Adding a Video Testimonial to your entry is not required, but it can make a big difference. This section will explain the rules for including a video in your entry, plus tips on how to make your video as successful as possible. We’ve also included examples that demonstrate a range of approaches.
We encourage everyone to include a video testimonial in their entry, but the video is NOT required. Think of this entry component as a rare opportunity to tell the jury about your design, and convey your belief in it, in a way that text and images can’t. Within the 2 minutes and 30 seconds limit, you should share what you set out to do with your design, what’s notable about your project and why it deserves an award.
Think of it as a "Show and Tell" – hold up your design, do a demo if appropriate, point to distinguishing characteristics, etc. You may use any visuals you like, if you choose to. Since we intend for these to be easy to make, we encourage you to go low-tech and informal, even straight-to-webcam. It’s your testimonial, not the execution of your video, that counts.
Upload your video file in the Project Video portion of your entry. Please review the formats and restrictions below to ensure your video will qualify.
Make your design the star of the show - keep the video focused on the intent, process, execution and learnings of your design.
Make it personal. This is your story told your way. It should have a healthy dose of Point of View and be compelling to watch. You want the jury to learn about you and your process through the video.
Make sure to cover following points:
Have fun while you’re doing it! This is supposed to be a delightful, informative, and personal addition to the required entry materials.
Get inspiration for your video testimonial from the examples below. Explore different approaches, use props, people, technology; whatever works and is at your disposal. Above all else, your video should put your design front and center.
The video testimonial for Globe.fm, a 2020 Interaction Student Notable Project, contains no text or dialogue. What it does accomplish is showing the product in action and how the features benefit the user. This video is a quality production, but simple enough for many to execute and stays under the preferred 2:30 maximum length. The video does an excellent job of simply getting the design's point across in an engaging way.
The IF Platform was the winner of 2017’s Professional Commercial Equipment category for its outstanding design and concept, which makes the 360 degree tour of the design an ideal way to communicate it. The video shows the design from all angles and demonstrates how it moves and works. Although the production value of this video is clearly high quality, the idea behind it is still clear, simple, and possible to execute on both the professional and student level. This is a very effective way to get the point of the design across.
In just under two and half minutes, Boey Wang introduces the 2021 Home & Living Student Winner project, Haptics of Cooking. The video utilizes a simple combination of interview audio, user demo footage, as well as beautiful close up shots to get across the intent of Wang's design and what makes it great. Despite the high-quality video, it is a wonderful template for how to get all the important points of your project across in a simple way that is also easily replicable.