Guidance of applicants
Steps necessary for application
To apply for the SDA Awards, please follow the steps below
Applicant Registration
- For the First Time Applicant
- For the Applicants Who Previously Submitted Application On-line
You must first register the applicant from the Applicant Registration Page
If you have previously registered after 2015 (for the application of 49th through 53rd SDA Awards), you could use the registered ID (mail address) and password to log in from the Application Site.
Preparation for Application
Before you apply your work to the award, we recommend you to check the following items and have required materials ready.
You are advised to have the texts prepared in text editor before filling in the form.
Information on the Work
- Title
- Location where the work is installed
- Completion Date
- Select Category
- Design Intent (Concept)
Prefecture: (Select)
Address
*If the work is installed in a foreign country, include the name of the country
Select the month and year the work is completed
1st Category – Space Setting
Select applicable method(s) from the list (you may select multiple methods)
2nd Category – Design Method
Select applicable method(s) from the list (you may select multiple methods)
On Category
Description of design intent and point of appeal in 150 words or less.
Information on Parties Involved
In the information form for the parties involved in the production, individuals, companies, etc. involved in production are registered, including applicant.
There is no limit to the number of registrations (number of persons, number of entities (companies)). In the case of joint production, it is also possible to register more than one person for the same function / role.
・Provide one name to one function / role
Example 1
If Ichiro Yamada is Director and Designer, the form should be written as:
Director: Ichiro Yamada
Designer: Ichiro Yamada
Example 2
If Ichiro Yamada is Designer and Applicant is Hanako Tanaka, the form should be written as:
Director: Ichiro Yamada
Designer: Hanako Tanaka
- Function / Role
- Name of Individual (in charge) or Name of Company
- Affiliation (Not required if Corporate Entity)
Function served in the production of work such as: director / designer / builder / client / architect / interior designer / graphic designer / lighting designer / planner / installer / agency / producer / photographer etc, are to be selected from the list or described as necessary
In the event of winning the award, information for the following 4 entities (individuals, incorporations and companies) will be necessary for publication in the yearbook, so please be sure to register unless such is not applicable.
- Director: Person (Individual) supervising the production of work
- Designer: Person (Individual) designing the work
- Installer / Constructor: Party (Individual or Company) responsible for production and installation of the work
- Client: Party (usually Company) ordering the project including the work
The name of photographer must be registered, if the photographic copyrights need to be credited.
Please prepare the image files in accordance with the following notes.
Specification for Image Files
- The number of image files: No limit
- Image Data Format: JPEG (with file extension jpg or jpeg)
- File Size: 1MB or less per image
- Number of Pixels and Aspect Ratio: No limit
- Color Mode: RGB color is recommended
- File Name: Use only half-width alphanumeric characters (Do not use 2-byte characters such as Kana or Kanji)
Examination fee of one photograph is included in Application Fee. Extra examination fee of \1,500 per image will be charged for each additional photograph.
If you do not own file compression tools to reduce image data size, please look for such tools by searching the web with keywords such as “image compression” or “image size reduction”
Preparation of Concept Sheet (Optional)
- The applicant is allowed to submit as the first image, a concept sheet,a single image combining charts, figures, text and multiple photographs (group of photographs). The number of photographs composed into the sheet should be within reasonable number so the judges are able to view them on a computer or tablet screen.
- The same specifications for image data (stated above) apply to the concept sheet. PDF and other formats are not accepted.
- The concept sheet must be uploaded as the first image in an application.
Notes on Preparation of Image Files
- Except for adjustment within common sense (such as the change in exposure or fine adjustment of color temperature or trimming), intentional processing (change of color tone, composition of image etc.) to modify the real appearance of work will result in disqualification.
- Only color photographs are accepted. Applicants should take special note that black and white photographs (including the digitally processed monochrome photographs) cannot be used in the entry.
- As a general rule, CGs and illustrations cannot be used.
- If text, such as captions, needs to be included on the image to explain each photograph, the text may be superimposed onto the image. Under the circumstance, it is allowed to add blank space on the photographic image.
- If it is an essential part of the work, images such as system diagrams and other figures may be submitted for entry, however, all images must be in jpeg format, as specified for photographs.
Please prepare the video file in accordance with the following notes.
Specification for Video Files
- The Number of Video Files: No limit
- File Format: The video data should be in MP4 format of H264/AAC (with file extension: mp4)
- File Size: Should not exceed 20MB.
- Number of Pixels: Should not exceed 1920 pixel in width, 1080 pixel in height
- Aspect Ratio: No limit
- Length of Video: Should not exceed 60 seconds
- File Name: Use only half-width alphanumeric characters (Do not use 2-byte characters such as Kana or Kanji)
An examination fee of \8,000 per video will be charged for video file submission.
Notes on Preparing Video Files
- Except for adjustment within common sense (such as the change in exposure or fine adjustment of color temperature), intentional processing (change of color tone, composition with CG) to modify the real appearance of work will result in disqualification.。
- High-speed or slow motion playback is admitted, provided they are necessary to express the intention of the work,
- Applicant may add subtitles or narration to the video, however only the sound emitted by the sign itself, as in the case of sound sign, will be subject for consideration, and other sound effects or music will not be considered.
- Other visual effects added to the video will not be subject for consideration.
Registration of Work
Log in from the Application Site to register the work.
Entry registration button will appear only during the application period.
- Enter the Information on the Work provided in the Preparation for Application
- Upload the image data and / or video data (optional) files provided in the Preparation for Application
- Enter the information on the parties involved provided in the Preparation for Application
Payment Process (Entry)
Applicant may pay in sum the application fees for multiple entries provided the same applicant is submitting all the entries.
Once the payment process (entry) is completed, the applicant cannot revise or edit the submitted information for the entry. Please confirm the information before proceeding to the payment process.
Log in from the Application Site and proceed to Payment.
Payment Method
- Bank Transfer
- Credit Card
Payment details will be sent to the applicant by email. Please remit the amount before the deadline. Applicants are expected to pay for the remittance fee and other bank charges.
Make an immediate payment using PayPal
Completion of Application
Only the entries with the completed application before the deadline will be considered for award selection.
- For Credit Card Payment: Immediately, once payment is complete
- For Bank Transfer: After the payment is confirmed by SDA
Status of application can be checked from the Application Site.