The highlights 2024
Red Dot Annual Review
North Rhine-Westphalia, the industrial heart of Germany, has long since established itself as a hotspot for outstanding design. Since 1954, the Red Dot Design Award has been an integral part of the region and has developed into a platform for excellent design, which annually puts impressive designs from around the world in the spotlight. Every year, the exhibition “World’s Best Communication Design and Highlights from NRW” at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen presents the top achievements in the international competition for communication design. It showcases the creative excellence of the industry and at the same time highlights the particular creative power of the region.
This year, the most impressive works from North Rhine-Westphalia come from renowned agencies and companies such as D'art Design Gruppe, Elastique., BOK + Gärtner, Grohe, BRABUS, Schöck and MARTOR. Their designs stand out in the categories “Spatial Communication” and “Fair Stands” – two fields in which design spaces not only impress aesthetically but also act as communicative platforms. It is no wonder that North Rhine-Westphalia sets global standards here: with cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen and Dortmund, the region is one of the leading trade fair locations. The large number of international trade fairs offers creative agencies the ideal breeding ground for developing innovative concepts and setting new standards in spatial communication.
“Mirror Me”: The interactivity of art and technology
One particularly innovative example is provided by the agency Elastique., which was awarded the Red Dot: Grand Prix 2024, the competition’s highest honour, for its kinetic installation “Mirror Me”. The installation uses cobots, collaborative robots, to move mirror surfaces and thus create a visual echo of the viewer. The combination of digital art, robotic technology and interactivity offers a new perspective on the concept of self-expression. Elastique. creates a moment that blurs the lines between art and technology and puts the design at the centre of the experience. The installation challenges traditional ideas of design, which are often based on static, functional principles, and expands the possibilities of interactive art into a fascinating new experience.
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BRABUS Signature Night 2023: Luxury design in a new dimension
BRABUS, known for customising Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach, specialises in high-performance tuning and bespoke luxury vehicles. Based in Bottrop, the company uses its expertise to optimise vehicles in extraordinary ways – from performance to design and interior fittings. At the BRABUS Signature Night 2023, this claim was brought to the stage through an impressive runway show, in which supercars were presented in a new dimension – also implemented by Elastique. The production consisted of innovative stage and sound design, visuals and an impressive light show, and was awarded a Red Dot: Best of the Best 2024 by the Red Dot Jury.
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The Gospels Room Liesborn: Bringing history to life
Another exciting project from North Rhine-Westphalia was created by the BOK + Gärtner agency, which staged the Liesborn Gospels in an impressive immersive exhibition and was awarded a Red Dot: Best of the Best 2024. The Liesborn Gospels are a medieval manuscript of great art-historical significance that originated in the region around Liesborn in the 9th century. The exhibition not only immersed visitors in history but also gave them a new technological experience that brought the book to life in a modern aesthetic. An excellent example of how to preserve traditional values and combine them with new technologies to showcase historical works of art in a modern context and make them accessible to a wider audience.
Schöck Fair Stand BAU 2023: The power of architecture in trade fair stand construction
The Schöck Fair stand for BAU 2023, designed by D’art Design Gruppe, is another outstanding project from North Rhine-Westphalia. Schöck Bauteile GmbH is an internationally operating company specialising in the development of innovative products for the construction industry, particularly in the areas of thermal insulation, soundproofing and reinforcement technology. The stand takes the opportunity to present the technical excellence and sustainability of Schöck’s products. With the targeted use of concrete and clear geometric forms, the products are presented in an aesthetic and informative way. The trade fair appearance was awarded a Red Dot: Best of the Best 2024 for its brand-strong and visually convincing staging.
GROHE SPA Installation at Palazzo Reale: The art of “aquatecture”
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Another installation designed by D’art Design Gruppe that was awarded a Red Dot: Best of the Best 2024, is the GROHE SPA Installation, which was on display in the courtyard of Palazzo Reale during Milan Design Week. GROHE, a leading provider of sanitary solutions, presents the fusion of water and architecture under the concept of “aquatecture”. This installation highlights the importance of water in architecture and shows how the right use of elements such as light and water can transform not only a space but also people’s well-being. Inspired by the principles of classical modernism and the seamless transition between interior and exterior spaces, the courtyard of Palazzo Reale becomes a quiet oasis of relaxation. Architecture and products merge into a harmonious overall picture that creates an atmosphere of calm and relaxation.
MARTOR WORLD: Function and design in one showroom
D’art Design Gruppe also designed the MARTOR WORLD Customer Centre showroom, which brings MARTOR, the Solingen-based cutting tool manufacturer, to life in a 300-square-metre space. Four striking design elements structure the room and showcase the company and its products in an analogue and inviting way. The showroom combines functionality and aesthetic clarity, inviting visitors to experience the high-quality cutting solutions in a real, tangible context. The design offers an experience that allows the visitor to engage with every facet of the design and was also awarded a Red Dot: Best of the Best 2024.
Design from North Rhine-Westphalia: Space as a communication platform
The award-winning projects illustrate how design in North Rhine-Westphalia is used as a communicative platform – from interactive installations and innovative showrooms to immersive exhibitions. The region combines industrial tradition with innovative design and is asserting itself as a leading location for spatial communication and brand staging. Here, design is understood as an experience and transformation – in both physical and digital spaces. Through their innovative strength, the agencies and companies are shaping the industry and consolidating North Rhine-Westphalia’s position as an important design region.
From 21 February to 1 June 2025, these creative achievements will be on display in the exhibition “World’s Best Communication Design and Highlights from NRW” at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen. It presents around 300 outstanding works that have been honoured in the Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design – with a special focus on projects from North Rhine-Westphalia. Another highlight is the presentation of the Red Dot: Agency of the Year 2024, PepsiCo Design and Innovation, which provides fascinating insights into its brand world.
