FAQ must have

No, applications for the plebiscite are accepted free of charge.

Participation in the exhibition showcasing those honored with must have quality mark at Łódź Design Festival is paid and is subject to individual arrangements with the Organizer. 

The plebiscite consists of three stages. In the first stage, submissions for the plebiscite are collected from the market (from producers/designers/authorized representatives) via an online form, and nominations are also gathered from the Board of Experts. The second stage consists of voting by the Board of Experts and selecting a group of distinguished products/collections for the edition (approximately 60–80). The third stage is the opportunity to participate in the must have exhibition during Łódź Design Festival.

The plebiscite is judged by the Board of Experts, whose interests and preferences vary, the composition of which changes in each edition. The organizers invite to participate in, among others: designers, architects, curators and media representatives.

The Board of Experts jointly analyzes the application forms submitted to the poll, as well as the nominations submitted by all Council members. During the deliberations, the Council selects approximately 60–80 products/product collections from all submissions, whose manufacturers will be invited to participate in the must have exhibition during the Łódź Design Festival in a given year.

The current list is:

• child
• electronics
• hobbies, entertainment, education
• visual communication (product, space)
• Łódzkie Creates
• furniture (indoor & outdoor)
• fashion (clothing, jewelry, accessories)
• lifestyle (recreation, sports, beauty, health, pets)
• ervices and technology solutions (websited, apps)
• interior design (lighting, accessories, devices, decorative elements, materials)

Yes, applications for the plebiscite may concern one product or the entire line/collection of products.

In order for a product/product collection to be considered in the plebiscite, it must meet the following conditions: the product/product collection is manufactured by a company based in Poland; the product/product collection is sold in Poland; the product/product collection is designed by a designer holding Polish citizenship, and in the case of design teams – at least one member must hold Polish citizenship. Products should be manufactured and introduced to regular sales no earlier than January 1, 2023. One person/design team/producer can submit any number of entries to the contest, provided that the selected product/product collection is submitted to only one category.An additional advantage will be the submission of products/collections of products that are particularly responsive to contemporary consumer needs – they are socially sensitive, are made with concern for resources and do not create waste, are health-conscious, or are ideal for the home office.

There are no limits on submissions from one person/project group/producer. You can submit any number of entries to the plebiscite, provided that the selected product/collection of products is submitted to only one category. Each product/product collection must be sent in a separate application form available only in Polish at www.lodzdesign.com in the must have tab. Entire lines/collections appearing under one name, which can be submitted in one form, are an exception.

No, all submitted products must be available for sale at the time of submitting to the plebiscite.

Each time the application form is correctly filled in, a board with information about its submission will appear. In addition, a confirmation of sending the application form will be sent to the e-mail address provided in the contact form. The message may be sent to the SPAM or OFFERS folder. If the confirmation does not arrive, please send an e-mail to musthave@lodzdesign.com.

The total proceeds from the fees for participation in the exhibition are intended for the preparation of the arrangement and identification of the distinguished objects at the must have exhibition during the current edition of the Łódź Design Festival.