Excellence, diversity and responsibility
The independent Red Dot Jury is at the heart of the competition. In 2025, the jury comprises 43 experts from 21 countries, including renowned figures from the worlds of design, science, media and consultancy, hailing from a variety of industries and cultures. This diversity of perspectives and experience ensures a well-founded, multi-layered evaluation. Each submitted product is evaluated by the jury members according to clearly defined criteria, ensuring that only the best designs are honoured with the prestigious distinctions “Red Dot” and “Red Dot: Best of the Best”.
The evaluation criteria
All submissions are evaluated, discussed and critically examined live and on site by the jury, who have one clear goal: to identify and honour outstanding design. With great expertise and a trained eye for quality, the jury members carefully evaluate each submission based on the four core principles of excellent design, as defined by Professor Dr Peter Zec: quality of function, quality of seduction, quality of use, and quality of responsibility.
These criteria are flexible enough to recognise the diversity of contemporary design, yet precise enough to provide clear guidance. Some products impress with their intuitive usability, while others do so with their formal elegance or sustainable choice of materials. However, all award-winning works fulfil the four basic principles in a balanced way. No aspect may be missing. These criteria also serve as guidelines for the jury, helping them reliably identify excellent design.
