RGD 2024 Student Awards

The RGD's longest running program, this annual competition recognizes communication design excellence from students across Canada.

The 2024 Winners have been announced. (Judges' feedback will be sent to 2024 entrants in October.)

The 2025 Awards will be announced in January 2025.

2024 Categories

2024 Student Awards Judges

Prize breakdown

First place entries will receive $1,000 (sometimes shared if there is a tie in the judges' scoring), awards certificates, recognition across RGD communications channels.
Five Student Trailblazer Award Winners from underrepresented and marginalized communities receive $1,000 and recognition across RGD communications channels.
Approx. 100 students will be selected to receive Honourable Mention and will receive awards certificates.
ALL entrants receive constructive feedback on their work from one or more judges (100+ senior industry professionals).

Students enrolled in an UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM at any time between September 2023 to August 2024 (with less than one year of professional experience in design) can submit up to 5 entries across the competition, but only one entry per category.
Students enrolled in a POST-GRADUATE PROGRAM between September 2023 to August 2024 and with less than one year of professional design experience, can submit up to 5 entries in the Accessibility, UX, Information Design and Motion categories.)
Students can be attending public and private institutions if listed as a designated learning institution by the Canadian Government.
Students who are attending public institutions outside of Canada are eligible if they are Canadian citizens.

Free: Student RGD Members
Students (who are not Members of the RGD): $40 (covers up to 5 entries)

Any work by an eligible Student may be submitted.
Entries are limited to one per category, except for the Awards for Accessible Design, Motion, Retail Design, Web Design, UX Design and Placemaking. In these categories, you may enter up to can 5 projects.
Please review the descriptions of the Awards below to determine in what categories your project(s) best fit. (A project can be entered in multiple categories.)

Go to our Judgify Awards Page.
Click 'Submit an Entry' and create a New User account (note: an RGD Member login will not work. Create a new account to log in to Judgify). Submit entries through the online submission form.
For each project you enter, define the intended audience (max. 50 words) and clearly articulate the strategic objectives of the project and how you achieved them (max 100 words). We recommend taking time to think about how you are articulating your work. This is important information for the judges as they review your work and select winning entries.
For each entry, submit no less than 1 and no more than 6 images of your project (1,000 pixels wide across is the recommended sizing). Choose images that make your work stand out. Think about quality of image, impact, how it helps sell your work. If your entry has multiple components or sides, consider showing them.
If you are submitting a website or motion graphic, ensure that a URL to the project or a movie file is uploaded.

Award-winning creative professionals from across Canada will select the work based on the following criteria:

Design (min: 0 | max: 10)
Is the design professional, compelling and appropriate for the audience? Are elements well-organized? Is information well-prioritized?
Creativity (min: 0 | max: 10)
Is the project memorable? Is it innovative, fresh and original?
Strategy (min: 0 | max: 10)
Does the rationale clearly outline the project goals? Does the final product address those goals for the intended audience?

RGD will notify winners by September 2024.
Feedback will be emailed to all entrants between October and December 2024. (Please ensure that the email you use to submit your entry will be active in the fall if you are graduating between April and November 2024.)

We want to make it easy for you to enter this competition, setting you up for a successful entry.
Visit our FAQ section, for some of the frequently asked questions we receive.
If you don’t see an answer to your question, or just need more clarification, please email info@rgd.ca.