Judging each of the submissions is no easy task. It's a challenge we entrust to our expert panel of judges.

The Pixel Awards judges are proven innovators in their fields with broad web expertise and a knack for spotting extraordinary talent with fairness and accuracy. They are executives, creatives, and visionaries at top agencies and websites covering a diverse cross-section of industries - art and design, marketing and advertising, product development and technology, and usability.

The judges look for a creative and technical blend of impeccable graphic design, artistry, technological expertise, and a powerful, stimulating user experience. These sites are the best of the web, folks, so it's necessary to evaluate each site against the following criteria:

• Innovation – The site must bring something new to the table, break barriers.
• Content – All the words, music, animation, video, and info on the site.
• Navigation – How users move around the site.
• Visual design – Graphic appearance of the site.
• Functionality – Creative and efficient use of technology, interactivity, and usability.
• Overall site experience – All of the above combined, the overall site impression.