One of the world’s most prestigious design events has recently concluded
At the iF Design Award Gala on April 29, 2024, held at the Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, nearly 2,000 attendees from 42 different nations gathered to celebrate this year’s winners.
In the world of design, there are highly anticipated events that highlight the market’s most innovative ideas. Among these, the iF Design Award (established in 1954) stands out as one of the most influential and respected voices internationally. At its 70th edition this year, once again the event displayed fascinating innovations.
The significance of this event is underscored not just by the numbers but also by the distinguished figures who convened to honor this year’s winners. A standout among them was the legendary Dieter Rams, who ascended the stage to receive the iF Design Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a historic first for the award.
The international design elite gathered at the Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin on April 29. Hosted on the world’s largest theatre stage, the Award recognized the finest in global design, with the top 75 products and projects receiving the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2024 Gold.
“The internationality and the record number of entries for the iF DESIGN AWARD 2024 speak for themselves. We have incredibly great Gold Award winners from all disciplines this year. The fact that the iF DESIGN AWARD Gala and the Trend Conference held the following day are fully booked clearly shows us that our events are regarded and recognized as a global networking event. The presentation of the iF Special Award to design icon Dieter Rams was a particularly emotional moment on stage.” says Uwe Cremering, CEO of iF International Forum Design GmbH.
With 10,800 submissions from 72 countries, the iF DESIGN AWARD 2024 is recognized as one of the world’s most significant and respected design contests. A panel of 132 diverse and independent design experts from across the globe rigorously assessed these entries through a meticulous two-stage jury process, culminating in the awarding to 2,294 participants from 52 countries.
The iF Design Trend Conference 2024
The debut of the iF Design Trend Conference attracted over 500 guests. The event took place at the AXICA, an exceptional venue located at the Brandenburg Gate and designed by renowned architect Frank O. Gehry. During this event, designers and industry experts were treated to expert presentations and panel discussions on global and interdisciplinary design trends and their future impact.
The conference featured four international speakers: Giulia Frittoli from the Bjarke Ingels Group in Copenhagen discussed “Social nature – designing cities for people and the planet”; Nadine Clarke and Richard Trigg from Tangent in London explored “The green interface: Digital design with sustainability in mind”; Ziyuan ‘Zoey’ Zhu from IDEO in San Francisco presented on “Humanizing AI in design”; and Anne-Liese Prem from tomorrow stories in Salzburg/Austria addressed “The future of brand management in the metaverse.”
The iF DESIGN AWARD Metaverse Experience 2024
At the iF DESIGN AWARD NIGHT, Uwe Cremering launched the innovative iF DESIGN AWARD Metaverse Experience, titled “The Landmark of Design Excellence.” Design aficionados worldwide are now invited to visit the official web space to immerse themselves in this new virtual space and explore the top design works that earned the iF DESIGN AWARD 2024.
“Our goal is to provide a contemporary platform for our international iF DESIGN AWARD winners. Through the Metaverse platform, we aim to spark discussions about design and establish a new layer for the design community to connect and showcase exemplary designs. We envision this as a virtual space brimming with inspiration,” Uwe explained.
A brand new recognition: the iF Design Lifetime Achievement Award
This year’s iF DESIGN AWARD NIGHT featured the inaugural presentation of the iF Design Lifetime Achievement Award, a significant highlight of the event. The award was bestowed upon German design legend Dieter Rams by iF Design CEO Uwe Cremering. Vice chairman of the Board of the iF Design Foundation, Professor Fritz Frenkler, delivered the tribute speech. Rams’ influential work has shaped many of the most iconic industrial designs known today, including inspiring Apple’s former chief of design and modern smartphone design pioneer, British designer Jonathan Ive.
Rams’ ten principles of good design continue to serve as fundamental guidelines for designers globally as they refine their understanding of what constitutes good design. Dieter Rams began his career in design as a carpenter, later transitioning to architecture, and has long been recognized as a minimalist in product design. Throughout his career, numerous Braun products crafted by Rams have received accolades at the iF DESIGN AWARD.
