German Design Awards 2027: Call for Entries

The awards are looking for design that understands context, refines processes and delivers impact. Guided by the principle of “Connecting Global Excellence”, they bring diverse perspectives into a shared framework. Making visible what design can achieve today. 

Design works – show how. 

While many awards still focus on the individual object, the German Design Awards take a broader view. They assesse not only how something looks, but how it performs: in use, in process, and within larger systems. 

This perspective is shaped by service design. Products are understood as part of services, communication as interaction, spaces as sequences of use.

Circular design sets the benchmark. Longevity, repairability and material cycles are not add-ons, but core criteria. Projects are expected to demonstrate how they use resources and extend product life in tangible ways. This approach has been embedded in the awards for several years and further developed in collaboration with partners such as the Wuppertal Institute. 

Technological change continues to shift expectations. Artificial intelligence expands design processes, while raising new questions around clarity, control and accessibility. At the same time, the social dimension is gaining weight: inclusion, participation and societal impact are now part of what defines design quality.

Why enter? 

Entering positions your work within an international context. Awarded projects gain visibility through curated channels, media partnerships and digital platforms. At the same time, participants connect with a global network across design, business and media. 

• The submission deadline is 11 September 2026.
• The Awards Show will take place on 29 January 2027 in Frankfurt am Main.