The DAME Design Awards, now in its 35th year, draws upwards of 150 Metstrade exhibitors annually, each submitting new products for assessment by a specialist jury. History shows at least one third of those entries go on to achieve nomination, earning a place in the high-profile DAME Design Awards showcase at the heart of Metstrade. From there, the strongest nominees can progress to Special Mentions, Category Wins, Environmental Awards, and ultimately the Overall Winner trophy.
This year brings a new addition for nominees: free access to a Marine Impact Lab half-day workshop, offered for the first time in the competition's 35th anniversary year.
With the closing date set for 18 September 2026, the organisers have published guidance on what the jury will be looking for.
The jury spans Baby Boomer to Gen Z generations, with backgrounds ranging from paddle sports to superyachts, and most members come from technical or design disciplines. Clear, factual language is what counts. Marketing copy won't serve entrants well; the jury wants objective statements backed by data, written with accessibility in mind given that some members read English as a second language.
Entries are assessed across multiple design dimensions: styling, construction, functionality, environmental impact, ease of use, ease of integration, originality and innovation, and price versus performance. The jury is not expecting perfection across all of these, but entrants should focus on their product's strongest design features and avoid unsubstantiated claims. Incremental design improvement is considered just as valid an entry as a completely new concept.
Pricing is another area where entrants can leave themselves at a disadvantage. Without a figure to work with, the jury cannot assess price versus performance. Pricing submitted with an entry will not be quoted directly in any competition report.
Environmental statements should be precise and substantiated rather than broad declarations of intent. The jury wants specific, believable evidence of progress on environmental impact, supported by facts and data wherever possible, not a lengthy strategic statement that contains no detail of substance.
For 2026, jury members will have access to online materials before the closing date for the first time in the competition's 35-year history, meaning early submissions are likely to receive more initial evaluation time. The jury will then assess all accepted entries over a month online before gathering for its intensive two-day meeting in October. At that physical meeting the product needs to represent itself without its makers present, so presentation should reflect the same design values as the product itself.
Entrants with questions can contact the organising team at dame@rai.nl.
