FIT Sport Design Awards

New Edition of FIT Sport Design Awards Now Open: Seeking Next-Gen Sports Equipment and Apparel

Celebrating the best of sports design, the FIT Sport Design Awards honour exceptional achievements in technology, eco-friendly products, and gear that enhances performance. Seize this chance to spotlight your designs and become a driving force in reshaping the future of sports design!

The FIT Sport Design Awards, a premier program dedicated to honouring groundbreaking and sustainable sports innovations, is now open for submissions for its third annual competition. These awards celebrate the transformative power of design in the sports industry, recognizing visionary creators who are pushing boundaries and developing game-changing products. The submissions are open to designers, brands, and manufacturers of sports equipment and apparel from across the globe. 

The entries will be judged by a panel of international design experts, including David Filar, Director of Product Creation & Design at Endstate, Charles Johnson, Design Innovation Leader and Assistant Teaching Professor of Leadership and Innovation at the Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center, Cheresse ThornhillGoldson, Director of Design Education & Growth at adidas' S.E.E.D - School for Experiential Education in Design, and Daniel Shirley, Football Footwear Designer at Puma. Last year’s winners included the BetterGuard by Betterguards Technology, Inc. which earned the Sport Gear Design of the Year for its groundbreaking injury prevention and recovery technology, significantly reducing athletes' recovery times and injury risks. IMBRACE Snow by IMBRACE was honored as the Sport Apparel Design of the Year for its advanced protective compression leggings designed to support downhill skiers. The Emerging Sport Gear Designer of the Year went to Soof Azani for Ezun, a home rehabilitation solution, while Huali Qu and Lucy Hui won Emerging Sport Apparel Designer of the Year for AquaRevive, an eco-friendly underwater gear collection. Other notable winners included innovative designs from CIXIActive Mobility, hDrop, UYN® SYNAPSIS, and Kingsbox D.O.O. 

Astrid Hebert, the founder of the awards, expressed her excitement, saying, "It's incredible to be celebrating the third year of these awards. Each year, we are amazed by the innovation and creativity that transform the sports industry. We can't wait to see the ingenuine designs and sustainable solutions this year's participants will bring to the table." 

With 29 categories available for gear, equipment, and apparel designs, the FIT Sport Design Awards is the most comprehensive program of its kind. This cross-disciplinary platform provides a powerful opportunity to showcase your designs to a truly international market. The categories are broadly divided into General Sports, sport-specific, and Special Categories, each highlighting unique aspects of sports equipment and apparel design. 

In addition to recognizing established designers and brands, the FIT Sport Design Awards also support emerging artists and have established partnerships with some of the world's most respected universities in design and innovation, including L’École de Design Nantes Atlantique, Artcenter College of Design, Georgia Tech, MIT Institute of Design, ESNE – University School of Design, Innovation and Technology, and Politecnico di Milano – Scuola del Design, among others. 

ENTRY FEES 2025

• Company/Brand: CHF 250 incl. Swiss VAT (approx.: US$270)
• Same entry in additional categories at a 50% discount

• Independent Designer: CHF 100 incl. Swiss VAT (approx.: US$107)
• Same entry in additional categories at a 50% discount

• Student: CHF 50 incl.  Swiss VAT (approx.: US$54)
• Same entry in additional categories at a 50% discount

DEADLINES 2025

• 15% Early Bird discount until 30th of September 2024
• 10% Extended Early Bird discount until 30th of November 2024
• Regular Deadline: January 31st, 2025
• Final Deadline: March,1st then a 10% late fee will apply till April 14th, 2024.
• The Program will close on April 14th, 2025.

To submit your entry and learn more about the FIT Sport Design Awards, please visit fitdesignawards.com. Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your groundbreaking designs and contribute to the transformation of the sports design industry. Participants will gain international recognition, network with industry leaders, and enhance their brand's credibility.