AWARD CATEGORY
04
EVENT DESIGN & CREATIVE
RECOGNITION FOR IDENTITY, SPACE & EXPERIENCE
Creative environments, visual systems, spatial experiences, and design elements that shape how an event is experienced.
The MUSE Event Awards welcomes entries worldwide. Present the achievement in the context most relevant to what you want the international jury to evaluate.
Open WorldwideEnter Your Achievement - Eligible from January 1, 2024Early Bird Entries Close November 19, 2026
FIND THE CATEGORY THAT FITS YOUR ACHIEVEMENT
Browse the 5 category groups below and select the subcategory that best represents the achievement you want the jury to evaluate.
If more than one category reflects a distinct aspect of your achievement, you may submit it to multiple eligible categories. Each category will be evaluated independently.
01Event Concept & Creative DirectionIncludes Event Concept, Creative Direction, Theme Design.
CD10001Event Concept
Recognizing an original and strategically relevant creative concept that serves as the foundation of an event or experience.
CD10002Creative Direction
Recognizing the overall artistic and creative leadership that unifies an event’s concept, content, design, and audience experience.
CD10003Theme Design
Recognizing the development of a theme into a coherent event environment, program, visual language, and guest experience.
CD10004Event Storytelling
Recognizing the use of narrative, content, performance, space, and interaction to guide audiences through a meaningful story.
CD10005Interactive Storytelling
Recognizing storytelling in which audience choices, actions, technology, or participation shape the narrative experience.
CD10006Sustainable Event Concept
Recognizing event concepts designed from the outset to reduce environmental impact while maintaining creative and audience value.
CD10000New Category
For entries that do not fit an existing event concept & creative direction sub-category and require a more specific classification.
02Event Identity & BrandingIncludes Event Branding, Environmental Graphics & Wayfinding, Print & Event Collateral Design.
EB10001Event Branding
Recognizing a distinctive event identity expressed through logos, typography, color, messaging, signage, digital assets, and environmental applications.
EB10002Environmental Graphics & Wayfinding
Recognizing graphic systems that orient, inform, and engage audiences throughout an event environment.
EB10003Print & Event Collateral Design
Recognizing invitations, programs, posters, brochures, credentials, packaging, and other printed event materials.
EB10004In-Store Touchpoints & Collateral
Recognizing temporary in-store communication, point-of-sale, wayfinding, and visual-merchandising elements connected to an event or experience.
EB10005Motion & Screen Content Design
Recognizing original visual content created for event screens, projections, displays, broadcast, or digital environments.
EB10000New Category
For entries that do not fit an existing event identity & branding sub-category and require a more specific classification.
03Stage, Scenic & Entertainment DesignIncludes Stage & Scenic Design, Set Design, Lighting Design.
SD10001Stage & Scenic Design
Recognizing stage and scenic design that strengthens performance, presentation, storytelling, and audience experience.
SD10002Set Design
Recognizing custom set design that transforms a stage or space into a distinctive, functional, and immersive environment.
SD10003Lighting Design
Recognizing the creative design of lighting to shape atmosphere, focus, storytelling, and visual impact.
SD10004Performance & Show Design
Recognizing the design and integration of performance, choreography, music, content, staging, and show flow.
SD10005Special Effects Design
Recognizing the creative planning and integration of physical, atmospheric, pyrotechnic, laser, water, or motion effects.
SD10000New Category
For entries that do not fit an existing stage, scenic & entertainment design sub-category and require a more specific classification.
04Exhibition & Spatial DesignIncludes Exhibition Design, Exhibition Stand Design, Pop-Up & Temporary Space Design.
ES10001Exhibition Design
Recognizing the spatial and interpretive design of exhibitions that communicate content and guide visitor engagement.
ES10002Exhibition Stand Design
Recognizing the creative design of stands, booths, pavilions, or displays that communicate brand identity and support visitor interaction.
ES10003Pop-Up & Temporary Space Design
Recognizing temporary environments that make effective use of limited duration, footprint, and materials.
ES10004Unexpected Use of Space
Recognizing the unconventional transformation or use of a venue, public area, building, landscape, or nontraditional location.
ES10005Outdoor Space Design
Recognizing creative use of outdoor, public, civic, or natural spaces as an integral part of the event experience.
ES10006Hospitality & Guest Space Design
Recognizing the design of lounges, dining areas, hospitality suites, VIP zones, and guest-service environments.
ES10000New Category
For entries that do not fit an existing exhibition & spatial design sub-category and require a more specific classification.
05Attendee Experience DesignIncludes Attendee Journey, Attendee Experience Strategy, Networking Experience Design.
AX10001Attendee Journey
Recognizing the thoughtful design of touchpoints before, during, and after an event to create a seamless and meaningful experience.
AX10002Attendee Experience Strategy
Recognizing research-led planning that improves relevance, personalization, service, participation, and long-term audience value.
AX10003Networking Experience Design
Recognizing the design of formats, spaces, tools, and facilitation that enable valuable participant connections.
AX10004Accessible Experience Design
Recognizing design that enables equitable participation for people with diverse physical, sensory, cognitive, or communication needs.
AX10005Wellness-Centered Experience Design
Recognizing event design that supports comfort, recovery, balance, movement, nutrition, and participant wellbeing.
AX10006Multisensory Design
Recognizing the intentional integration of visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, or taste elements to deepen audience experience.
AX10000New Category
For entries that do not fit an existing attendee experience design sub-category and require a more specific classification.
MUSE Recognition
85–100 points
75–84 points
65–74 points
WINNING LEVELS
Every eligible entry is evaluated against the established MUSE standard and may receive Platinum, Gold, or Silver recognition according to its final score.
Entries scoring below 65 do not receive an award. A category may recognize multiple winners or no winners, depending on whether the entries meet the required standard.
Gold
Silver
MUSE Grand Distinction
MUSE GRAND DISTINCTIONS
Eligible Platinum-winning entries may be considered for MUSE Grand Distinctions according to the official award criteria.
The distinction is awarded solely at the jury’s discretion and may be withheld when no eligible Platinum-winning entry meets the required standard.
What MUSE Winners Receive
Winner Benefits
Every Platinum, Gold, and Silver Winner receives:
Official Winner Title
Official MUSE Event Awards winner title
Digital Certificate
Personalized digital winner certificate
Winner Badge
Official Platinum, Gold, or Silver winner badge
Winner Profile
Official winner listing and dedicated winner profile
Promotional Materials
Digital promotional materials and official press release template
MUSE Statuette
Eligibility to purchase the official MUSE Event Awards statuette
Every eligible entry is evaluated independently against the established MUSE standard.
Winning entrants may submit written interviews for editorial consideration on Muse.World. Selected winners may also be invited to contribute video interviews or other editorial materials. Publication and promotion are subject to editorial review and are not guaranteed.
The Evaluation FrameworkHow Entries
How Entries
Are Evaluated
Each eligible entry is evaluated independently by an international jury with expertise relevant to the selected category. The jury applies the official five-part MUSE Evaluation Framework to the achievement and its category-specific objectives.
Entries are evaluated on their own merits rather than ranked solely against one another.
Purpose & Relevance
The clarity of the achievement’s objectives, intended audience, context, and relevance to the selected category.
Strategy & Approach
The strength of the concept, planning, approach, and decisions used to achieve the stated objectives.
Execution & Quality
The standard of delivery, craft, expertise, coordination, and quality demonstrated in the selected discipline.
Distinction & Excellence
The originality, differentiation, creativity, innovation, expertise, or category-specific excellence demonstrated by the entry.
Results & Impact
Credible evidence of outcomes, audience response, business value, community benefit, or other results relevant to the achievement’s purpose.
Prepare Your Submission
ENTRYREQUIREMENTS
- Eligibility
- Open worldwide. Eligible work must have been created, organized, produced, launched, delivered, or active on or after January 1, 2024.
- Ongoing Work
- Recurring and ongoing work may be entered when eligible activity occurred during the official eligibility period.
- Language
- Entries must be submitted in English.
- Entry Description
- Maximum 350 words.
- Supporting Files
- Up to eight images or PDF documents. Maximum 4 MB per file.
- Image Dimensions
- Maximum 1920 × 1080 pixels.
- Video or Website Links
- Up to five links. Submitted videos must not exceed three minutes each.
- Multiple Categories
- The same achievement may be submitted to multiple eligible categories. Each category is evaluated independently.
- Editing Deadline
- Entries may be edited until the Final Extension Deadline on February 25, 2027.
PLAN YOUR ENTRY
View DeadlinesEarly Bird Deadline
Regular Deadline
Final Deadline
Final Extension Deadline
Category Guidance
IS EVENT DESIGN & CREATIVE
Enter This Category When
Consider Another Category When
IS EVENT DESIGN & CREATIVE
THE RIGHT
CATEGORY?
Choose Event Design & Creative when you want the jury to focus on this discipline, contribution, or achievement.
Compare All Award CategoriesThis contribution is the achievement.
Creative environments, visual systems, spatial experiences, and design elements that shape how an event is experienced.
A different achievement is the focus.
Choose Events for the complete event, or compare the other specialist categories when a separate contribution deserves its own evaluation.
The same achievement may be entered in more than one eligible category when each submission presents a distinct focus and relevant evidence.
Your Questions Answered
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Event Design & Creative category recognize?
Creative environments, visual systems, spatial experiences, and design elements that shape how an event is experienced.
Should I enter this category or Events?
Choose this category when the specific discipline or contribution is the focus of your entry. Choose Events when you want the complete event evaluated as one unified achievement.
Can the same achievement be submitted to multiple categories?
Yes. The same achievement may be submitted to multiple eligible categories. Each category is evaluated independently, and the applicable category fee applies to each submission.
How do I choose the right subcategory?
Browse the category groups and open the subcategory descriptions. Choose the subcategory that most closely represents the achievement and evidence you want the jury to evaluate.
Can recurring or ongoing work be entered?
Yes. Eligible activity must have occurred on or after January 1, 2024. Identify the qualifying edition, occurrence, project, or period that the jury is being asked to evaluate.
What evidence should I include?
Include a clear description of your objectives, approach, execution, and credible results. Supporting images, documents, and links should demonstrate the achievement in relation to the selected subcategory.
What if no published category accurately fits my work?
Select New Category within the most relevant category group. Propose a category name and briefly explain what you want the jury to evaluate. The proposal will be reviewed by the MUSE Event Awards team before judging.
Enter Your Achievement in the
2027 MUSE Event Awards
Select the category that best represents your achievement, then present it to the international MUSE jury.
Early Bird Entries Close November 19, 2026.