Award Descriptions & Critera

Artist of the Year & Artist of the Year: Fan Choice
Brand of the Year
Custom of the Year & Custom of the Year: Fan Choice
Toy of the Year & Toy of the Year: Fan Choice
Break-through Artist
Best Production Sculpt
Best Licensed
Best Non-Licensed
Best Mini-Series
Best Non-Plastic
Best Resin
Best Soft Vinyl
Best Vinyl & Plastic 
Best Toy Store
Best Online Toy Store
Lifetime achievement
Hall of Fame

Artist of the Year & Artist of the Year: Fan Choice

Recognizing a single artist, artistic duo, or collective who designed and/or produced a variety of outstanding new releases last year as well as garnering a strong base of followers and a steady demand for new material.

Requirements
• Active and productive since the beginning of last year by creating original works and/or designing pieces for production.
• Must have designed and/or created at least two (2) designer toys, including customs, last year.
• Must have designed and/or created at least one (1) designer toy, including customs, last year that was issued in an edition of 10 or greater.
• In addition to sole artists, those working under an established duo or collective name during last year are eligible as well.

Brand of the Year

Celebrating a Designer Toy company whose product releases last year have been consistently outstanding, of high quality, and had a breadth of diversity. While their toy releases are the most important other aspects will be considered, including events, sponsored promotions, and other supportive contributions to the Designer Toy community.

Requirements
• Active and productive since at least April of last year by releasing Designer Toys pieces.
• Must have released works by at least two (2) different artists during last year.
• At least half of the brand's output must have been designer toys.
• Brand can not be a vanity business, meaning that it cannot by owned & operated by the sole artist (or artist duo/collective) that releases through it.

Custom of the Year & Custom of the Year: Fan Choice

Recognizing a single artist, artistic duo, or collective who transformed an existing Designer Toy into an individually expressive art object. Consideration will be based on the custom's merits of concept, paint execution, additional sculpting (if applicable), and overall attention to detail.

Requirements
• Custom must have been completed and debuted last year.
• The custom must have a production toy base, regardless of whether vinyl, resin, or any other primary material.

Toy of the Year & Toy of the Year: Fan Choice

The Toy of the Year recognizes a singularly outstanding platform, whose design and manufacture was of the highest quality and execution. This award celebrates a Designer Toy that captured the imagination of the fans and became a popularly demanded item.

There are no nominations for consideration directly in this category. Finalists will be selected by the Nomination Committee from the following categories: Best Licensed, Best Non-Licensed, Best Mini-Series, Best Non-Plastic, Best Resin, Best Sofubi, and Best Vinyl & Plastic.

Break-through Artist

Presented in recognition of an artist who gained significant field-wide notice last year. While they could be relatively new to the scene or a professional who struggled for years, their dedication to Designer Toys and making a place for themselves within the community is honored with this award. Not only should they have had a variety of outstanding releases last year, but also an increased fan base and overall visibility. Noncredited corporate work does not disqualify an artist. Credited and/or artist-branded work for a company will count as a personal release.

Sponsored by Kidrobot, this winner of this prestigious award is also presented with the amazing opportunity to create a production Dunny design, the most recognizable and loved platform figure in the Designer Toy World.

Best Production Sculpt

This new category will recognize a singularly outstanding sculpt for a production toy. This award celebrates a sculpt that exemplifies the creative act of transforming an artists vision into a 3-dimensional object. 

Requirements
• Release must be a new Designer Toy, or a significantly modified version of a previous release, that was debuted last year.
• Release must have been produced in qty's greater than 50 pieces.
• Release can be produced in any material

Best Licensed

Presented to an outstanding Designer Toy release with a design derived from an officially licensed (or creator approved) entertainment property: film, television, video game, or anything else. Nominees in this category will be judged not only on their quality as a toy but also their representation of the original property.

Requirements
• Release must be a brand new Designer Toy, or a significantly modified version of a previous release, that debuted last year and the design must have been derived from an officially licensed (or creator approved) entertainment property.
• This category forgoes the requirement that the release actively uses the designer or artist's name in marketing of the piece.
• The release must've been produced by an indie toy company (one that is not publicly traded).

Best Non-Licensed

Presented to an outstanding Designer Toy release with a design derived from an unofficially licensed or bootlegged entertainment property: film, television, video game, or anything else. Nominees in this category will be judged not only on their quality as a toy but also their representation of the original property.

Requirements
• Release must be a brand new Designer Toy, or a significantly modified version of a previous release, that debuted last year and the design must have been derived from a non-licensed entertainment property.
• The release must've been produced by an indie toy company, or artist. (one that is not publicly traded).

Best Mini-Series

Whether a production platform or customized toy series, this category acknowledges excellence in conceptually linked figures that have been produced in multiple quantities. Aspects considered in judging include quality of manufacturing, design, packaging, and even innovative use of thematic series elements.

Requirements
• Released series must be a brand new Designer Toy(s), or a significantly modified version of a previous release(s), debuted last year; significant modification includes differing paint schemes, such as a Dunny series would have.
• Released series must have been branded as a series, even if each piece was available individually.
• All figures in the series must have been released simultaneously.
• The series must consist of at least three (3) figures, whether uniquely designed or variations of one another.
• Custom series are acceptable, as long as the majority of designs in the series were available in quantities greater than five.

Best Non-Plastic

Celebrating the most innovative Designer Toys made mainly out of non-plastic materials to be released during the eligibility period. These are judged on design, construction, material usage, and overall execution.

Requirements
• Release must be a brand new Designer Toy, or a significantly modified version of a previous one, that was debuted last year.
• Release must be at least half non-plastic materials, such as plush, wood, or metal. Please note resin pieces would fall under "Best Resin" category.
* Must be a stand-alone release and not part of a series (see Best Mini-Series).

Best Resin

Presented to the best Designer Toy platform cast in resin, this category considers the quality of the finished piece, the sculpted design, and innovative use of color dyes and paints.

Requirements
• Release must be a brand new Designer Toy or a significantly modified version of a previous release, that was debuted last year.
• The majority of the release must be made out of resin, rubber, or similar materials.
* Must have been produced in Qtys higher than 15.
* Must be a stand-alone release and not part of a series (see Best Mini-Series).
* Must not have been derived from a non-licensed entertainment property. (see Best Non-Licenced).

Best Soft Vinyl

Presented to the best Designer Toy manufactured platform using a Soft Vinyl Material (such as SOFUBI or SOFVI) usually but not exclusively in a slush cast method(Japanese soft vinyl style of production). This category celebrates the manner in which a Japanese led production technique and design style has become a mainstay for the Designer Toy market. The manufacturing quality, sculpting, and innovative color variations will all be considered for this award.

Please note: This category is only open to platforms cast in soft vinyl. Pieces made out of a more rigid (rotocast in some cases) vinyl such as such as PVC, ABS etc should be entered in theBest Vinylcategory.

Requirements
•  Release must be a brand new Designer Toy, or a significantly modified version of a previous release, that was debuted last year.
• The majority of the release must be made out of soft vinyl,
* Must be a stand-alone release and not part of a series (see Best Mini-Series).

Best Vinyl & Plastic

Presented to the best Designer Toy platform manufactured using "Western vinyl," which typically means manufactured in China. The manufacturing quality, sculpting, and innovative color variations will all be considered for this award.

Please note: This category is only open to platforms cast mainly in "Western vinyl" (usually from China), but includes other types of western plastic such as ABS, PVC, etc. Pieces made out of sofubi (Japanese vinyl) should be entered in the Best Sofubi category.

Requirements
• Release must be a brand new Designer Toy, or a significantly modified version of a previous release, that was debuted last year.
• The majority of the release must be made out of vinyl, not including soft Japanese vinyl (sofubi) which has its own category.
* Must be a stand-alone release and not part of a series (see Best Mini-Series).

Best Toy Store

This category honors a brick-and-mortar (physical store) retailer that specializes in Designer Toys and has distinguished itself with outstanding activity last year. Nominees will be judged on knowledgeability, the range and selection of products offered, the overall store appearance and presentation, and any special events and/or shows the location hosted.

Requirements
• Active since at least April of last year, and have offered new stock during last year.
• Stores must have a selection of products from various brands and artists.
• The store must dedicate at least half of its inventory to Designer Toys.
• This category is only available to those stores with a physical, brick-and-mortar location; those without one can only be considered for Best Online Toy Store (assuming they meet the requirements of that category).

Best Online Toy Store

Celebrating the outstanding achievement by an online retailer that specializes in Designer Toys and has been active last year. Criteria for consideration include range and selection of products, overall website presentation, ease of use, and customer service.

Requirements
• Active since at least April of last year, and have offered new stock during last year.
• Stores must have a selection of products from various brands and artists.
• The store must dedicate at least half of its inventory to Designer Toys.

Lifetime Achievement

Awarded to the individual who's shown long-term dedication, creativity, inspiration, and effort within the community. With a large number of 'unsung heroes' out there, it is our hope that this award will — in some manner — ensure that these tireless artists receive the recognition they deserve.

Hall of Fame Inductees

Some Designer Toys are iconic in the community but were released well before the beginnings of the DTAs. The Hall of Fame will induct at least one toy every year that was released at least 12 years previous and was pivotal in helping form the industry into what it is today.

Discontunued awards