Site of the Year, our highly anticipated digital transformation awards, has begun—wondering who’s the brains behind the judging process? We’re giving you a behind the scenes introduction to the experts looking at your submissions and a peak at how websites will be critiqued. Get out your backstage pass and a notebook—it's time to meet the committee!
Who’s on the committee this year?
Building a website requires extensive backstage collaboration across departments, which is why we’ve selected experts from various teams to ensure a thorough evaluation process. Just like a film crew is comprised of photographers, actors, set designers, and producers—each expert comes with a different vision and area of expertise to make sure each website really is a blockbuster hit.
Representing a wide range of expertise, the committee includes members from teams such as product strategy, UX design, and marketing. For example, David Slavík, a Product Strategist, brings his ability to evaluate how well projects align with business goals and if a digital transformation has met its full potential to the table. Similarly, Tomas Vykydal, VP of Customer Success, bring insight into the strategic impact of digital transformations and their ability to deliver meaningful value to users.
When it comes to analyzing design and content, Marek Malík, a UX Designer, has an eye for user-centric web design and Head of Brand and Content, Jonathan Henault, brings his keen knowledge for recognizing compelling web content and strategy.
Debbie Tucek, VP of Product, and Miroslav Jirku, Product Marketing Lead, are also part of the committee—bringing their in-depth product knowledge to the table to create a well-rounded committee qualified to fairly assess the competition.
Behind every great production is a full cast, and our committee is no exception—it extends beyond those in the spotlight here. With expert input from various teams, the committee ensures each website receives a well-rounded assessment based on the judging criteria.
How are websites critiqued?
Though websites from different industry categories will undoubtedly bring something a little different to the table, each website is analyzed based on the same criteria that can be recognized core, universal requirements for a showstopping website: UX (user experience), interactivity, graphic design, innovation, content quality, and effective use of Kentico capabilities.
UX (user experience) covers how intuitive and user-friendly the website is. Considerations include effortless navigation, and seamless access to crucial information. Examples of great UX include well-designed menus, search features, and accessibility considerations.
Interactivity is an assessment of how well the site is able to engage users through dynamic and participatory elements; like the use of forms for collecting information.
The graphic design category speaks for itself, it’s an examination of the visual appeal of the website, for example, how well the graphic design conveys the brand identity. Each site will be evaluated for visual harmony in this category. Content quality is a similar category, aiming to recognize content that stands out— for example, the strategic use of engaging event listings, timely updates, and well-organized multimedia elements that inform and captivate users while supporting the website’s purpose.
Innovation celebrates creative approaches and unique solutions that set a submission apart, highlighting originality and forward-thinking strategies. Equally important is the effective use of Kentico capabilities, which assesses how well each submission leverages features like seamless integration to deliver measurable, impactful results.
Based on the criteria, one winner and two honorable mentions will be chosen for each industry category by the committee.
Choosing an industry category
Each submission should fall into one of ten categories, as outlined in our Site of the Year 2024 page.
From healthcare to manufacturing; there’s a category for all.
Consider the features that gave your site a competitive edge in your industry category—for example, play up your expert use of membership-only areas for NGOs and associations. Or highlight how you created seamless digital experiences across touchpoints for customers needing online banking solutions across devices in financial services. Show the committee your niche digital transformation expertise!
After the industry award winners are announced, public votes will be opened to select the ultimate award: the Community Choice Award. This award is all up to the public, with no committee involvement—it’s a competition to see which digital transformation is a crowd favorite!
What makes an award-winning website?
Here’s what makes an award-winning website, according to committee member and Product Marketing Lead, Miroslav Jirku :
“For me, it's a combination of several factors, which also depends on the industry the website targets. Generally, it's about the impression the website leaves on me—its visual appeal, messaging, and the user experience it offers to visitors. On another level, it's also about whether and how well the website is integrated into a larger ecosystem.”
Take inspiration from our previous winners to see what sites stood out in 2023.
Ready to submit?
Wondering how to make your submission stand out? Head of Brand and Content, Jonathan Henault, offers this advice:
"To make your submission truly stand out, focus on the finer details. Share not just the visible features of your website but also the stories behind its creation. What challenges did you overcome? What innovative solutions were implemented on the back-end? These insights, coupled with a comprehensive overview of your website’s functionality and creative elements, help our committee understand the full scope of your achievement. The more we know about what went into bringing your vision to life, the better we can evaluate its excellence."
To submit your website for consideration, fill out the form with details about your project’s digital transformation. Any Kentico website—Kentico Xperience 13 or Xperience by Kentico—that completed a digital transformation in 2024 is qualified.
Don’t miss your chance to claim your website’s starring role in Site of the Year 2024!