Product design
Functional Obviousness
Upon first impression does the design speak to the user in a way that makes the product appealing and apparently easy to use?
Submit
Nominate a product
Free to enter. No HFES or PDTG membership needed. Nominate your own work or champion someone else’s.
What sets this award apart
The product. The process. Six judging criteria.
Judges assess both the product design and the user-centered design methods behind it. Your Submission File should address all six criteria.
Product design
Ease of Operation
How easy is it to learn and actually do tasks in various applicable usage modes such as set up, normal usage, failure recovery, maintainability, portability, storability that occur during ownership?
Product design
Creativity/Innovation
How is this product unique compared to similar products? How does usability and styling take advantage of product technology?
UCD methods
Concept Development
How was new user input created or past user data applied to influence the product or system concept?
UCD methods
Design
How was user data generated or used for specifying design parameters or making design decisions?
UCD methods
Evaluation
What was done to assess usability of the product design and the need for improvement? This could include iterative assessments made during the design process or feedback obtained in the market that could be used for subsequent versions of the product. Be specific concerning testing methodology.
Two steps to participate
STEP 1
Online Nominate form
Identify your product or system and who is nominating it.
Open the Nominate formSTEP 2
Submission File
A detailed document describing your innovation, the UCD methods behind it, and its impact. Start from the template.
Open the templateNeed more time, or an accommodation? We want the process to be accessible. Please engage us in a dialogue about timeline challenges or accessibility needs.
Timeline
- May 15Early feedbackOptional: submit a one-page version of your Submission File and get feedback within 5 business days.
- June 1Nominate & submitComplete the online Nominate form and submit your full Submission File.
- JuneInitial judgingJudges review all Submission Files and may ask clarifying questions.
- JulyQ&A periodRespond to judge questions to strengthen your submission.
- AugustFinal judgingJudges select the winner(s); notifications go out by the end of August.
- Oct–DecAward ceremonyA virtual event hosted by HFES celebrating the winner(s).
Eligibility
- Consumer, commercial, and medical products and systems qualify.
- Military equipment and systems are not eligible.
- The product must be operational at the time of submission.
- It must either launch within one year with no substantial changes, or have been in use for up to three years at most.
- Individuals may nominate others or themselves. HFES or PDTG membership is not required.