The European Design Awards is a new institution consisting of an awards scheme, a conference and an annual catalog, with a focus on the European communication and design industry. Providing weight for the three events is the collaboration of twelve European magazines, from which the awards jury is drawn: 2+3D, CAP & Design, +design, étapes, Eye, IDPURE, Graphic, KAK, Progetto Grafico, novum, TYPO and Visual.

The first edition of the European Design Awards concluded with a ceremony in Athens in May, 2007, which came at the end of the European Design Conference, a three-day event that saw speakers providing specific case-studies and a guided tour through their creative processes. The work of winners and finalists is available via an annual publication that seeks to provide an overview of the best of communication design in Europe, from BIS Publishers. The work can also be browsed on the Design Awards site.

For the second edition entries can be submitted in 27 categories, divided into six groups. There are also two overall prizes awarded, a Jury’s Prize for the most exceptional piece of design in Europe during the previous year, and an Agency of the Year award. More information and entry forms are available on the European Design Awards site.