European awards for the best designs
The DesignEuropa Awards, which are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, highlight the best European designs and their contribution to innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable development. The awards are presented to exceptional creators who protect their products with European Union designs.
Letošnji natečaj je dosegel rekordno udeležbo, saj se je prijavilo več kot 1600 kandidatov iz 52 držav. Finaliste je med prijavljenimi izbral strokovni mednarodni odbor, sestavljen iz strokovnjakov s področij oblikovanja, gospodarstva in intelektualne lastnine.
Izvršni direktor EUIPO João Negrão je ob razglasitvi finalistov dejal: »Nagrade DesignEuropa Awards že desetletje predstavljajo bogastvo, raznolikost in globalni vpliv evropskega oblikovanja ter ustvarjalnosti. Od novih talentov do mednarodno priznanih oblikovalskih ikon, kot je letošnji prejemnik nagrade za življenjsko delo Philippe Starck, nas nagrade opominjajo, da vrhunsko oblikovanje ne rešuje le izzivov, temveč tudi navdihuje, povezuje in soustvarja bolj inovativno ter trajnostno prihodnost za vse.«
The award ceremony will take place on September 22, 2026, at Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana. The Director of the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office, mag. Karin Žvokelj, stated: “It is an honor for Slovenia to host this year’s DesignEuropa Awards in cooperation with EUIPO. In Slovenia, as well as across Europe, designs as an intellectual property right are still underestimated and underutilized. The DesignEuropa Awards therefore represent an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about designs as one of the key intellectual property rights. Effective use of design protection enables companies to successfully position their products in global markets, distinguish themselves from the competition, and strengthen their competitiveness.”
Slovenian company among the finalists
This year, the finalists are competing for awards in two categories:
- the Entrepreneur and Small Company Award,
- the Industry Award.
Among the finalists in the entrepreneurs and small businesses category is the Slovenian company Pet Shellter (content in English) with the Pet Shell model, designed by Uroš Abram and Petra Novak. It is a pet house designed to reduce noise and create a calm, protected space for animals. It is also designed as a piece of furniture, allowing it to blend seamlessly into modern living spaces.
This year’s finalists include companies and designers from Latvia, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Germany. The finalists include models from various fields – ranging from a modular system for controlled tree and plant cultivation and a smart personal hygiene assistance system to a fully electric remote-controlled loader for agricultural and construction use, a multi-functional home fitness station, and a mobile CT scanner for bedside diagnostics.
The Next Generation Design Award will also be presented to young designers up to 29 years of age.
Philippe Starck to receive Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented this year to the renowned French designer Philippe Starck, one of the most influential designers of modern times. For more than five decades, his work has significantly marked the fields of industrial design, architecture, and contemporary design in general. His most famous creations include the Juicy Salif citrus squeezer and the Louis Ghost chair, which are considered design classics today.
Voting for the Public Choice Award
This year’s edition includes a Public Choice Award for the first time, where the public can vote for their favorite model among this year’s finalists before the award ceremony.
You are invited to vote!