Michael M.
CEO
Mitrakos Digital
Pittsburgh, United States
Michael leads a digital studio that specializes in web design and digital marketing.
The judging panel
Designers raising the bar for the web
Meet the judges who score Web Design Awards entries, and see exactly what happens between an entry going live and its scorecard being published.
239
Entries scored to date
7
Public criteria, each scored 0-10
How we evaluate
Seven public criteria, one weighted score
Judges score entries against the same seven criteria, weighted into one score out of 10. Every criterion score is published on the entry's nominee page, so teams can see exactly where their work landed.
15% of the score
User Experience & Strategy
Intentional journeys that earn the visitor's time. Strategy must be visible in the design, not assumed.
15% of the score
Visual Design & Branding
Visuals that feel both original and unmistakably on brand. Decorative competence is not enough.
10% of the score
Content & Storytelling
Messaging that communicates value quickly and rewards deeper exploration. Words count as much as pixels.
10% of the score
Accessibility & Inclusivity
Inclusive practices that serve diverse needs. Baseline compliance is the floor, not the ceiling.
20% of the score
Performance & Technical Implementation
Engineering that makes the experience feel immediate, stable, and trustworthy. Heavy sites do not win.
10% of the score
Responsiveness & Multi-device Support
Layouts that adapt fluidly across breakpoints and input modes - not just a mobile fallback of the desktop view.
20% of the score
Innovation & Future Readiness
Work that pushes the medium forward - original concepts, responsible use of new technology, durable thinking.
How judging works
A transparent process built to celebrate excellence and growth
Judges score on their own, from the judging dashboard - there is no group session or discussion round. Judging runs all year: entries are scored as they come in, with a decision within 30 days, or 48 hours with rushed judging.
Scorecards go public on the entry's nominee page as soon as it is scored.
- 01
Automated measurement
When an entry goes live, Google PageSpeed Insights tests the site on mobile and desktop. The results pre-fill the accessibility, performance, and responsiveness scores as a starting point the judge can change.
- 02
Scored against the rubric
A judge reviews the live site and scores all seven criteria from 0 to 10 against the published anchor bands. The weighted score is calculated from the rubric weights, and each judge scores an entry once.
- 03
Scorecard published
Once scored, the entry leaves the judging queue and its criterion scores and weighted score go live on its nominee page. If more than one judge scores an entry, each criterion is averaged.
- 04
Monthly awards
Once a month, scored entries are awarded on their scores alone: entries that clear the winning score become winners, and the top scores take Site of the Month.
Our panel
The people behind the scores
Everyone on the panel scores from the same judging dashboard, against the same seven public criteria.
Want to help define the next era of digital creativity?
Seats on the panel are an annual Judge / Partner membership. Judges score entries from the judging dashboard against the same seven public criteria, and get a listing on this page, an Official Judge badge, and a Premium nomination every year.