Entry is open to British designers working in the UK or abroad, as well as designers with UK-based practices.

Submissions can be for an individual product or collection of products that are currently in production, that were designed for, and are manufactured by, an industrial design process. The designs can be intended for domestic, office, hospitality, educational or corporate use, and for both interior and exterior environments.

The Design Guild Mark was established in 2008 by The Furniture Makers’ Company to recognise all designs that meet the highest standards of originality and innovation in British industrial design. Over time the Mark has grown from just Furniture to include categories for Interior Design Elements, and Lighting.

It is unique to other design awards as the panel of independent judges – all experts in the field of design – examine the submitted piece during the judging day. Applicants are required to present their actual piece in person to allow for a dialogue between the judges and for any questions to be answered.

Designs awarded a Mark benefit from increased industry and consumer awareness, press and social media coverage, with the designers and companies behind them also receiving enhanced brand recognition.

The piece from each of the three categories deemed to be the most outstanding by the judges will also win the Jonathan Hindle Prize for Excellence.

Designers and companies have until 25 November 2022 to submit an entry to meet the early bird deadline and until 20 January 2023 for the final deadline.

Rodney McMahon, chairman of the Design Guild Mark, said: “The variety and quality of designs, from both established and aspiring designers, applying for the Design Guild Mark is always stimulating. With the launch of the Lighting Design categories last year, we now have three different design strands that we hope will attract an even broader range of applicants and ensure that the award of a Design Guild Mark continues to be something to which to aspire.”

Comments from Judges:

Jeremy Myerson, professor of design at the Royal College of Art:
“The Design Guild Mark remains the gold standard in design excellence for manufactured furniture. This year the accent was on simplicity, authenticity, finesse and fitness for purpose.”

Daniel Hopwood, director of Daniel Hopwood: London Interior Design & Architecture:
"We all know that lovely quote by William Morris ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.’ In the light of this modern age may I add to the quote ‘and definitely sustainable’ as all of the products that have been awarded the prestigious Design Guild Mark meet all three of those criteria."

Clare Johnston, Royal College of Art:
"I believe that an important aspect of the Design Guild Mark 2D category is that it has brought to light and given visibility to some of the incredibly inventive and talented UK designers in a field that is often less known by designers in other disciplines and the public. Exposure is frequently focused on brand or product designer, whereas this award directly acknowledges the inventor of the material or surface designer. As awareness of this award grows, we hope we will see many more applications demonstrating design excellence and brave innovation."

Simon Alderson, twentytwentyone:
“The lighting shortlist was diverse by materiality and form. The manufacture was very international and employed varied processes. However, all ingredients were bound by UK-based creativity. Enlightening presentations made for a highly stimulating evaluations by the judges.”