Newcomer
Supporting Talent
Fresh, bold, and forward-thinking – our Newcomers of the Year showcase what design can be tomorrow. We champion talents who stand out with exceptional creativity and strong ideas. Meet the next generation of design – and get inspired by new perspectives.
The German Design Award Newcomer is a milestone in the careers of successful designers.
Past winners include many now-renowned names such as Eva Marguerre, Marcel Besau, Sebastian Herkner and Christian Zanzotti.
In addition, the German Design Council offers all finalists the chance to connect with leading figures from its design-driven business network at a range of exclusive events – a unique opportunity to build valuable industry contacts.
Nomination
How can I take part?
The Newcomer Award cannot be applied for directly. Instead, nominations are put forward either by representatives of participating universities affiliated with the German Design Graduates initiative. Once nominated, candidates are notified and may confirm their nomination by submitting a digital short portfolio.
Eligible to participate are graduates from the fields of textile, fashion, product, industrial, communication, digital, and interaction design.
Newcomer Jury
The winner of the German Design Award Newcomer is selected by an independent international expert jury. Just like the main award categories, the jury is made up of representatives from industry, academia, and the design world.
Evaluation Criteria
The jury assesses the submitted portfolios with a focus on the unique stylistic identity of the work and its development potential. Criteria include:
- Conceptual quality
- Design quality
- Technical and formal originality
- Development
- potential Degree of innovation Symbolic and emotional depth
- Social relevance
Aspects such as sustainability and circularity, material and resource awareness, as well as relevance and future viability also play a key role in the evaluation process.
The Prize
The Award
Prize Money
From all nominations, five finalists are selected by the expert jury. One of them will be named Newcomer of the Year at the awards ceremony – a title that comes with a prize. The other finalists will also receive an award.Visibility
All five finalists are introduced to our social media community and featured with dedicated profile pages on the website, where they can present their work, interviews, and video portraits. Presentation at theAward Ceremony
During the ceremony, finalists are showcased in a special exhibition and celebrated on stage, culminating in the announcement of the Newcomer of the Year and the official award presentation.Networking
All finalists are invited to the annual German Design Council Gala at Soho House Berlin. There, they have the opportunity to meet foundation members, high-ranking industry representatives, and decision-makers from design-driven companies – a perfect setting to make valuable connections.
Newcomer of the Year 2026
Marie Kurstjens
Industrial & Product Design
Marie Kurstjens of the Berlin University of the Arts understands design as a collaborative process for addressing social and humanitarian challenges.
The Finalists
The finalists of the German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer share a strong focus on sustainable, forward-thinking approaches and work at the intersection of technology, material research, and creativity. Whether through the development of circular materials, innovative architectural concepts, or the fusion of art and digital technologies, these emerging designers are committed to resource-conscious solutions and transformative design methods. Their work reflects a clear drive to tackle social and ecological challenges through creative, interdisciplinary projects.
German Design Graduates
German Design Graduates is the central platform for design graduates in Germany. Sponsored by the German Design Council Foundation, GDG is the only nationwide platform for promoting graduates in design, making emerging talent visible and actively supports their growth.
The programme offers a central platform to publish final projects and gain visibility among companies, media, and institutions. Selected works may be showcased in internationally recognised exhibitions, while workshops and events provide direct contact with industry partners and potential employers. Participants can also use their projects as strong references for applications and collaborations, while building a valuable professional network.
Key Dates
Jury Session – Finalist choise
26
days
01 July 2026
Nomination notifications
02 September 2026
Jury Session – Finalist choise
02 October 2026
Newcomer Day
29 January 2027
Announcement Newcomer of the Year 2027
Jury
Marie Kurstjens
Newcomer of the Year 2026
Marie Kurstjens works at the intersection of social design, product design and participatory research. Her work focuses on social and humanitarian challenges, as well as on how design can empower self-determination and participation. In the Cook/Ability and Designing Dignity projects, she works alongside the respective communities to develop accessible, dignified and needs-based solutions.
Media Partners
