Design

The finalists of the 2025 DesignEuropa Awards

The DesignEuropa Awards are back for their sixth edition, continuing their mission to spotlight the best in European design. Organised by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), this initiative honours exceptional creations that have been protected through the EU’s Registered Community Design system.

The EUIPO, based in Alicante, Spain, is responsible for managing the EU’s design and trademark registrations, offering unified IP protection across all 27 EU Member States. Through the DesignEuropa Awards, it not only reinforces the value of design protection but also celebrates the diversity, functionality and aesthetic excellence that shape the European design landscape.

This year’s edition has already made headlines with the announcement of the six finalists and the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Selected from a record-breaking 1,250 candidates from 48 countries, the finalists represent a wide range of sectors, from healthcare and architecture to consumer electronics and urban mobility. They also reflect the growing importance of sustainable, human-centred, and technologically integrated design.

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Among the standout finalists are Paul de Livron’s Apollo Wooden Wheelchairs, designed with adaptive sports and shock-absorbing wood; HANGY Maxi, a minimalist Slovenian space-saving structure; and Overade LIFE, a high-tech urban bike helmet with integrated lights and connectivity. These are contenders in the Entrepreneurs and Small Companies category, highlighting the impact of individual designers and agile companies on the design landscape.

In the Industry category, finalists include Bicinete, a hybrid between e-scooter and bicycle; MONO, a sleek kitchen hood with sculptural appeal; and The Solar Trees, striking solar-powered EV charging stations that merge infrastructure with public art. Each product is a testament to how registered design rights can help innovators bring forward-thinking, high-performance solutions to market across Europe.

Bicinete _ DesignEuropa Awards by EUIPO
Bicinete by Cecotec / DesignEuropa Awards 2025, EUIPO

The Next Generation Design Award—introduced in 2024—continues to elevate young designers under 29, offering a platform for new voices and bold ideas. This reflects the awards’ commitment not just to excellence, but to the future of the discipline.

A highlight of the 2025 edition is the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to renowned Dutch designer Hella Jongerius. Her influential work across textiles, furniture and industrial design has consistently bridged traditional craft and modern production, reshaping the industry’s understanding of colour, materiality, and human-centred aesthetics.

HANGY™ Maxi by Kavčič Furniture / DesignEuropa Awards 2025, EUIPO

From collaborations with Vitra and IKEA to her groundbreaking Vitra Colour & Material Library, Jongerius’ impact has been both poetic and practical—earning her a place alongside past awardees like Dieter Rams and Giorgetto Giugiaro.

As Executive Director João Negrão notes, “The 2025 edition of the DesignEuropa Awards reflects the extraordinary talent, creativity, and purpose-driven innovation that European design brings to the world. From emerging voices to design legends like Hella Jongerius, this year’s participants remind us that great design not only solves problems, it inspires progress and connects us all.”

Apollo Wooden Wheelchair by Paul de Livron’s – Credit Privat MILLET / DesignEuropa Awards 2025, EUIPO

The DesignEuropa Awards are more than just a competition—they are a celebration of how protected design drives innovation, shapes user experience, and supports Europe’s creative economy. With finalists set, the countdown to Copenhagen has officially begun.

About the author

Fabio Colturri

Fabio Colturri

I'm the co-founder of filename.one the studio-lab-agency-hub serving design companies: we do socials, photo, video, 3D, campaigns, activations and all the rest (more or less), but less is more, so do not stress. Ah, we do copy too (I mean copywriting).

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