AIGA’s suite of competitions is widely recognized as the most discerning statement on design excellence today, extending a legacy that began more than 90 years ago. By means of the competitions, AIGA creates an authoritative chronicle of outstanding design solutions, each demonstrating the process of designing, the role of the designer and the value of design.

The selections in AIGA’s annual competition represent the best work across all disciplines of communication design and strategy, as chosen by a distinguished jury of design peers. As such, they become part of the AIGA Design Archives, a searchable visual database of exemplary design, they are exhibited at the AIGA National Design Center in New York and offered as a traveling exhibition for display across the country. The physical artifacts comprise the AIGA Design Archives at the Denver Art Museum.

Enter categories such as branding, entertainment, experimentation, packaging and information. As you can imagine, cross-over in categories is possible, so pick the one that best fits your work. Applications include Web design, animation, games, film, graphic design and much more. Limitations? Only work in all media that has been designed, produced and used in the marketplace between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year is eligible, and no school projects. Actual artwork is accepted, no photographs.

Deadline is 6 March 2009. Visit the site to learn more about the categories, judging, fees (which vary) and final processes.