EXPERIENCE THE ART OF COFFEE AT THE COFFEE DESIGN AWARDS 2026
Step into a world where coffee meets creativity! The Coffee Design Awards celebrates the most visually stunning and innovative designs in specialty coffee. From bold branding to breathtaking spaces, this is your chance to witness the artistry that makes coffee culture so unique.
DEADLINE: May 8, 2026
competition categories
The Coffee Design Awards at World of Coffee accepted submissions from any coffee company with recently launched Branding, Packaging, or Space designs. Submissions typically open in Q1.
BRANDING
The Coffee Design Awards Branding is about recognizing the brands, identities and visual environments that companies in coffee use to stand out. It’s about the logos, the style guides, the stationery, the posters, the flyers, the digital comms - anything and everything that's not the product itself or the space. Submissions should include logo files, style guides, and up to three high-res examples of the brand in-use on promotional assets, not including products or vessels.
PACKAGING
The Coffee Design Awards Packaging identifies some of the most compelling coffee packaging designs that looks beyond brand adherence from the past year.
SPACES
The Coffee Design Awards Spaces showcases places for making, teaching, and serving coffee.
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The Coffee Design Awards winners will be featured on SCA social media, in press releases, and on SCA News—shining a spotlight on the most exceptional creativity in coffee.
COMPETITION SUBMISSION
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Entry must be new to the company and introduced into the marketplace between June 28, 2025 and June 25, 2026.
We have assembled a panel of judges that includes professionals from the coffee and design industries. They will evaluate submissions under the following metrics: originality/function/sustainability.
Applicants are encouraged to include as much information about their submissions as possible and must provide four high resolution photos (minimum 3MB), two of which will be displayed at the show in a square aspect ratio. This form includes additional spaces for photos to help the judges evaluate and we would strongly encourage you to include these where possible.
For entries into Packaging, applicants must deliver a sample in person on June 24 to be included in the exhibit and considered for judging.
SCA reserves the right to reclassify or decline an entry. Please note that, if less than three entries are received in a specific category, categories may be combined, or an entry may be reclassified.
Coffee Design Awards are at the discretion of independent judges and show management.
Judging will take prior to the show.
All entrants will be showcased at the Coffee Design Award display on show site as well as on permanent display on the Design in Coffee platform.
Judging Rubric
Judging is based on the following criteria:
Innovation - Does the design offer an appealing alternative in form, color, texture, function or material to others on the market?
Long-Lasting - Does the design surpass trends and respond to general consumer needs?
Congruency - Do choice of colors, materials or other design elements reflect the aims, philosophy or concept as stated in the form or on the packaging?
Clarity and Usability - Does the design communicate its message, purpose, or usage in a clear way through design or text? Is the usage of the product or space easy to understand, regardless of textual explanation?
Attention to Detail - Does the design exhibit attention to details in a way that corresponds with its overall concept?
Sustainability - Can be environmental and ecological but can also be achieved through equitable value distribution.
Overall - Does the design present an aesthetically pleasing, positive and creative experience?