Frequently asked questions about the dame design awards

The category headings are followed by a brief explanation explaining where a boat user or marine industry professional might encounter the products you are entering:

1. Personal equipment
   If I was going on a charter, had a boat share arrangement, went boating with a friend or have my own boat, what would my personal kit be?
2. Comfort & entertainment afloat
   If I don’t want to go boating in a bare hull, what kinds of equipment am I likely to need to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of all afloat?
3. Nsvigation & communication
   If I was on the helm of a boat or bridge of a superyacht, what electronics and other equipment would I use to control and safely navigate it?
4. Electronic & electrical systems
   If I need electrical power anywhere in the boat or to make networkable devices speak to each other, what systems and equipment would I use?
5. Propulsion & dynamics
   If I want to move, steer, stabilise and trim the boat, what machinery and systems will I use?
6. Deck equipment
   If I am sailing, mooring, anchoring and using the outdoor spaces on my boat, what hardware and equipment will I use?
7. Security & safety aboard
   What is the equipment aboard that serves specifically to keep my boat secure, safe and capable of dealing with emergencies afloat?
8. Shoreside equipment & materials
   What are all the items of off-vessel equipment, hardware, materials and software that help to construct and then support my boat from cradle to grave.

If sufficient quality of entries are unavailable to select a winner within a category, the Jury does have the right to alter these category assignments if that is necessary to ensure the overall quality of the DAME Design Awards. 

1. Design:
   a. Styling – the aesthetics of the product, even if intended to be installed in a hidden location such as a locker or machinery space;
   b. Construction – how well a product has been engineered and manufactured to address ease of production and installation;
   c. Functionality – the capability of the product to deliver its purpose effectively;
   d. Proposed use – the way the product fulfils the promise of its claims;
2. Environment – how well the product minimises environmental impact and improves sustainability while intrinsically remaining an excellent example of design practice.
3. Ease and use of human operation – the degree to which the use of the product is friendly, intuitive and safe.
4. Originality and innovation – the degree to which the product’s design and/or function appears to improve on, or offer a new concept from, those products already familiar to installers and consumers (but note that innovation is just one of all the requirements here and is not the only point of judgement).
5. Price versus performance.

Note the DAME Design Awards now places more emphasis on environmental design. If, in its view, the Jury has found an exemplar product that is well designed and has clear and obvious merit then it will, at its discretion, make an Environmental Design Winner.

For this reason, the entry form contains an Environmental Statement question to assist assessment. We urge entrants to provide clear information about their approach to minimising environmental impact in every aspect relating to the entry’s creation and service, while avoiding making claims that cannot be substantiated.

The award is judged by an international panel of experts according to the specified criteria. 
Click on the button below for the full list of the DAME Design Awards Jury.

Full Jury

The DAME Design Awards 2025 Jury will be supported by a non-voting secretary – Kim Hollamby. 
He is available via the dame@rai.nl email address to assist with questions about your entry.

• First prize: the DAME Design Awards
• Certificates for Category Winners
• Certificates for Special Mentions
• Certificate for Environmental Design Winner

If your question has not been answered in this Q&A, please send an email to dame@rai.nl.

1. Enter the Exhibitor Portal (https://ep.rai.amsterdam) with your exhibitor login details.
2. Go to ‘My Company Profile’ and add your product under ‘Products’. Check the box at the bottom of the page to make sure it is marked as an innovative product or service. Or go to ‘Awards > DAME Design Awards’ and add your innovative product. (Both options lead to the same outcom)
3. Once your innovative product has been created, you can register it for the awards. Go to ‘Awards > DAME Design Awards’. Navigate to ‘My Innovative Products’ and click on ‘Register for Award'.
4. Read the ‘Before you Start’ information carefully.
5. Select the category in which your entry belongs.
6. Enter all general information about your product.
7. Upload all requested media. Videos: youtube or vimeo. Presentations: powerpoint converted to .pdf. Images: .jpg, .jpeg or .png
8. Add your Specific Product Details
9. Please download the shipping instructions of our logistic partner DB Schenker and read this carefully. Give DB Schenker permission to invoice your company with the handling costs.
10. Fill in the contact details in case we have any questions regarding your product.
11. Review the summary and go back if any adjustments are needed. When you are satisfied with your application, agree to the specific terms and conditions and the registration fee. Submit your registration.

Yes, before entering your DAME Design Awards registration form you will need to have the information below available at hand:

a. an official receipt of intellectual property/copyright of the product which must refer to the brand name (product name), patent (technical specifications product) and model (appearance product); or

b. an official confirmation of the patent agency that your request is still in progress; or

c. written approval of the holder of the intellectual property rights stating that you are allowed to enter the DAME Design Awards competition with this product. 

No, you will not see a dialogue screen or receive an auto reply saying your entry was successful after saving.

Yes, we will check your entry and send you a confirmation.
We will also let you know if we need any additional information or if there is any information missing.

The final deadline for entering the DAME Design Awards competition is 19 September 2025.

All products must be available for judgment at RAI Amsterdam on 6 October 2025.

Yes! Without your product on site at RAI Amsterdam, your entry will not be judged and be excluded for the DAME Design Awards 2025 competition. If your product is accepted for inclusion in the competition, you will be notified by the Organiser.

Please download the shipping instructions of our logistic partner DB Schenker when you register your product in the Exhibitor Portal under the section ‘Awards DAME Design Awards’ and read this carefully.

+31 (0)20 225 39 74

fairs.amsterdam@dbschenker.com or nl.sm.ams.fairs-amsterdam@dbschenker.com

Your product will be kept in storage by DB Schenker.

You will receive your invoice from DB Schenker mid-October 2025.

Yes, you can collect or arrange to collect your product after the DAME Design Awards Jury meeting. Please consult DB Schenker to make further arrangements ( +31 (0)20 225 39 74 | fairs.amsterdam@dbschenker.com or nl.sm.ams.fairs-amsterdam@dbschenker.com)

Please note that if your product is nominated, it needs to be back in time for the DAME Design Awards exposition no later than Sunday 16 November 2025.

There are two scenarios:

1. Your product is Nominated (and may have subsequently achieved a win or Special Mention); in this case your product will be on display in the DAME Design Awards presentation (location to be announced). We will make sure your product will be placed correctly.
2. Your product is not Nominated; in this case please contact DB Schenker or go to their office between hall 1 and hall 5 during the build-up period and make an appointment with them to bring your product to your stand. 

No, it is not possible to have someone explain the product at the DAME Design Awards presentation.

Yes, there will be surveillance around the clock from Monday 17 November 12:00 hrs till Thursday 20 November 19:00 hrs.

The Nominees will be announced on or around 27 October 2025.
All Nominees will be contacted personally and will receive additional information by email.

We will provide you with a special DAME Design Awards logo which you can use in all your communications.

Please note
At present, we are hoping to run the 34th DAME Design Awards in its usual format and encourage exhibitors to apply as normal. If for any reason we must change the format, we will be in touch with all entrants at the earliest opportunity to explain the changes.