#CRA27
The top honour for agencies, and one of the headline awards of the night. It recognises the agency that set the standard for retail design over the year, whatever its size.
Entries close on 1 April 2027, for work installed or completed between 1 January 2026 and 31 January 2027.
Award partner
B_RD, Design Agency of the Year 2026, on stage at The Clapham Grand.
How to enter
Design Agency of the Year has its own entry form, separate from the 22 categories. Agencies submit a PDF portfolio of three standout projects, together with a written account of up to 1,500 words explaining why the agency leads the industry.
Your portfolio
A PDF of up to 20MB
Showing three standout projects.
Your written account
Up to 1,500 words
Why your agency deserves the title, on the form or in your PDF.
Eligible work
1 Jan 2026 to 31 Jan 2027
Projects installed or completed in this period.
Entry deadline
1 April 2027
The shortlist is published in the summer.
We send an invoice once we receive your entry. For larger files, add a supplementary file transfer link on the form, or send them by WeTransfer to enquiries@sdea.co.uk and we will add them to your entry.
Download the free #CRA27 Entry Guide for the Design Agency of the Year criteria, and plan your written account before you start.
What the judges look for
Together, the portfolio and written account should give the judges a complete picture of your agency's ethos, its commitment to excellence and why it deserves the title.
01
How your agency has built sustainable practice into its business model, from eco-friendly initiatives and responsible resource management to new ways of reducing environmental impact, and how these practices are embedded in day-to-day operations.
02
The strategies and methods that characterise your approach, such as new technology, distinctive problem solving or new market strategies, and how they have improved productivity, creativity and results across the projects in your portfolio.
03
Testimonials that show the impact of your work, with real examples of meeting or exceeding client expectations, supporting growth or solving complex challenges. They should relate to the projects in your portfolio.
Every entry is judged independently by senior experts from across the industry, then agreed by the full panel at a day of face-to-face judging. See how judging works.
The 2026 winner
B_RD took the title in 2026, with Etch Highly Commended. See the work that won it. Read why B_RD won
Enter now
Upload a PDF portfolio of three standout projects installed or completed between 1 January 2026 and 31 January 2027, and tell the judges why your agency deserves the title in up to 1,500 words.
Entering a project in the 22 categories? Use the main entry form
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