iF Design Award 2025: A look at the winners and the night of the ceremony

The curtain has just closed on the iF DESIGN AWARD 2025, at a sold-out event held at the Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, hosting over 2,000 guests from 50 nations. Now in its 72nd edition, the award is undeniably one of the most important recognitions in the field of design. This year, it celebrated outstanding achievements across nine categories – from product and communication design to UX, architecture, and professional concepts – with 75 of the most exceptional projects receiving the acclaimed Gold prize.

A key highlight of the evening was the presentation of the iF Design Lifetime Achievement Award to renowned British architect Norman Foster, honoring his lasting contribution to architecture. The celebration continued the following day with the iF Design Trend Conference at AXICA, where over 500 professionals gathered to explore topics such as disruptive technologies, motion design, and the evolution of creative leadership. The event also marked the launch of the iF DESIGN ACADEMY, a new initiative aimed at advancing design leadership and supporting the global design community.

Here is our selection of highlights from this year’s winners.

HR Bank, Tukas EV

The HR Bank by the Lithuanian startup Tukas EV is a power station disguised as an exercise bike; just fifteen minutes of pedalling are enough to charge a smartphone. Fitted with a 2kWh battery, it stores energy not only from physical effort but also from renewable sources, offering backup power when the grid goes dark, enough to charge over 20 laptops, keep a fridge running for three days, or brew 150 cups of coffee. In a time where centralised systems are sometimes unreliable, the HR Bank becomes a relevant innovation in the field of energy sufficiency.

Thinkbook Plus Gen 6, Lenovo

Lenovo‘s product is the world’s first motor-driven rollable laptop, which can quickly turn a 13.9 inch screen into a 16.7 inch one. Designed for those who want to carry light but think big, the new Thinkbook will be on sale for 3500$ this year, marking a confident leap into the experimental category of personal computing. With the touch of a button, the screen expands using a high-resolution rollable POLED display, offering users more space to work, create, or multitask without compromising on portability. The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 brings together cutting-edge technology and a forward-looking design to offer a unique and flexible experience for modern professionals.

Transparent OLED TV-77T4, LG

LG’s new TV is a revolution in the space of consumer electronics, with a 77-inch transparent display that challenges the obsoleteness of the black screen. The product dissolves into its surroundings like a pane of glass, acting more like a piece of furniture or a partition, rather than a device. In use, its transparency allows for innovative experiences like augmented reality. This TV signals the shift from electronic devices to integrated designs, with technological products that become part of the home’s aesthetic and spatial vocabulary.

The Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, MINIX

The Slim by MINIX is an innovative vacuum cleaner, built to minimise physical strain and cut the fuss out of cleaning. Its low centre of gravity and light frame reduce wrist fatigue, making chores less stressful. AI-powered and intuitive, it adjusts suction strength in real time based on dust detection, saving battery and boosting performance. With its minimalist style, it can harmonise in any home interior, blending into any space.

FOCUS, DCW éditions PARIS

FOCUS is a design chandelier that combines functionality and aesthetic. By using glass lenses that reflect and amplify their surroundings, the lamp remains functional even in the daytime, as it diffuses the natural sunlight into the room while swaying slightly thanks to air currents. When night falls, subtle LEDs embedded along the lens edges awaken, illuminating the space softly, gently brightening the room. FOCUS redefines lighting as something less about brightness and more about a delicate presence.