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 or by our scouting team. 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 iernational 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 €15,000 prize. The other finalists each receive €2,500.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.
© Clemens Poloczek
Newcomer of the Year 2025
Juni Sun Neyenhuys
Fashion and Textile Design
Juni Sun Neyenhuys from Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin specialises in biomaterials and algae as sustainable raw materials. Her focus is on developing circular materials aimed at providing solutions for the packaging industry.
Jury
Teresa Franqueira
Associate Professor, University of Aveiro, Cumulus Association
Associate Professor in Industrial Design, University of Aveiro | Executive Board Member, Cumulus Association
Teresa Franqueira is a designer, has a PhD degree at Politecnico di Milano and was the International Coordinator of DESIS Network – Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability from 2022 till 2025. She founded and led a research group on Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability (ID+ DESIS Lab) for eight years and directed the Design Factory Aveiro as its executive director and scientific coordinator from 2016 to 2022. Teresa is member of several editorial board, of scientific committees in national and international Design Conferences and jury of international design competitions. She teaches across Europe and Asia and has been the local coordinator of european projects for social innovation, circular economy and sustainability.
Teresa has been invited as a keynote speaker in national and international conferences and has organise several workshops worldwide. She has been supervising PhD and Master students within the topics of Design for Social Innovation, Design for Sustainability, Product Design and Service Design. Her work is characterized by a deep commitment to integrating design methodologies with interdisciplinary collaboration, aiming to create meaningful impact and drive positive change in communities worldwide. Through her extensive publications and participation in international conferences, Teresa Franqueira aims to influence the design landscape, inspiring both professionals and students alike.
Juni Sun Neyenhuys
Co-Founder & Designer, mujō
Juni Sun Neyenhuys works at the intersection of material science, circularity, design, and storytelling. Her focus lies in harnessing natural resources for innovative applications within biological cycles. She co-founded mujō, which develops seaweed-based packaging, and co-initiated the Disruptive Materials Institute e.V., a nonprofit platform for research, creativity, and collaboration toward sustainable material futures. In 2025, she received the German Design Newcomer Award from the German Design Council.
The Finalists
The finalists of the German Design Award 2025 – 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.
© Clemens Poloczek
© Clemens Poloczek
© Clemens Poloczek
© Clemens Poloczek
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