Joseph Binder Award 2027

From 09.09.2026 to 30.04.2027 Award ceremony Call for submissions Competition Exhibition

ICoD is pleased to announce the Member Event Joseph Binder Award 2027 (JBA27) organised by designaustria. The 17th edition launches its Call for Entries in September 2026, under the theme "Under Pressure".  The deadline for submissons is 31 October 2026. 

The Joseph Binder Award 2027 (JBA27), organized by designaustria, is one of the world's leading international competitions for graphic design and illustration. Since its inception in 1996, the award has celebrated outstanding creative achievements and promoted excellence in visual communication across disciplines. The 17th edition launches its Call for Entries in September 2026 under the theme „Under Pressure", inviting designers and illustrators to reflect on the realities shaping creative practice today, from tight deadlines and technological change to economic uncertainty and evolving professional demands. Participation is open to graphic designers, illustrators, agencies, studios, and design students worldwide. Eligible entries include graphic design and illustration projects published or realized in 2025 or later. There is no limit to the number of submissions. The competition culminates during the Joseph Binder Days on 29 April 2027 at Vienna's renowned MuseumsQuartier, where the exhibition opening, symposium, and award ceremony will form part of designaustria's 100th anniversary celebrations. More than an award, the JBA provides an SUMMARY Please provide a short summary describing your Event in 250 words or less. Information that could be included: what the Event is (a Competition, Conference, Exhibition, Festival, etc.) and what, generally, will happen at this Event when the Event takes place about the Organiser, and who the participants will be the origin story: the history of the Event and how long it has been in action the meaning: a summary of the relevance of the Event to design and design professionals today, (and why international Members should be excited about attending or following its outcomes!) international platform for creative professionals. Honored works gain international visibility through exhibitions, publications, and global recognition, making the JBA an important benchmark for excellence in contemporary visual communication and a unique opportunity to connect with the international design community.

THEME and CATEGORIES

Under Pressure. Exceptional Creativity. International Visibility. 

The competition is organized into three sections: Graphic Design, Illustration, and Special Categories. Graphic Design categories include – Corporate Design, Communication Design, Information Design, Type Design, Poster Design, Editorial Design, Packaging Design and Interface Design. Illustration categories comprise – Book Illustration, Media Illustration, Commercial Illustration, Animated Illustration and Illustration in Miscellaneous Applications. In addition, the Special Categories include Design Fiction for unpublished, independent, non-commercial or student projects, and the Henry Steiner Prize, awarded to a submission that promotes connections between diverse cultural perspectives.

The Joseph Binder Award also welcomes projects created with the support of AI-assisted tools. The use of AI must be disclosed during submission, while the jury's evaluation will continue to focus primarily on the originality of the idea, conceptual strength and quality of execution. Entry Entrants must register online at www.josephbinderaward.com. A separate registration is required for each project. The submission form includes a project description (maximum 1,000 characters), information about the creative team and client, and supporting media. Participants may upload up to ten files, including high-resolution JPEG or PNG images and/or video files. Student entrants are required to provide proof of enrolment. 

Fees and Payment 

FIRST ENTRY Regular: 105 euros Members*: 79 euros Students: 55 euros 

FOR EACH FURTHER ENTRY Regular: 79 euros Members*: 59 euros Students: 45 euros All fees excl. 20% VAT. *

Members of designaustria and the partner organisations Additional fees for returning the entries and production fees (for catalogue and exhibition) may apply. Please read more on JBA website. 

Awards In each category, a Joseph Binder Award in gold, silver, and bronze will be awarded in the form of trophies: the ball of crumpled paper encased in glass is a symbol for the creative process. In order to support independent, conceptual, and scientific activities in the fields of graphic design and illustration, money prizes will be awarded in the Design Fiction category. Additionally, the jury may choose up to three Merit Awards per category. All of the entries selected by the jury will be published in a catalogue and an touring exhibition. The jury may withhold or reallocate awards and money prizes. Entrants will be notified of the results after the jury process (December 2026/First round, February 2027/Second round). Entrants whose works have been selected agree to supply highresolution images of the respective work(s) for reproduction in the catalogue free of charge. Jury Process and Recognition The international jury will conduct an initial online review of all submissions before meeting in person in Vienna in February 2027 to determine the final award recipients. This two-stage process ensures both broad international participation and... ... in-depth discussion of shortlisted projects. Selected and awarded works will be featured in the official Joseph Binder Award catalogue and presented in a curated exhibition, offering valuable visibility among designers, cultural institutions, clients and industry leaders. Honored Designers and Honored Illustrators become part of a distinguished international community recognized for excellence in visual communication. Following its premiere during the Joseph Binder Days in Vienna, the exhibition will continue as a travelling exhibition, bringing the award-winning projects to additional venues and audiences.