Short answers, pulled from the story.
The D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Game Design was first presented on the 1st of February 1998. The inaugural nominees included PaRappa the Rapper, Dungeon Keeper, and Final Fantasy VII under the original name Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Design.
Nintendo is the most nominated developer in this category with 14 nominations and 5 wins. Nintendo EAD/SPD/EPD is the only developer to have won the award more than once.
The Legend of Zelda franchise is the most nominated franchise in this category with 6 nominations and 3 wins. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are the recognized titles.
The category was renamed from Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Design to Outstanding Achievement in Game Design during the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards in the year 2000. This change reflected the maturing of the industry and a move toward the specific discipline of game design.
Scribblenauts won the D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Portable Game Design in 2010. The category was presented to titles that made the most compelling contribution to the unique opportunities and challenges of portable, mobile and networked game play.