In the newest issue of Eye, Jason Grant contribues an essay called “Awards Madness,” which considers the role of design awards. Among his many sources Grant quotes Slovenian design theorist Oliver Vodeb: “Many designers are experts in decoding what kind of work will have a chance of winning which award. The competitive context not only shapes the nature and quality of the outcome but affects the whole philosophy of design. It creates a mindset of decontextualised design thinking and practice. It reduces design, design thinking and practising to a self-referential commodity.” Winners keep winning. Grant also cites James English’s book The Economy of Prestige, which was central to my essay on design awards from Design Observer two years ago.