submit presentation boards instead.
K Integrated Design
k-1 Integrated Media Design
k-2 Social Practice Design
Physical Artwork (Physical submission is required for exhibition)
Display Table Size: 1,200 × 1,200 mm
Display Wall Size: 800 × 1,200 mm
If the physical work includes posters or environmental images, you may provide printed pieces or presentation boards. These items will be displayed on the exhibition wall. (Recommended no more than 3 pieces. If the artworks exceed the wall display limits, the final arrangement will be adjusted according to the actual exhibition conditions.)
Artwork Presentation Boards (Official Production Available)
If environmental images need to be displayed or if physical works cannot be provided, submit 2–3 A2 (420 × 594 mm) landscape presentation boards for each work. These do not need to be framed, and the layout of the images on the boards can be freely arranged, with no more than 4 images per board. The boards should be image-based and no textual explanations are required. (Note: Failure to provide physical works may affect the final review results, so choose this option with caution.)
Artwork Video
If a video is available, it may be submitted to assist with final review, but it is not mandatory. The video should follow the video file format specified in the [Finalist Artwork Files_ Online Promotional Images], and no need to resubmit the video.
Each physical work or presentation board must have the corresponding entry label attached to the bottom-right corner of the back or base (labels can be downloaded and printed from the official website).
Small physical items should be placed in an envelope or sealed bag and properly labeled to avoid loss.
To ensure the best presentation quality for the Award-winning Works Exhibition and the Domestic and International Tour Exhibitions, the GDC Organizing Committee recommends submitting 2 physical copies of each winning work (a minimum of 1 is required).
Physical Items and Presentation Boards
(Deadline: November 25, 2025, 24:00 (UTC+8), packages must be delivered to the SGDA Secretariat)
#Steps for Mailing Physical Packages
Step 1: Print Labels
After receiving the notice of being selected into the final round, you can log into the GDC website and go to the “Artwork List” page to print the required artwork list, artwork labels, and outer packaging labels.
Step 2: Prepare Physical Works
According to the “Submission Guidelines for Finalists” below, prepare 2 copies of your physical works according to the specific category. These will be used for the final review, GDC Award 2025 Award-winning Works Exhibition, and GDC Award 2025 Domestic and International Tour Exhibitions.
Note: To ensure the best presentation quality for the Award-winning Works Exhibition and the Domestic and International Tour Exhibitions, the GDC Organizing Committee recommends submitting 2 physical copies of each winning work (a minimum of 1 is required). All physical works will be collected by the GDC Award and will not be returned. For special circumstances, please contact the Organizing Committee.
Step 3: Prepare the Package
Single Parcel: Put mounted works with the list of entries together into a sealed parcel. Please attach the packaging label with a QR code on the external surface of your parcel.
Multiple Parcels: If you are mailing more than one package, please mark every parcel in the designated position (categorized by serial number such as 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, or by the name of work and other information for identification). Put your mounted works and the list of entries into your parcel, and attach the artwork label with the QR code on each package’s outer layer.
*The GDC Award 2025 packaging label shall be attached to the external surface of the parcel, which ensures your packages arrive at the GDC Award Organizing Committee in good condition.
Participants from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan of China or Overseas
Please pack your works by single parcel or multiple parcels as per instruction.
Please write down the following message on the surface of each parcel:
international competition material – no commercial value – tax free recipient address – bill to shipper
The GDC Award Organizing Committee will not bear any resulting costs, including freight or customs duties. Cash-on-delivery shipments will not be accepted.
Step 4: Send the Package
Deadline:
Ensure your physical works are shipped to the SGDA Secretariat by November 25, 2025, 24:00 (UTC+8). Please estimate the shipping time and avoid any delays, as this may affect the final review presentation.
Recipient Information:
Shenzhen Graphic Design Association (SGDA) Secretariat
Address: Room 209, Block A4, North Area, OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
Postcode: 518053
Recipient: GDC Award
Contact: Ms. Xiao (13751039597) / Ms. Chen (13609628013)
Email inquiries: gdc@gdcaward.com
Phone: +86-755-88606391
-All entries must be original works created and owned by the participant (or their group), and the participant must hold full authorship rights (including but not limited to complete authorship rights). If the ownership is not solely held by the participant, they must obtain the necessary authorization from the relevant entities. The participant must guarantee that all submitted information is true. In case of any disputes over intellectual property rights or authorship claims related to the entries, the GDC Award Organizing Committee will disqualify the participant’s entry, and the participant shall bear all consequences.
-By submitting an entry to the GDC Award 2025, participants are deemed to agree and authorize the GDC Award Organizing Committee and its affiliates to use the intellectual property of the submitted works in any form, with proper attribution to the rightful owner. Participants of the GDC Award 2025 must agree and authorize the GDC Award Organizing Committee to use, copy, reproduce, and publish all submitted design works (including but not limited to drawings, photographic photos, images, source files, drafts, texts, slides, physical items, and digital materials) without any fees or remuneration. The GDC Award Organizing Committee will use the said designs in related professional activities and promotional materials.
-All copyright or intellectual property disputes arising from the entries are unrelated to the GDC Award Organizing Committee. The organizing committee has no obligation to mediate or contact involved parties.
-The GDC Award Organizing Committee has the right to exhibit, publish (including electronic publication), and collect selected works.
-Under no circumstances shall the GDC Award Organizing Committee be liable for the loss or damage of any entry.
-The GDC Award Organizing Committee does not provide any delivery or return services for entries, nor shall it bear any shipping fees, tariffs, or related costs. All delivered works will be collected by the GDC Award Organizing Committee and will not be returned.
Any entry that is found to violate the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China may be disqualified from the competition at any stage. All consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the entrant.
- The GDC Award Organizing Committee reserves the right of final interpretation for any doubts arising from the rules of this competition.
- The GDC Award Organizing Committee will further refine the rules and provide interpretations for any matters not explicitly addressed in this competition.
E-mail: gdc@gdcaward.com
Tel: +86-755-88606391
Contact: Ms. Xiao, Ms. Chen
Enterprise WeChat：SGDA online customer service