Good Design Australia has launched the 2011 Design Awards program to recognise excellence in design and innovation across a diverse range of sectors and categories.

Designers, manufacturers and distributors of professionally designed products and services available on the Australian market are eligible to enter the 2011 program.

The Australian International Design Awards is Australia’s oldest design awards program, originally founded by the Industrial Design Council of Australia (IDCA) established in 1958. Today the program’s Patron is His Excellency Michael Bryce, AM, AE, LFRAIA, LFDIA.

“In an increasingly competitive market, businesses are finding it more challenging to differentiate their products and services and remain competitive. We are seeing more and more businesses understand the value that investment in professional design can bring to their bottom line,” says Brandon Gien, managing director of Good Design Australia.

“Good design results in products, systems or services that are functional, safe, pleasing to the eye, offer a better financial return for their business and have the smallest possible impact on the environment. Companies entering the Design Awards are positioning design at the centre of their business strategy. These businesses understand that good design translates into good business. They are proud to use the recognition through the Design Awards as independent confirmation of this,” says Gien.

Past winners of the Australian International Design Awards have reaped the benefits of public exposure and received wide ranging acknowledgement for their success and investment in design. These include Qantas for the A380 Economy Seat (2009), Hyundai for the i45 luxury 5-seat sedan (2010) and last year’s top prize winner, Howard Wright for the M8 Intensive Care hospital bed (2010). All these companies are driven to succeed by design and have leveraged the recognition from the Design Awards to help differentiate and promote their brands.

Awards entries are assessed on their individual design merits against a range of judging criteria including form, function, quality, safety, sustainability, innovation and best in class design.

Organisers are now accepting entries across nine categories: Consumer, Business and Technology, Medical and Scientific, Automotive and Transport, Sport and Leisure, Housing and Building, Heavy Machinery, Architectural and Interior Products, and Student.

Enter online at www.designawards.com.au before 31 March 2011.