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The awards year

Four seasonal cycles that build toward one yearly benchmark

JIMSO runs on a simple annual rhythm. Four seasonal cycles each name their own finalists and winners, and together they feed a single yearly event: the Annual JIMSO Awards, held in late January.

Four seasonal cycles

Each cycle is a complete awards round in its own right

Within a cycle, entrants apply in one or more categories, pass an independent eligibility and evidence review, and are scored by the jury against a weighted 0–100 rubric. Up to five finalists are named per category, and a single winner is chosen — or none, if the quality threshold is not met.

The four cycles use the same criteria and the same scoring model, so a Spring result and an Autumn result carry equal weight.

How the two relate

Seasonal cycles are the way in. The annual awards are the peak.

You cannot skip the standard. Most of the annual shortlist is made up of products that already proved themselves in a seasonal cycle. Annual-only entries exist for products that arrive late in the year, but they can never dominate the field.

Current season Annual awards

The annual model

Seasonal recognition feeds one yearly benchmark

Every seasonal finalist from the year qualifies automatically and free of charge. A controlled number of annual-only entries is admitted, capped at no more than 30 percent of the annual shortlist, so the majority of the field has already earned recognition.

  1. Winter

    Finalists and winners qualify for the annual round.

  2. Spring

    Finalists and winners qualify for the annual round.

  3. Summer

    Finalists and winners qualify for the annual round.

  4. Autumn

    The Autumn cycle is open now.

  5. Annual

    Category winners and one overall Product of the Year, late January.

The yearly rhythm

One year, four rounds in, one benchmark out

Winter cycle
Entry, independent review, judging, finalists and winners — a complete awards round.
Spring cycle
Entry, independent review, judging, finalists and winners — a complete awards round.
Summer cycle
Entry, independent review, judging, finalists and winners — a complete awards round.
Autumn cycle
Entry, independent review, judging, finalists and winners — a complete awards round.
Annual JIMSO Awards
Held in late January. All seasonal finalists qualify, annual-only entries are admitted up to the 30 percent cap, and the jury names category winners and one overall Product of the Year.

See the round that is open now on the current season page, or read how the annual awards are decided.