Awarding Ceremony
For Red Dot, 2025 was marked by significant anniversaries. From the first “Permanent exhibition of attractively designed industrial products” (orig. title: Ständige Schau formschöner Industrieerzeugnisse) in 1955 to the internationally established Red Dot Design Award, seven decades of lived and actively shaped design culture unfold. With the anniversary exhibition “70 Years of Design – Masterpieces Selected by Peter Zec”, which opened in October, Red Dot honoured influential products that have made design history and whose impact can still be felt today. The Red Dot Award: Design Concept also celebrated its 20th anniversary – a milestone that underlines the continuous promotion of groundbreaking creative visions.
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International platform for design quality
In addition, 2025 was marked by successful competitions, inspiring jury sessions, festive award ceremonies and a variety of events at our locations in Essen, Singapore and Xiamen.
Outstanding design was brought to the international stage several times this year: from anniversary exhibitions in Essen to colourful presentations in Vienna, Taiwanese design at the Taiwan Design Research Institute and innovative concepts in Singapore and Xiamen – proof of the global reach and cultural exchange of the three competitions.
New collaborations, creative impulses and lively international exchange continue to strengthen Red Dot as a platform that makes excellent design visible, understandable and accessible – approachable, relevant and always surprising. Despite global challenges, we look forward to the coming year with optimism and look forward to shaping new chapters together with the global design community.
Design on the world stage: exhibitions at the beginning of the year
The year 2025 began at the Red Dot Design Museum with a series of impressive exhibitions focusing on both regional and international design. They opened the anniversary year with diverse perspectives on design culture and offered visitors a multifaceted programme right from the start of the year. Three presentations particularly characterised this first phase: “Best of Austrian Design”, “World's Best Communication Design 2024 and Highlights from NRW” and a studio exhibition on the Porsche 911.
Best of Austrian Design
The anniversary year in Essen began with “Best of Austrian Design”. The exhibition, which ran from 18 December 2024 to 9 February 2025 at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, showed a selection of outstanding projects from Austria that had won the Red Dot Award, in cooperation with designaustria. It reflected how strong and diverse the Austrian design scene is today.
World’s Best Communication Design 2024 and Highlights from NRW
The museum then turned its attention to the best communication design achievements of the year. Leading international projects were showcased alongside creative works from North Rhine-Westphalia, highlighting the region's creative diversity. The special exhibition showed how communication design shapes social discourse, provides orientation and creates identity – both globally and locally – and was open to visitors from 21 February to 1 June 2025.
Porsche 911: Unmistakably recognisable
A special highlight was the studio exhibition on the Porsche 911, which was on display at the Red Dot Design Museum from 18 December 2024 to 30 March 2025. The focus was on the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, flanked by information, photographs and texts on the design development of the entire 911 series and the differences to the off-road model 911 Dakar.
Since the 1960s, the Porsche 911 has combined technological progress with precise design. Although individual model series sometimes exist in parallel, their design line always leads back to the original model: the Porsche 911, which went into series production in 1964, based on the Porsche Type 901 designed by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. Characteristic design elements have been retained over the decades, with the result that all models navigate the tension between identity and further development – making them “unmistakably recognizable”.
» Read the interview “Porsche 911 – a conversation with Jova Zec about the evolution of an icon”
Peter Zec on the Startcast podcast: “From the ‘red dot’ to the global design award”
Beyond competitions and exhibitions, Red Dot 2025 was also present in numerous discussions, including the Startcast podcast. In the episode “From 'Roter Punkt’ (Red Dot) to global design award”, Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, initiator and CEO of Red Dot, talks to podcast host Max Ostermeier about his journey from hologram laboratory to internationally recognised institution for outstanding design. He explains how the original mark used to indicate sold artworks – the red dot – became the inspiration for the development of a global seal of quality, and what considerations regarding naming and strategic brand management were behind this transformation.
The episode offers exciting insights into Zec’s understanding of design and his entrepreneurial attitude. Personal experiences and anecdotes illustrate how he interprets topics such as leadership, responsibility and the role of design in a changing world, and how these perspectives continue to shape Red Dot’s identity to this day.
» Listen now: Startcast podcast with Peter Zec (only available in German)
Red Dot Award: Product Design 2025
In 2025, the international jury for product design, consisting of 43 experts from 21 countries, evaluated submissions from more than 60 nations. Experts from the design industry, universities, media and consulting discussed the submitted products intensively and made an informed selection of the most convincing products.
Award ceremony
On 8 July 2025, the winners of the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2025 selected by the jury were finally celebrated in style. For the first time, the gala was streamed live from the Aalto Theatre in Essen, hosted by Jova Zec, Vice President of Red Dot, and Freddie Schürheck, presenter and journalist. Around 3,000 viewers from all over the world were able to experience the gala live. The award ceremony and the subsequent Designers’ Night at the Red Dot Design Museum offered around 1,300 guests – including chief designers from brands such as Philips, Thule, Lamborghini and KIA – an unforgettable evening.
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Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2025
The BRP Design & Innovation Team was named “Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2025”. Led by Denys Lapointe, the team has been impressing for years with groundbreaking powersport design that combines functionality, technology and emotional experiences. The “Adventure by Design” exhibition at the Red Dot Design Museum provided exclusive insights into BRP's creative work until September 2025, complemented by an outdoor presentation of award-winning vehicles during the Designers’ Night.
Designers’ Night
After the gala, the museum was transformed into a lively backdrop for conversations, music and culinary highlights. The focus was also on the exhibitions “Red Dot Milestones 2025–2026” with the 89 best products of the year and “Design on Stage 2025–2026” with around 1,500 award-winning products. The well-attended beer garden, culinary highlights and exciting discoveries in the exhibitions created a successful atmosphere, while DJ CHRISSI D invited guests to dance to his beats.
70 Years of Design – Masterpieces Selected by Peter Zec
The highlight of the year was the major retrospective of seven decades of design culture: on 5 October 2025, the Red Dot Design Museum Essen opened the anniversary exhibition “70 Years of Design – Masterpieces Selected by Peter Zec”. It commemorates the first exhibition promoting design in 1955 and spans the arc from the beginnings in Villa Hügel to the international significance of Red Dot today. Curated by Professor Dr. Peter Zec himself, the show brings together over 60 exhibits that represent personal milestones for him – from the Fiat Nuova 500 to the Braun Sixtant SM 31 shaver to the first iPad.
The festive matinee at the opening offered a look back at the past decades, personal insights from Peter Zec and a welcome address by Essen’s Lord Mayor Thomas Kufen. The exhibition shows how design drives innovation, changes everyday life and has shaped the international appeal of Red Dot.
More on this: Article “70 Years of Design – Masterpieces Selected by Peter Zec”
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Exhibition Taiwan – Contemporary Taiwanese Design Awarded by Red Dot
A significant international event of the year was the comprehensive presentation of contemporary Taiwanese design at the Taiwan Design Research Institute. From 16 September to 16 November 2025, the museum in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park presented 177 award-winning products, communication designs and design concepts.
An additional exhibition area was entitled “Red Dot Design Award: The Trajectory of Design”. It presented the international evaluation principles of the Red Dot Award and its development since the 1950s, showcasing the global impact of the work of Taiwanese designers. The exhibition underscored the long-standing partnership between Red Dot and Taiwan and emphasised the country’s role as a driver of innovation in the international design landscape.
JIDA – Japanese design on the international stage
On 22 September 2025, the deepening of the relationship between Red Dot and Japan was sealed with the signing of a letter of understanding. The new partnership between the Japan Industrial Design Association (JIDA) and Red Dot marks a decisive step: JIDA will become Red Dot’s official representative in Japan and support designers and companies in presenting their work on one of the world’s most influential design stages. It is an open door through which Japanese creativity can gain global recognition and international design enthusiasts can experience the spirit of Japanese design.
20 years of the Red Dot Award: Design Concept
The Red Dot Award: Design Concept arose from early collaboration between Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of Red Dot, and Singapore. After its first appearance at the International Design Forum in the 1990s, the idea of a competition that honours visionary concepts rather than finished products developed. A decisive step followed in 2004 when, on the recommendation of Milton Tan, Zec met entrepreneur Ken Koo – the ideal partner for establishing a new Red Dot location in Asia.
In 2005, the Red Dot Design Museum Singapore opened, and with it the Red Dot Award: Design Concept. Since then, the competition has developed into an international benchmark for forward-looking design. The 20th anniversary underscores the importance of the partnership between Red Dot and Singapore, as well as the ongoing relevance of design concepts as drivers of global innovation.
Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2025
In the anniversary year 2025, designers from all over the world presented their visions, ideas and prototypes, once again demonstrating how strongly design acts as a catalyst for social and technological development. Professor Dr. Peter Zec emphasises: “Design is more than just shaping. It is an attitude, a process, an experiment and ultimately a response to the challenges of our time with the appropriate and accessible means.”
The award ceremony took place on 15 October at the Capitol Theatre in Singapore. Peter Zec, Jova Zec and Ken Koo presented the winners with their trophies on stage before the award-winning works were displayed at the Red Dot Design Museum overlooking Marina Bay.
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Red Dot: Luminary
The compact, intelligent means of transport Strutt ev¹ received the Red Dot: Luminary 2025, the highest award in the competition. The concept integrates state-of-the-art automotive technology into personal mobility.
Nominees for the Luminary award included Honda’s Fastport eQuad, the Sports Bra Design Platform and the Silver Arrow architecture project.
Red Dot: Peter Zec Prize
The Enlightening Star concept was awarded the prize for promoting young talent. The distance learning Braille system supports children with visual impairments in hard-to-reach regions. The Red Dot: Peter Zec Prize is endowed with prize money of 10,000 Singapore dollars and is aimed at designers under the age of 30. The trophy was presented to the winners on stage by Professor Dr. Peter Zec himself.
Other nominees included ViWipe, Daize and The Audion – projects that demonstrate the creative potential of the next generation of designers.
Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design 2025
The Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design 2025 once again showcased the breadth of contemporary brand and communication design and brought together international creatives, agencies and young talents. In 2025, the Red Dot Jury consisted of 30 international experts who spent several days reviewing the competition entries and evaluating them in terms of design and creative achievement.
Red Dot Gala at the Konzerthaus Berlin
On 7 November 2025, the most outstanding projects of the year were finally celebrated at the Red Dot Gala in Berlin. Guests from 33 nations witnessed the presentation of the Red Dot Trophy to the winners of the Red Dot: Best of the Best and Red Dot: Grand Prix. This year, the Red Dot: Junior Prize, worth 10,000 euros, was awarded to students from Ling Tung University, who accepted their award in person at the Konzerthaus Berlin. The evening culminated in the awarding of Accenture Song as Red Dot: Agency of the Year 2025, before the night was turned into day at the after-show party at the BRICKS Club Berlin. Here, guests were also able to take a first look at the current edition of the International Yearbook Brands & Communication Design.
AI-Powered Activation Campaign “The Revived”
Client: Brand Ukraine, Ukraine
Design: Peter Schmidt Group, Germany | TEAMBBDO – The Marketing Group, Germany
Online Annual and Sustainability Report “Gewobag Online Annual and Sustainability Report - Impulse of time”
Client: Gewobag Wohnungsbau-Aktiengesellschaft Berlin, Germany
Design: heureka, Germany
Book “Triptych on What”
Client: Naklada Boškovic, Croatia
Design: Stjepko Rošin, Croatia
Website Relaunch “Obama Foundation”
Client: Obama Foundation, USA
Design: Work & Co (part of Accenture Song), USA
TV Advertising “Age of Intelligence”
Client: OpenAI
Design: Accenture Song, USA | Builders Club, United Kingdom
Red Dot: Junior Prize
The project Cicada’s Tune by students from the Ling Tung University, Taiwan, received the award for its creative and scientifically precise design of illustrations and 3D-printed elements that make the study of cicadas a multi-sensory experience.
Accenture Song is Red Dot: Agency of the Year 2025
Accenture Song being named Red Dot: Agency of the Year 2025 is a tribute to its exceptional creative work. Professor Dr. Peter Zec presented the Stylus challenge trophy to Nick Law, Global Creative Strategy and Experience Lead at Accenture Song. Together with numerous colleagues, he accepted the trophy on behalf of the international team. Political consultant Dr. Günther Bachmann gave the laudatory speech at the Red Dot Gala and emphasised the special significance of the agency’s name in his speech: “The epithet Song is programmatic. It reminds us of what next generation business should be. It should move people, combine information with emotion, create connectivity, and inspiration. In other words: Do what the mainstream narratives seldom do. Let your story resonate with the target audience like in a good song. A song you won’t forget”.
The yearbooks
In 2025, the award-winning works and groundbreaking developments of the international design scene were once again documented in established yearbook series. The publications offer guidance, highlight trends and make outstanding achievements in product design, brand and communication design, and design concepts permanently visible.
International Yearbook Brands & Communication Design 2025/2026
The 31st edition of the “International Yearbook Brands & Communication Design 2025/2026” is a key reference work for communication design. Since 1995, it has recorded the award-winning projects of the Red Dot Award and offers a detailed insight into the projects and working philosophy of the Best of the Best winners and the Red Dot: Agency of the Year. The cover of the book was designed by Accenture Song.
Red Dot Design Yearbook 2025/26
The Red Dot Design Yearbook 2024/25 honours the strongest product ideas of the year. The publication ranges from cars and consumer electronics to furniture and tools, showcasing the diversity of top-class design today. The book is complemented by exclusive interviews with designers and jurors, as well as a comprehensive essay on the Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2025.
Red Dot Design Concept Yearbook 2025/2026
The Red Dot Design Concept Yearbook presents the most groundbreaking ideas of the competition year. The award-winning concepts reflect emerging trends and visionary solutions that could shape the world in the coming years. In addition to detailed descriptions of the works, the anthology also contains information about the designers.
Exhibition “Colours of Our Time – Identity and Difference in Design” in Vienna
From 28 November 2025 to 7 February 2026, the designforum Wien will be showing the Red Dot exhibition “Colours of Our Time – Identity and Difference in Design”. It highlights how colour shapes perception, orientation and brand identity. On display are Red Dot award-winning products from brands such as Hilti, DEWALT, Gardena and Fiskars.
The exhibition also presents changing colour trends: from the bright colours of the 1960s to the digital accent colours of the 1990s to the subdued pastel shades of 2020, which emphasise everyday usability, comfort and subtle brand impact. Colour is presented here as a strategic design tool that strengthens orientation, trust and brand identity.
A new chapter in Red Dot management
Since February 2025, a new face has joined the management team: as Vice President, Jova Zec is setting new accents that build on the successful development of recent years.
This step heralds a change that is also associated with a special farewell: after decades of dedicated work, Vito Oražem is taking his well-deserved retirement. With his leadership and passion, he has had a lasting impact on the development of Red Dot, the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen and the Red Dot Design Museum since the early 1990s as Executive Director of the Board.
This transition will continue in the coming year: from 2026, Siegfried Schneider will take over the role of Vice President and lead Red Dot into the next phase with the team.
Milestones, collaborations and inspiration for the design world
The year 2025 has shown how Red Dot acts as an international platform for excellent design: Anniversaries, new partnerships, award-winning products, visionary concepts and inspiring exhibitions have highlighted the diversity and dynamism of the international design world. From celebrating seven decades of design culture to marking the 20th anniversary of the Red Dot Award: Design Concept and international collaborations, Red Dot connects creativity, innovation and cultural exchange on a global level.
The award ceremonies, exhibitions and yearbooks document outstanding achievements and provide inspiration for future generations. Red Dot looks forward to 2026 with optimism and energy – ready to inspire the global design community once again, shape trends and continue to showcase the creative power of ideas. Design remains not only a form of creation, but also a driver of innovation, dialogue and cultural connection.
Outlook for 2026
Until 16 January 2026, designers and companies from all over the world have the opportunity to submit their best products for the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026.
The Red Dot Gala will take place on 7 July 2026 in Essen.
Entries for the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2026 are already being accepted. The early bird phase runs until 21 January, the regular registration period ends on 18 March, and latecomers will be accepted until 29 April 2026.
The Red Dot Gala in Singapore will take place on 15 October 2026.
Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design
The registration phase for the international competition for brands and communication design starts on 26 January 2026 and runs until 8 May 2026.
