Organizer Information
The iF DESIGN AWARD is organized by iF International Forum Design GmbH, a Germany-based design institution operating since 1954. The award is administered in collaboration with the iF Design Foundation, which supports independent governance and promotes the social relevance of design globally. Over decades, iF has developed into one of the most recognized international platforms for design evaluation, with a strong emphasis on neutrality, transparency, and expert jury assessment.
Each year, the organization convenes an international panel of design professionals, academics, and industry leaders to evaluate submissions across disciplines. The award functions both as a competitive recognition system and a global visibility platform for designers, studios, and brands.
Title & Description
iF DESIGN AWARD 2027 – International Design Competition
The iF DESIGN AWARD 2027 is a global competition inviting designers, architects, companies, and creative teams to submit projects across multiple design disciplines. The award recognizes excellence in form, function, differentiation, and sustainability, positioning winning entries as benchmark examples of contemporary design quality.
The program covers a broad spectrum of creative production, including product design, packaging, branding and communication, user experience (UX), user interface (UI), service design, system and process design, architecture, and interior architecture. With over 90 categories available, participants can submit work ranging from industrial products and digital applications to spatial environments and conceptual innovations.
The core objective is to identify and promote design solutions that demonstrate innovation, usability, and responsible impact. Selected works receive international visibility through iF platforms, media coverage, and inclusion in global design rankings.
Categories
Participants may submit work under 9 main disciplines and 90+ categories:
- Product Design
- Packaging Design
- Branding & Communication Design
- User Experience (UX)
- User Interface (UI)
- Service Design
- System & Process Design
- Architecture
- Interior Architecture
- Conceptual Design
Example category areas include lighting, furniture, transportation, apps, websites, food packaging, retail architecture, audio systems, and building technologies.
Eligibility
The competition is open internationally and has no geographic restrictions. Eligible participants include:
- Designers (independent or studio-based)
- Architects
- Companies and corporations (from startups to global brands)
- Multidisciplinary creative teams
- Product manufacturers and developers
There are no strict limitations regarding career stage; both emerging designers and established organizations may apply. Entries must represent real or conceptual design projects created within relevant disciplines.
Program Benefits & Awards
Participants in the iF DESIGN AWARD 2027 may receive:
- International recognition as an award-winning project
- Official iF DESIGN AWARD certificate and winner materials
- Use of the iF DESIGN AWARD label for marketing and product communication
- Global visibility via listing on ifdesign.com
- Inclusion in iF winner campaigns and media outreach
- Potential exposure in international design press (Europe, USA, China, etc.)
- Improved ranking within the global iF Design Ranking system
- Jury feedback report based on evaluation criteria
- Networking exposure within the international design community
- Optional attendance at iF DESIGN AWARD events and ceremonies
The award is widely used as a commercial and reputational asset, with reported benefits including increased market trust, pricing leverage, and sales performance for awarded products.
Application Fee
Participation involves a structured fee system:
- Registration Fee:
- Early bird: EUR 300 (deadline: 26 June 2026)
- Regular: EUR 400 (deadline: 18 September 2026)
- Late: EUR 500 (deadline: 4 November 2026)
- Jury Fee (for finalists): EUR 300 per entry
- Winner's Fee:
- EUR 3,300 or EUR 2,900 per entry (depending on discipline)
All fees are per submitted entry.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit through the online platform and provide:
- Project description and concept information
- Visual documentation (images, renders, or videos depending on category)
- Technical details (materials, function, production context if applicable)
- Information about client/manufacturer (if relevant)
- Designer/team credits
- Category selection
- Optional sustainability and innovation statements
- Portfolio or supporting project materials
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Early Bird Deadline: 26 June 2026
- Regular Deadline: 18 September 2026
- Late Deadline: 4 November 2026
- Jury Evaluation: 2026–early 2027 (exact schedule announced by organizer)
- Award Announcement: 2027 (final results released after jury process)
Location
Germany
Additional Details
The evaluation process is structured in two main stages: an online preselection followed by a final jury review. Entries are assessed based on four core criteria:
- Form
- Function
- Differentiation
- Sustainability
A Sustainability Working Group contributes to integrating environmental and social considerations into the evaluation framework. Only a small percentage of entries receive awards, reinforcing the competitive nature of the program.
The award system includes multiple recognition tiers, including iF DESIGN AWARD Gold for the highest-scoring entries.