Enter The A’ Design Award & Competition: Make 2025 Your Year To Shine

By Mikelle Leow, 23 Sep 2024

Designers, architects, innovators, and creative minds from all over with a passion for refining their craft should look no further than the A’ Design Award & Competition, one of the most prestigious and inclusive design awards in the world that recognizes creativity across a broad range of disciplines.

From Graphics and Visual Communication Design to Architecture, Building, and Structure Design; Fashion, Apparel, and Garment Design; Furniture, Decorative Items, and Homeware Design; Advertising, Marketing, and Communication Design; and even Public Awareness, Volunteerism, and Society Design, this competition provides a global platform for designers to showcase their talents and innovations. Check here to find your closest category.

The window is now open for the 2024-2025 edition of the A’ Design Awards, giving both established and emerging talent the chance to gain international recognition and showcase their work on a global stage.

Winning the A’ Design Award brings an array of invaluable benefits. Beyond the coveted trophy, laureates receive global media coverage, inclusion in an exclusive yearbook, participation in international exhibitions, access to a networking gala, media coverage, and comprehensive PR services, including press release preparation and distribution. Moreover, awardees gain lifelong rights to the prestigious A’ Design Award winner logo, boosting credibility and opening new doors in their careers.

Entries are carefully reviewed through a blind, peer-reviewed process by an international panel of academics, design experts, and press members, ensuring a rigorous and fair selection of designs that are innovative and hold the potential to drive the future of creativity forward.

Now’s your chance to make your way over to this world stage. Interested participants have until September 30 to submit their best work for the 2024-2025 edition. As always, DesignTAXI will be here to announce the winning projects, on May 1, 2025. Meanwhile, enjoy some inspiring works from past years below.

Iris Wall Light

Fabian Bolliger has set his sights on reimagining interior lighting with the Iris Wall Light, a fixture that truly catches the eye. Drawing inspiration from the human peeper, this aluminum masterpiece mirrors the proportions of our ocular anatomy, complete with a reflective black chrome “pupil” that invites a bit of self-reflection. The handcrafted Iris doesn’t just illuminate—it adapts, thanks to clever LED tech that lets users play with colors and controls wirelessly. Whether brightening up a hotel’s entryway or adding a personal touch to home decor, this lamp proves that the eyes are the window to the soul.

Iris Wall Light by Fabian Bolliger

Morfius Modular Furniture

Arman Farahmand’s Morfius Modular Furniture takes a page from the books of Japanese minimalism, Crocs footwear, and LEGO to create a flexible seating solution that’s anything but stuffy. This shape-shifting system uses one core structure and three pillow types to morph from a solo seat to an L-shaped couch or even a bed. Crafted from plywood and foam, Morfius offers a durable and eco-friendly option for homes and offices alike. With its mix-and-match approach, users can easily rearrange their setup to suit their mood or needs, making Morfius a real ace in the space when it comes to adaptable living.

Morfius Modular Furniture by Arman Farahmand

Helix Lamp

The Helix Lamp by Jun Wang has coiled its way into the spotlight. This colorful and luminous creation spirals into view with its 3D-printed coil, crafted from recycled plastic tubes and forged iron. More than just a pretty face, the Helix’s twisty structure allows for adjustable lighting, letting users fine-tune their ambiance with a twist. The design doesn’t just illuminate—it illuminates a path forward for sustainable design, giving new life to materials that might otherwise be discarded. With its blend of whimsy and eco-consciousness, the Helix Lamp is brightening up modern interiors while casting a warm glow on the future of responsible design.

Helix Lamp by Jun Wang

Switchbag Backpack

This chameleon of carry-alls sports a sleek exterior that belies its vibrant, customizable innards—think Mondrian meets modern nomad. With magnetized compartments that easily snap into place, the Switchbag by Stephanie Branco morphs from office organizer to mobile home base to wall art without breaking a sweat. The backpack, handstitched from upcycled leather, proves that sustainability and style can indeed share the same strap. Whether you’re commuting to work or trotting the globe, the shape-shifting accessory adapts to your lifestyle.

Switchbag Backpack by Stephanie Branco

Moon and Chess Mooncake Packaging

This feast for the eyes by Chen Di and Sun Sheng serves a side of strategy—literally and figuratively—with your sweet treats. The Moon and Chess mooncake box, decked out in prosperity blue with pops of orange, unfolds into a table and chessboard, inviting recipients to checkmate their hunger and boredom in one move. The designers made sure this cultural celebration treads lightly on the environment, using recyclable materials and waterproof treatments. The packaging solution shows you can have your mooncake and play with it too, all while tipping your hat to tradition.

Moon and Chess Mooncake Packaging by Chen Di and Sun Sheng

Illusory Aromatherapy Diffuser

This clever Illusory Aromatherapy Diffuser by Jingyi Miao and Hu Zou looks like a blurry fragrance bottle that straddles between dimensions. Made from spongy, recycled materials, the diffuser acts as its own container, additionally cutting down on waste and production costs while giving your senses a treat. The porous structure not only releases aromas but also soaks up praise for its sustainable approach. The packaging demonstrates that thinking outside the box sometimes means ditching the box altogether.

Illusory Aromatherapy Diffuser by Jingyi Miao and Hu Zou

Botaniera Original Firming Essence Skin Care Packaging

Form and function bloom together with the Botaniera Original Firming Essence packaging. Here, Chun Xue Creative Design takes direct cues from the Dendrobium orchid, the star ingredient of this skin potion. The design features a delicate yellow-to-green gradient and a clear, wavy ring that snakes around a sleek cylinder, mirroring the plant’s graceful posture. This shape also ensures a comfy grip and helps users dispense just the right amount of product.

Botaniera Original Firming Essence Skin Care Packaging by Chun Xue Creative Design

Tracing Package Typography

The Tracing Package Typography project strips things back to basics, using tracing paper as its muse to create a look that's bold yet delicate. Yichen Wang’s typography dances across the surface with strokes that manage to be both strong and fragile, giving users a canvas to trace their own creativity.

Tracing Package Typography by Yichen Wang

Bake Sans Type Design and Specimen

Blending Swiss precision with a dash of modernity, Paul Robb’s Bake Sans takes the no-nonsense approach of the International Style and gives it some experimental zest, resulting in a typeface that’s anything but half-baked. With its geometric sans serif letters sporting unique curves and shapes, Bake Sans offers a consistent look that’s ready to rise to all sorts of branding or communication challenges.

Bake Sans Type Design and Specimen by Paul Robb

NE01 Openbuds TWS Earphones

The NE01 Openbuds TWS Earphones are popping onto the scene with a design that’s music to both ears and fingers. These clever audio buddies, designed by Yuze Li, ditch the usual in-ear approach, opting instead for a hovering ear clip that keeps your canals clear and your hygiene in check, addressing the niggling issues of traditional earphones. The real showstopper, though, is a press-and-pop mechanism that channels the oddly satisfying feel of bubble wrap. The diamond-cut charging case is a clear winner in the style department too.

NE01 Openbuds TWS Earphones by Yuze Li

Aviz Multifunctional Trolley

Rolling out in style is the Aviz Multifunctional Trolley by Samaneh and Amir Ghasempour, which draws inspiration from Iranian trays. Its lightweight fabric base plays nice with various wooden attachments, transforming from a humble serving cart to a roving refreshment station, and even a pool table on the go. Talk about a jack of all trays! The designers have put practicality in the driver’s seat, designing the Aviz to be assembled and taken apart quickly after you host a party.

Aviz Multifunctional Trolley by Samaneh Ghasempour and Amir Ghasempour

Hprt MT800Q Portable Printer

This pint-sized printing powerhouse by Junyu Ma is shaking up the game with its ability to churn out A4 pages anywhere, anytime—no desk required. Need to print in a pinch? The MT800Q’s got your back, using automatic suction technology to grab any paper you throw its way. Ma’s design keeps things sleek and simple with clean geometric lines. And with its energy-efficient operation, it’s not just saving space; it’s saving power too.

Hprt MT800Q Portable Printer by Junyu Ma

2023 Taoyuan Land Art Festival Exhibition

Cultivating a harvest of eye-catching public art in Taiwan’s Longtan and Qingpu regions, FunDesign.tv’s curated crop of installations at the 2023 Taoyuan Land Art Festival ranged from traditional bamboo and textile pieces to high-tech digital displays. Visitors found themselves immersed in a landscape where art and nature grew side by side, each exhibit rooted in Taoyuan’s rich cultural soil. The festival extended to both citizens and international audiences, inviting all to get familiar with the local identity in a fresh, interactive way.

2023 Taoyuan Land Art Festival Exhibition by FunDesign.tv

Color Symphony Pavilion

The Color Symphony Pavilion brings a splash of joy to a Hong Kong shopping mall, painting the space with ever-changing hues thanks to its clever design by Ho Wang Owen Lam and Pui Sze Kong. This eye-popping installation uses layered acrylic panels to catch and scatter sunlight, creating a dazzling dance of colors on the ground that mirrors the city’s vibrant spirit. As Hong Kong’s first post-pandemic summer rolled around, the pavilion stood as a beacon of hope and celebration, inviting visitors to bask in its cheerful glow and soak up the festive atmosphere.

Color Symphony Pavilion by Ho Wang Owen Lam and Pui Sze Kong

Mariam’s Library

Mariam’s Library is a literary sanctuary in Zanzibar, Tanzania, that turns the page on traditional educational spaces. Crafted by Mai Al Busairi, this community-driven project aims to boost learning opportunities for underserved areas. The library thoughtfully utilizes local clay bricks and a corrugated-plastic roof, and harnesses natural elements like rain and sunlight to keep energy use in check. Split into a quiet reading nook and a lively collaborative zone, the space caters to both solo bookworms and groups. This cozy communal spot opens doors to community growth and accessible education in Tanzania by weaving together local needs, sustainable practices, and smart design.

Mariam’s Library by Mai Al Busairi

Arcteryx Sanlitun Flagship Store

Bringing a breath of fresh air to the shopping scene, the Arcteryx Sanlitun Flagship Store, dreamed up by Still Young, takes its cues from Vancouver’s rugged landscapes, transporting a slice of the wild into the heart of Beijing. Shoppers can trek through a forest of glass-encased tree trunks and scale rock-inspired platforms as they browse, all while surrounded by reclaimed wood and stone that whisper tales of far-off adventures. With separate zones for hardcore adventurers and city-dwelling outdoorsy types, plus an upstairs space for gatherings, this two-storey oasis is peak performance when it comes to blending retail with environmental consciousness.

Arcteryx Sanlitun Flagship Store by Arcteryx and Still Young

The Stacked House

Architect Takashi Izumi has crafted a home that looks like a playful stack of cubes in Kurashiki City, Japan. The Stacked House cleverly blends into the neighborhood while boxing in a private courtyard. Step inside, and you’ll find a space that’s anything but square, with an open living area flowing into a traditional Japanese room, creating a zen-like atmosphere that’s sure to take the edge off after a long day.

The Stacked House by Takashi Izumi

Wenzhou Christine Wedding Art Center

The Wenzhou Christine Wedding Art Center, dreamed up by Antistatics Architecture, reimagines a 1990s architectural relic into the belle of the ball. The façade is wrapped in a 32-foot-tall perforated metal veil, embodying intricate wedding dress lace patterns that play coy with light and shadow. Inside, guests are swept into a world where walls curve and arches swoop, as though floating through the folds of a grand gown.

Wenzhou Christine Wedding Art Center by Antistatics Architecture

Sunopy Sun and Rain Protection For Walkways

Sunopy, a brilliant walkway protection system designed by Peter Kuczia, is pulling double duty in urban spaces. This modular structure shields pedestrians from sun and rain while generating clean energy through its solar panel roof. Built for hot climates, Sunopy uses biodegradable bamboo arches and non-reflective glass panels, making it both eco-friendly and adaptable to various city layouts. The system’s quick assembly, without need for concrete foundations, adds to its appeal as a flexible urban solution. By combining practical pedestrian cover with green energy production, Sunopy offers cities a smart way to enhance their infrastructure and sustainability efforts in one fell swoop.