The International Housewares Association created the Global Innovation Awards Student Design Competition in 1993 to invigorate the housewares industry with the fresh ideas of top student designers and to encourage young talent to consider careers in the housewares business. The GIA Student Design Competition, sponsored by the IHA, is a rigorous competition that is judged by design professionals and managers at housewares companies. Undergraduate and graduate industrial design students enrolled in a degree-granting program at any university in North America or other countries may enter. Spring 2025 graduates are eligible if the project was completed before graduation. A student may enter more than one project. Team projects are allowed. Housewares products are consumer goods purchased by or for the user that are portable. Permanent installations such as lighting systems, sinks/bathtubs or major appliances (washing machines, full size refrigerators) are not considered housewares. The project should meet a current consumer need or be a concept for a future product. Packaging and point-of-sale presentation may be included. To enter the competition, applicants must answer a few questions about their product. If they created an animation or product demonstration, applicants can also include a link to the video. Applicants must also submit an image that will identify their project for the judges; and the PDF of the Process Book that should tell the story of the applicant's process. Please visit the award's website for more information.