FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1) Register online and complete your profile information

2) Complete the online application, and select the category.

3) Fill in the required information: Description, Upload your images, weblink, and PDF document

4) Review your application

5) Pay and receive your invoice

For more information on the application process, please download the GFA Awards Entry Guide 2024.

For submissions you need to provide the following information:

• Make sure your design fits in one of the main categories
• Lead Designer name
• List of Design Team Members (optional)
• Project Name (required)
• Manufacturer (optional)
• Distributor (s) (optional)
• Other contributors (optional)
• Client (if you are a freelance and designed for a brand). (optional)
• Brief description of the design (required)
• Upload images and/or PDF description of the design
• Add links to design (videos, online materials, website, etc) (optional)

The Jury panel evaluates entries based on its creativity, form and function. Creativity is not enough to be convincing; it needs to show useful functional and provide a better experience for consumers. Projects with high regard to sustainable building practices and the protection and preservation of the environment will also earn special attention from the jury.

No, submission fees are the last step in processing your payment. Please create your entry and make sure it is finalized before submitting your payment.

Up to 10 supporting images can be submitted with each project. An image can be a JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg) or PNG (.png). One image is for the cover photo to identify the entry and the remaining 9 are supporting images of the entry. Images must not exceed 4MB per file and a minimum of 1000 pixels wide. Please only use letters and numbers in the title of the image.

If your entry has a design specification, you have an option to upload one PDF file in A4 or letter-sized format. The PDF must not exceed 4MB. PDF is only for the jury view.

• 20% Early Bird discount until April 30th, 2024
• 10% Extended Early Bird discount until June 30th, 2024
• regular deadline: September 8th, 2024
• Final Deadline: October 6th then a 20% late fee will apply till November 3rd, 2024
• The Program will close on November 3rd, 2024

Once a submission fee has been paid, there are no refunds provided. If you have been wrongly charged for any reason, we will be happy to credit the amount that is due.

You will not be able to edit your submission after payment has been made. For this reason, please review your project carefully and make sure that the entries are submitted correctly before finalizing payment.

First, check that the image does not exceed the maximum size of 4MB, that it is in the right format which is either JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg) or PNG (.png), and that the file name contains only letters or numbers and no other characters. Once you’ve checked that these things are in order, try to upload your images again. If you’re still having trouble after this, contact our support staff at Support.

You should receive a confirmation email from us shortly after you submit and pay for your project. If you do not receive an email, please verify that your email is correct in our records by logging into the member’s “Home” section and selecting “Profile” that leads to “Edit Profile”.  In addition, if you are using spam-blocking software, please add “globalfootwearawards.com” to your list of approved recipients. If, after doing both of these things, you do not receive an email, please log in to the member’s “Home” section, and click on “History” to view your submission status and make sure that all your entries have been paid for.

You may check on your entry status at any time by logging into the member’s “Home” section with your username and password, and click on “History”. NOTE: If a submission is incomplete when the window for submissions has closed (i.e. the submission fee has not been paid, or the images have not been uploaded correctly), the submission will not be eligible for juried consideration. Though we make every effort to make contact and to ensure completion of submissions, we are not responsible for incomplete entries and are unable to offer a refund should an entry be incomplete once the submissions window is closed.

The “History” page feature allows you to view the status of your submissions, to verify that images have been uploaded correctly, to print receipts, and to make payments. The page also shows your winning entries where you can download certificates, seals and press release.

Yes, you may submit projects that have been submitted or that has won an award in a previous competition. However, in an effort to promote the creation of new projects and the fresh flow of ideas, we encourage you to submit new projects as much as possible.

You may enter the same project into as many categories as you see fit. In fact, doing so may increase your chances of winning. However, there is an additional fee for each additional category you enter.

No, you may submit as many entries as you wish, and if you submit multiple entries at the same time, you will receive a special reduction in the submissions fee for the additional entries.

Each design must be submitted as a separate entry. The jury will select the winners in each category based on individual design, ie. not as an entire portfolio of designs.

We accept commercialized in-progress, prototype, and conceptual products. Finished design must be completed within the past five years.

Welcomes creative thinkers from around the world to participate. You don’t have to be one of be known as footwear designer to submit your project. Brands and manufacturer can also submit designs for consideration.

You are not required to submit your design drawings, however, we encourage participants to submit as much information as possible for a better representation of your design.

Your images will only be used for purposes of promotion of this Award. Through our global reach, the images you provided will be viewed with photographer’s credit all around the world. All participants thus far have been extremely happy with the manner in which their images have been used and promoted globally.

Copyright and all other rights remain with the creator. Any images used by the awards shall carry the creator’s name credit. We may use images in any media sponsor publications. All entrants understand that any image submitted to this award may be used for marketing and promotional purposes including in any medium such as exhibitions, print, and digital media directly, social media, related to promoting the awards and there are no monetary compensation.

Neither Global Footwear Awards, affiliates, or partners assume any responsibility for materials submitted in violation of this awards rules or for those which violate copyright regulations. We will investigate claims of copyright infringement to the best of our ability and will remove and disqualify submissions that are clearly demonstrated to violate copyright and/or competition policies. We will act to maintain the integrity of the competition and its affiliated entities but is not responsible for any damages resulting from images submitted in violation of rules and regulations.

There is no monetary remuneration for the use of your image. Please make sure you have the full copyright before entering any images.

You can pay for your submission online via PayPal, credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Union Pay, JCB) and digital Wallets ( Ali Pay).

The submissions cost are in CHF – Swiss Franc, however, you can pay in all currency accepted by stripe & PayPal.

Our list of jurors consists of a wide variety of esteemed industry professionals, educators, influencers and editors.

For a complete list of the jury members please visit the jury page.

Each design entry is assessed by the Jury panel purely on its own merit and not competing against other entries. We reward creative, innovative and sustainable thinking. Each member of the Jury is passionately committed to providing a fair and unbiased evaluation of all entries.

We use a Scoring System between 1-100 points. Jury members are assigned categories based on their specific background and design expertise. All projects are viewed and judged randomly and anonymously to ensure unbiased and fair judging.

You can learn about our judging process here.

Due to the overwhelming scope of the competition, our judges are unable to provide individual feedback on projects.

We do notify award winners by email, however, in unfortunate cases it is possible that notifications get caught in server filters and you may not receive the email notification. Fortunately, you can always check to see if you’ve won any awards by logging into the Member Section and clicking on Winner Services.

The GFA coveted Trophy will be given to the overall winners in each major category, winners of the title “Brand of the Year”, “Independent Designer of the Year” and “Emerging Designer of the Year”.

Winners will receive a digital certificate and badge of achievement, accessible on their GFA Account under the tab “History”.

To access your winning assets, go to the “History” menu tab on your  GFA Account and click on “Winning Entries” where you’ll find a printable Winner Certificate, and the official Winner badge to be used online, on social media, and in any other promotional materials.