Every year, the Red Dot Award: Product Design sets out to find the year’s best products. The products selected by the Red Dot Jury to win an award may be aesthetically appealing, functional, sustainable or innovative, but what they all have in common is their outstanding design.
Visibility, valuable industry contacts and moments to celebrate with the entire team – winners in the Red Dot Award: Product Design can look forward to the following benefits:
Two different distinctions are awarded as part of the Red Dot Award: Product Design. The Red Dot: Best of the Best is the highest distinction in the competition and is awarded to pioneering designs. The Red Dot is awarded for high design quality.
From fashion and accessories to consumer electronics and vehicles, household appliances and furniture – you can choose from 51 different categories when taking part in the Red Dot Award: Product Design.
In addition to the traditional product groups, you can also enter your product in the metacategories “Sustainable Design” and “Innovative Design”.
On Tuesday, 8 July 2025, a glamorous evening awaits you at the Aalto Theater in Essen. The winners of the Red Dot: Best of the Best will receive their trophy on the stage of the Aalto Theater from Professor Dr. Peter Zec and a juror. The award ceremony will be accompanied by a varied stage programme. The Designer's Night transforms the evening at the Red Dot Design Museum into a festive event. At the same time, it marks the start of the exhibition opening, where you will have the opportunity to see the award-winning products.
Each year, the honorary title “Red Dot: Design Team of the Year” is used to recognise a design team that has proved itself through its consistently innovative, top-class design achievements. These designers have set new standards in their industry. No company or designer can compete to win this title.
On 27 November 2024, trained designers who have graduated within the past five years have the chance to enter a draw for one of 50 free registration places. In addition to taking part in the competition, career starters who win an award benefit from extensive free measures to communicate their success to a global audience.
Informed by the motto “In search of good design and innovation”, the Red Dot Jury assesses the design quality of the entries and decides on the Red Dot distinctions to be awarded. Around 40 international experts from different specialist areas test, discuss and assess each product individually. Criteria that play a role here include the level of innovation, functionality and longevity.
You can use the My Red Dot portal to register for the Red Dot Award: Product Design and complete the entry forms. You will also find a list of your entries as well as all documents needed for taking part in the competition there. You can interrupt the registration at any time and continue it at a later stage.
Metacategories are superordinate categories of the traditional categories. Currently, you can enter your products in the metacategories “Sustainable Design” or “Innovative Design”.
There is a more specific focus for assessment in the metacategories. During the jury session, products registered in these groups are first assessed holistically and then evaluated in a second walkthrough with more specific aspects in mind. While the focus of sustainable designs is on durability, adaptability, and material and energy efficiency, innovative designs, on the other hand, are evaluated by experts based on their degree of innovation. This can be reflected in technical optimisations as well as reimagined forms, new materials or a revolutionary approach to use.
If your product wins an award, you receive an individualised Red Dot winner label that clearly communicates the focus of the distinction.
If you win an award, you must order the Winner Package. You will find an overview of the costs here.
We have summarised other frequently asked questions about the Red Dot Award: Product Design here for quick reference.
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| Red Dot Team Red Dot Award: Product Design | We look forward to providing you with comprehensive advice. |
| E-Mail: pd(at)red-dot.de Tel.: +49 201 838885–45 | |
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An overview of all contact persons of the Red Dot Design Award can be found here.
