The iF communication design award covers all areas of communication design. It reflects the growing media options and the related challenges for the creative sector in a globally networked world.

Since its inception in the year 2004, the competition has been constantly developed further in close consultation and in continuous dialogue with agencies and companies.

All types of communication design such as commercials, publications, campaigns, business reports or websites, which conform to the competition criteria, will be eligible for an award. Companies, designers, agencies, architects, interior designers and other providers of communication design products can participate in the competition with as many contributions as they like.

In order to reflect the range of contributions, the iF communication design award will be awarded in seven categories.

Contributions submitted in the categories of digital media, product interfaces, print media and packaging must have been published by the time of the awards ceremony, but must not be older than two years.
Contributions in the categories of "corporate architecture", "crossmedia" and "too good to be true" must reflect some focal point not older than two years, even if development work began at some earlier point in time.

Categories

01. digital media

banners, commercials, communities, displays, Flash movies, eCommerce applications, games, intranets and extranets, learning software and CBT, multimedia productions, online services, online shops, podcasts, portals, newsletters, terminals, trailer, TV design, screensavers, simulations, video design, video clips, weblogs, websites …

01.01 animation
all digitally generated movement and movement graphics

01.02 atmosphere
audio-visual contributions where the focus is on ambience and look-and-feel

01.03. interface
digital contributions that focus on navigation and usability

01.04 screendesign
digital contributions that focus on graphic design

01.05 structure
digital contributions that focus on complex information architectures

01.6 viral designs
digital contributions that focus on viral design and encourage the target group to forward the message

01.07 digital advertising
digital contributions that serve as transmitters of advertising messages

01.08 humor
humorous digital contributions

02. product interfaces

applications software, barrier-free interfaces, building control systems, building control devices, industry interfaces, interactive manuals, cameras, kitchen interfaces, lighting control systems, media facades, medical device interfaces, cell phones, MP3 players, navigation systems, touchscreens

03. print media

adverts, banners, instruction manuals, brochures, books, business reports, stationery, illustrations, calendars, catalogues, customer magazines, corporate guidelines, logos, staff magazines, newsletters, posters, product catalogues and acquisition brochures, flyers, corporate communication, promotional gifts, magazines, newspapers …

03.1 image
print products for company profiling

03.2 information
print products focusing on presenting information or printed documentation

03.3 promotion
print products used in promotion

03.4 typography
print products focusing on typography

03.5 photography
contributions with a photographic focus

03.6 corporate communication
print products in the area of corporate communication

03.7 publishing
print products in the area of publishing

04. packaging

food and non-food packaging, gift boxes, giveaways, packaging carrying information and advertising, product packaging, carrier bags, transport packaging, promotional displays, protective / secondary packaging, accessories packaging …

04.01 sales / primary packaging

04.02 display and transport packaging

05. corporate architecture

exhibition architecture, events, office buildings, hotels, administration buildings, posters, signets, pictograms …

05.01 exhibitions / trade fairs
exhibition and trade fair architecture as an element of brand communication

05.02 events
events as an element of brand communication

05.03 shops / showrooms
retail architecture as an element of brand communication

05.04 permanent architecture
office buildings, production buildings, hotels, administration buildings

05.05 communication media in architecture and public spaces
electronic information systems, billboards, info-graphics, 3D graphics, signage and guidance systems, signets, pictograms

06. crossmedia

corporate design, advertising campaigns, …

"crossmedia" refers to competition entries which are part of a larger, overall concept and which combine, as a minimum, digital and print media.

07. too good to be true