IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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SEPTEMBER 2026 I I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE 75 plex requirements into elegant, efficient, and man- ufacturable solutions. What separates a very good PCB design from an award-winning one? Bornhorn: A very good PCB design successfully ful- fills its technical requirements. An award-winning design goes beyond that by solving particularly dif- ficult challenges in an innovative and elegant way. The winning projects in the past demonstrated, for example, exceptional optimization of space, power density, thermal management, signal integrity, reli- ability, and manufacturability, often under severe constraints. They stood out not only because they worked, but because they achieved outstanding results with remarkable precision, creativity, and engineering discipline while maintaining excellent documentation and production readiness. What are some of the judges' criteria? Bornhorn: The jury evaluates submissions against a range of technical and practical criteria that re- flect both engineering excellence and real-world manufacturability. Key aspects include the overall symmetry and clarity of the design, the effective use of available board space, and a placement strategy that achieves high component density without compromising functionality or reliability. Particular attention is paid to whether functional groups can be clearly identified within the layout, demonstrating a logical and well-structured design approach. The stackup concept is also an impor- tant evaluation factor, which is why entrants are required to provide a layer stackup sketch as part of their documentation. In addition, the judges assess DFM consider- ations to ensure that the design can be produced efficiently and economically. Finally, a strong submission clearly describes the technical chal- lenges involved and convincingly explains how these challenges were addressed through the design. What are you most looking forward to at this year's PCB Design Awards, and what can attend- ees expect? Reel: I am looking forward to the opportunity to put PCB designers and their achievements in the spotlight. As I mentioned earlier, these profession- als often work behind the scenes, yet they play a critical role in turning innovative ideas into reliable, manufacturable electronic products. Attendees can look forward to seeing some truly outstanding and innovative designs. The award finalists showcase what is possible when engineering excellence meets creativity, and they provide valuable inspiration for the entire industry. It is always fascinating to learn how design teams have solved challenging technical prob- lems and transformed ambitious concepts into successful products. In addition, attendees can benefit from the accompanying FED Conference, which covers current trends, best practices, and emerging tech- nologies in electronics design and manufacturing. How has the role of the PCB designer changed, particularly as AI and digital tools become part of the process? Bornhorn: One of their biggest challenges is the rapid transformation driven by AI and digitali- zation. PCB designers see a fundamental change in how products are conceived, developed, and optimized. AI can support tasks such as component selec- tion, design verification, layout optimization, signal integrity analysis, and documentation. That creates tremendous opportunities for greater productivity and faster development cycles, but it is changing the role of the PCB designer. Their routine activities are being automated, while the demand for system-level thinking, engineering judgment, creativity, and interdisciplinary collab- oration is growing. The profession is therefore evolving from a focus primarily on PCB layout to a key contributor to the overall product development process. Contin- uous learning has never been more important as designers need to understand electronics, manufacturing, reliability, sustainability, data management, and the intelligent tools that support these activities. Thank you, Christoph and Erika. I-CONNECT007