The National Design Award enters a new phase and strengthens the presentation of design

Starting in 2026, the Slovak Design Center is introducing a new format for the National Design Award. Under this new model, the award will follow a two-year cycle: one year will be dedicated to the competition and the presentation of awards, while the following year will focus on the systematic presentation and promotion of selected works. The next call for submissions will take place in 2027. It will be a joint edition for product and communication design.

Why this change is being introduced

The National Design Award has a tradition spanning more than 30 years and, throughout its development, has repeatedly adapted to new conditions and the evolving needs of the field. As organisers, we continue to seek ways to develop the National Design Award so that it can maintain its professional standard, public relevance, and stable operation over the long term.

At the same time, it is important to establish a sustainable framework for the competition in line with available financial and organisational capacities. Our goal is to preserve the high standard of the National Design Award while creating a solid foundation for its further development.

An important reason for this adjustment is also the need to devote greater attention to the presentation of the competition results themselves. In making this decision, we are also taking into account feedback from the design community and the public, for whom a high-quality and meaningful presentation of awarded and nominated works is one of the most important aspects of the National Design Award.

Presentation plays a vital role in increasing the visibility of outstanding work, documenting the development of design in Slovakia, and reinforcing its broader social significance.

What is changing

The new format creates a more balanced framework for both expert evaluation and the public presentation of results. One year will focus on the competition itself and the presentation of awards, while the following year will be devoted to the full-scale presentation and promotion of awarded and nominated works.

This new rhythm is intended to support the long-term sustainability of the National Design Award while also strengthening its reach towards both professional audiences and the wider public.

2026

The year 2026 will be dedicated to the presentation of works from the 2024 and 2025 editions, which will be showcased in a joint representative exhibition at the East Slovak Gallery in Košice. The event will build on the successful presentation of NCD 2024 – Communication Design in Košice in 2025, which marked the first regional presentation of the National Design Award outside Bratislava and opened a new tradition of presenting it in other regions of Slovakia as well.

The programme will also include accompanying events and additional activities aimed at supporting broader visibility for the awarded and nominated works. At the same time, preparations for the next competition edition will also be underway in 2026.

Further information

Details of the activities planned for 2026 will be published on an ongoing basis on the website and social media channels of the Slovak Design Center. We will also provide timely information about the format of the competition edition being prepared for 2027.

The National Design Award remains a key platform for supporting, recognising, and presenting design in Slovakia. Through this change, we aim to strengthen its sustainability, public reach, and significance for the years ahead.