SERVICE DESIGN AWARD 2026
The Service Design Network (SDN) invites professionals, organisations, agencies, and students from around the world to submit their most impactful service design projects for the Service Design Award 2026.
This is your opportunity to put your work on a global stage — to showcase real impact, share your approach, and gain international recognition.
Final submission deadline: 15 August 2026
Key dates:
- Early Bird Entry: Until 31 May 2026
- Regular Entry: 1 June – 31 July 2026
- Late Entry: 1 August – 15 August 2026
About the Service Design Award
The Service Design Award, founded by the Service Design Network (SDN) in 2015, is the leading international recognition of excellence in service design.
Each year, we celebrate projects that create meaningful impact across business, public services, and society. From bold innovation to measurable results, the Award shines a spotlight on work that moves our industry forward.
As service design continues to shape how organizations deliver value, the Award gives you a global stage to turn your work into a story others can see, learn from, and be inspired by.
This is your moment to:
- Put your project in the spotlight and show what it truly achieved
- Demonstrate the real impact of your work — for users, organizations, and society
- Share your approach, thinking, and outcomes with a global audience
- Inspire others by setting a benchmark for what great service design looks like
Who is eligible to enter?
We welcome submissions from both professionals and students who are advancing the practice of service design.
You can submit your work in one of three categories:
- Commercial / Private Sector
- Non-Profit / Public Sector
- Student
All entries are reviewed by an international jury of service design experts, using clear criteria that reflect world-class service design practice.
Enter now!
What do winners get?
Winning the Service Design Award is more than a moment on stage, it’s a platform to amplify your work, build credibility, and extend your reach across the global service design community.
We recognize excellence at two levels: Winners Block and Category Winners.
One overall winner per category:
The jury will also select one overall winner in each category highlighting a project that stands out for its exceptional impact, execution, and contribution to service design.
This means:
- Greater opportunity for your work to be recognised and celebrated
- More visibility for the unique context and impact of your project
- Stronger exposure within a diverse and growing service design community
- The chance to be named overall winner in your category
Winners Block Benefits:
All selected projects receive:
- Global visibility across SDN channels — your work is actively promoted through our website, newsletters, and social media
- On-stage recognition at the Service Design Global Conference (SDGC26)
- Exhibition presence at SDGC26, putting your project in front of an international audience
- Discounted access to SDGC26, helping your team join and connect with the community
- Official recognition with a certificate and winner’s badge for your communications
- Feature in the SDN Case Study Library, making your work discoverable long-term
Category Winner Benefits:
One project per category is selected for an additional level of recognition.
- One free in-person SDGC26 ticket per winning project
- Speaking opportunity at SDGC26, giving you a platform to share your work and thinking
- Service Design Award trophy, recognising outstanding achievement
- Extended promotion by SDN, including:
- Feature on the Service Design Podcast
- Publication opportunities in Touchpoint
- One-year free SDN membership for your team
How do we elevate your work?
We don’t just celebrate your work — we help it reach the right audience.
As a winner, your project becomes part of how the Service Design Network shares knowledge and inspires the community:
- Featured across SDN’s global communication channels
- Included in our Case Study Library, one of the most visited resources in our network
- Highlighted during and after the Service Design Global Conference
- Positioned as a benchmark for excellence in service design
Share your work on the global stage!
Get recognized: Position your work among the best in the global service design community.
Grow your visibility: Share your project with an international audience and gain exposure across SDN channels.
Build credibility: Strengthen trust in your work, your team, and your organization.
Expand your network: Connect with peers, collaborators, and leaders at the Service Design Global Conference.
Attract talent: Showcase your work and culture to attract the next generation of service design talent.
Partner with us!
Want to position your brand at the heart of the global service design community?
The Service Design Award is one of the highlights or our annual conference. Recognised as the only international award honouring service design excellence on both the professional and academic levels makes this a highly-coveted recognition.
