The Rigo Award is named after Joseph Rigo, the founder of SIGDOC. The award celebrates an individual’s lifetime contribution to the field of communication design. Since 2004, Rigo Awards have been given every other year, during even-numbered years.

Nominations for the Rigo Award are considered carefully by the SIGDOC Executive Board (elected and appointed members), and the final recipients are determined in a series of run-off votes. Winners are announced at the SIGDOC conference.

Since 1988, the Rigo Award has been given to the following people: