Organizer 

iF International Forum Design GmbH (Hannover Industrial Design Forum)

Location 

Germany (Global entries)

Deadline 

Early Bird Registration Deadline: June 26, 2026

Regular Registration Deadline: September 18, 2026

Last Chance Registration Deadline: November 4, 2026

Competition Category 

Nine disciplines with 93 sub-categories:

Product Design: Automobiles/Vehicles, Bicycles, Sports/Outdoors, Leisure/Lifestyle, Watches/Jewelry, Audio, TV/Cameras, Telecommunications, Computers, Gaming Hardware/VR, Smart Home, Household Appliances, Bathroom/Health, Musical Instruments, Medicine/Health, Baby/Child, Furniture/Home Decoration, Lighting, Wall/Floor/Textiles, Kitchen, Household Tools/Appliances, Tableware, Bathroom, Garden/Outdoor Living, Building Technology, Industry/Tools/Machinery, Public Use/Retail, Connected Product Ecosystems
Packaging Design: Beverage Packaging, Food Packaging, Beauty/Health/Wellness Packaging, Medicine/Pharmaceutical Packaging, Electronics Packaging, Consumer Product Packaging, Unbranded/B2B Packaging
Branding & Communication Design: Company Branding, Public & Cause Branding, Product & Service Branding, Campaigns/Advertising, Websites, Apps/Software, Film/Video/Animation, Sound/Music Use
Interior Architecture: Exhibitions/Trade Fairs, Shops/Showrooms, Hotels/Spas, Restaurants/Bars, Residential, Offices/Workspaces, Public, Medical/Healthcare Facilities, Educational/Institutional Interiors, Sports/Special Use Interiors
Concepts: Product Concepts, Packaging Concepts, Branding & Communication Concepts, User Experience (UX) Concepts
Service Design/Systems & Process Design: Retail/Sales, Transportation/Logistics, Industry Productivity/Maintenance Systems, Financial Services/Insurance, Education/Learning, Healthcare/Wellness, Culture/Tourism, Social Behavior/Responsibility, Government/Institutions
Architecture: Public Architecture/Master Planning, Mixed Use Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Residential Architecture, Commercial Architecture, Hospitality Architecture, Retail Architecture, Science Facilities/Healthcare Architecture, Educational/Institutional Architecture, Sports Facilities/Arena Architecture
User Experience (UX): Product UX, Vehicle/Mobility UX, Entertainment/Gaming UX, Health/Wellness UX, Retail/Banking UX, Workplace/Production UX, Education/Creative Tools UX
User Interface (UI): Product Interfaces, Interfaces for Digital Media

Eligibility 

Open to all professionals worldwide (student submissions not accepted; students may apply to the free iF DESIGN STUDENT AWARD)

Entries must be completed within two years before the registration deadline, or officially released, published or implemented during the award year

Entry Fee 

Registration Fee:

Early Bird: EUR 300 per entry
Regular: EUR 400 per entry
Last Chance: EUR 500 per entry

Jury Fee: EUR 300 per entry (for entries qualified for the Final Jury)

Winners Fee:
Product Design/Packaging Design: EUR 3,300 per entry
For all other disciplines: EUR 2,900 per entry

Prizes/Awards

License to use the iF design award label (globally recognized symbol of design quality)
Winner certificate and trophy
Inclusion in iF design award yearbook
Permanent online exhibition display (ifdesign.com, Metaverse, iF Design App)
Winners PR campaign (press, social media, global design platforms exposure)
Opportunity to take the stage at the iF DESIGN AWARD NIGHT in Berlin
iF Design Ranking points (Finalist 5 points, Winner 20 points, Gold Winner 100 points)
Gold Award winners receive the annual iF trophy on stage

Core Introduction 

The iF DESIGN AWARD was established in 1954 and is one of the world's most prestigious design awards. For over 70 years, the iF label has been a globally recognized symbol of quality design trusted by consumers, brands, and the global design community. Each year, it attracts nearly 11,000 entries from over 70 countries. The jury consists of more than 130 internationally renowned design experts who apply a rigorous, neutral, and transparent two-stage evaluation process (online preselection filters approximately 50% of entries, physical final jury determines winners). Entries are evaluated based on five criteria: Idea, Form, Function, Differentiation, and Sustainability. iF Design is owned by the German non-profit iF Design Foundation, dedicated to promoting design education and its social value.