iF International Forum Design GmbH, or simply iF Design, is a German organization specializing in the field of design. Each year, it organizes the iF Design Awards, which cover a wide range of disciplines and product categories to recognize the very best in design. Here is a closer look at this prestigious institution.
Who is iF Design?
In the 1950s, Germany was still recovering from the consequences of the Second World War. As part of efforts to rebuild the economy and industry, the Hannover Messegesellschaft (Hannover Fair Society) wanted to create an institution to promote industrial product design. This initiative was inspired by entrepreneur Philip Rosenthal, who believed in the need to connect culture and commerce. The “Industrie Forum” (iF), originally called “Die gute Industrieform e.V.”, was founded in 1953 with an exhibition of industrial products at the Hannover Fair.
What are the iF Product Design Awards?
The iF Product Design Awards have become a symbol of excellence in design and aesthetics, highlighting ergonomic and effective designs in all design disciplines. Each year, iF invites designers and manufacturers to choose which creations will receive awards. Renowned designers such as Dieter Rams, Richard Sapper, Franco Clivio, Stefan Dietz and Paola Picasso have participated in iF jury sessions. All creations are assessed on the basis of five criteria: idea, form, function, differentiation and sustainability.
The iF Design Awards are presented in the following categories:
- Product design
- Packaging design
- Communication design
- Architecture
- Interior design
- Professional concepts (innovative concepts, works and studies that have not yet been published)
- Service design (projects that optimize a service for customers or users)
- User experience (UX)
- User interface (UI)
Winners of the 2025 iF Design Awards
In 2025, the iF Design Awards received almost 11,000 entries from 66 countries. Over three days in Hamburg, the 131 members of the jury selected the best creations. Here are just a few of them.
The Elipson W35 Xi won the 2025 iF Design Award for its iconic round silhouette, a signature of the French manufacturer. What’s more, the jury says that with its “four high-performance speakers, a robust Class D amplifier, and comprehensive connectivity options (Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth), the W35 Xi is versatile enough to meet a wide range of audio needs—from high-fidelity music streaming to integrating with home entertainment systems.”
Another of this year’s winners, the WiiM Amp Pro connected amplifier stood out for its versatility. This compact, powerful model “integrates with passive speakers, home theater systems, or vintage record players and supports hands-free control via Alexa and Google Assistant.”
In the headphones category, the Meze 105 AER open-back headphones caught the attention of designers thanks to their rich, natural sound reproduction and ergonomic, durable design. iF Design declares that “the 105 AER are designed to offer a listening experience so comfortable and engaging that you’ll forget you’re wearing them.”
According to the jury of the iF Awards 2025, the Xgimi Aura 2 ultra short throw projector combines aesthetics and functionality. In particular, it was rewarded for its ingenious motorized lens cover, which “slowly spreads out and opens up, just like a butterfly unfolding its wings” when the projector is switched on.
Once again this year, the iF Design Award proved to be one of the most prestigious events in the design world, not only rewarding hundreds of ingenious creations, but also showcasing a renowned institution with over 70 years of expertise.
