The awards
The ICONIC AWARDS provide a stage for the most groundbreaking projects of the year. They unlock networking and business opportunities, offering visibility to you and your projects.
LAST CALL EXTENDED
Be part in 2026! Registration is open until 22 May!
Announcement
Detailed information on participation and the competition will be available in our application documents from 18 February 2026. The deadline for registration is 15 May.
Novelties
Bringing together the entire value chain of the construction and design industry on one platform is the declared goal of the ICONIC AWARDS 2026. You can expect expanded networking and business opportunities.
18 February 2026
Call for applications 2026
27 March 2026
Early Bird deadline
15 May 2026
Deadline for online registration
27 May & 9 June 2026
Jury session
24 August 2026
Announcement of the winners
6 October 2026
Awards ceremony 2026
Submit your project now!
Create an account
Register in our submission portal by using the Apply now button. Log in with your access data or register as a new user.
Registration
For the online registration of your submission you will need a short description in English and German and at least one image. After that, complete your registration bindingly.
Upload
Complete your digital submission by 15 May and upload the presentation with photos, drawings and other illustrative materials for the jury meeting. This will take place on 27 May & 9 June 2026.
Benefits
INTERNATIONAL VISIBILITY
The ICONIC AWARDS ensure you get the industry's international attention - because only ground-breaking excellence is rewarded.
EXPAND YOUR REACH
Benefit from high-profile communication via the German Design Council’s channels and become part of the design community.
ACHIEVE GENUINE RECOGNITION
Your projects will be evaluated by renowned experts and gain attention in the international architecture scene.
CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS
Enjoy well-deserved recognition at the awards ceremony – a key highlight in the industry calendar. Connect with key decision-makers in the world of architecture.
AWARDED TOGETHER
The ICONIC AWARDS now bring together all disciplines of the industry – from manufacturers to architects, interior designers, planners, clients, and project developers.
Knowledge Transfer & Professional Exchange
As a member of the ICONIC AWARDS community, you gain access to exclusive trade fair events, opportunities for on-stage presentations, and in-depth professional exchanges with our media partner DETAIL.
Awards ceremony
The ICONIC AWARDS ceremony is the highlight of the calendar for architects, interior designers and manufacturers in the furniture industry. A day filled with inspiration, exchange, and knowledge-sharing.
On 7 October 2025, the ICONIC AWARDS ceremony at BMW Welt Munich celebrated the industry’s outstanding achievements – featuring pioneering expert talks, valuable networking opportunities, and the winning projects taking centre stage.
Source: German Design Council / Photos: Jens Hartmann, Lukas Schramm
2:00 pm
Guest admission, registration
Certificate hand-out, Marketing Services
2:30 pm
Panel Talk: Circular Design
Keynotes and exchange
Moderators:
Jeanette Kunsmann, Editor-in-Chief DETAIL & Jakob Schoof, Deputy Editor-in-Chief DETAIL
Guests:
Diederik Fokkema, Fokkema & Partners Architects
Marco Schoneveld, vepa the furniture factory
Bram Aerts, ATAMA & Jury member ICONIC AWARDS 2025
Annabelle von Reutern, TOMAS & Jury member ICONIC AWARDS 2025
4:00 pm
Coffee break: selected sweet and savoury snacks
4:30 – 6:30 pm
Pitch & Pulse – innovative ideas in short format
Moderator:
Alexander Gutzmer, architecture journalist
- Behnisch Architekten, EDGE ElbSide Hamburg
- Itten+Brechbühl AG, Sporthallenprovisorium Gloriarank
- oliv Architekten, aer München
- desina studio, chancha
- Architects Collective ZT-GmbH, Kinder- und Jugendklinik Freiburg
- Nickl & Partner Architekten AG, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital Longhua Campus
- MVRDV, The Pyramid of Tirana
- Hapitat Architects, Public Learning Hub in a Mountain Valley
- anyscale, The Balance
- SPARK, Taizhou Fish Marke
7:00 pm
Start of the official award ceremony on stage (Auitorium)
Moderator: Ilka Groenewold
Afterwards
“Get together” with finger food and drinks
Opportunity for a photo at the photo wall
10:00 pm
End of the event
Categories
Architecture
From urban concepts and green space planning, cultural buildings and educational institutions, hotels and restaurants to residential buildings, workplaces and hospitals. New constructions, revitalizations, and conversions of all kinds.
more
Retail and Commercial
Branded spaces, shops, concept stores, showrooms, department stores, shopping centres, outlets, etc.
Hospitality
Hotels, boarding houses, serviced apartments, spas and wellness resorts, bars, cafés, restaurants, pop-up bars, kiosk etc.
Residential
Prefab buildings, detached homes, care homes etc.
Healthcare
Nursing facilities, jospitals, medical facilities, rehabilitation facilities, care facilities, hospices etc.
Corporate
Company buildings, office buildings, factories, warehouses etc.
Public
Stadiums, administrative buildings, sports facilities, railway stations, bus stations , toilet cubicles etc.
Culture
Museums, concert halls, theatres, opera houses, sacred buildings, temples, religious sites, monuments etc.
Eduction
Education buildings, schools, day-care centres, sports facilities etc.
Event and Exhibition
Exhibitions, special settings, trade fair stands, pop-up stores, events, light installations, pavilions, temporary installations etc.
Urban Planning
Villages, regions, urban branding, urban/district and neighbourhood developement, mixed-use-building complexes, ensemble etc.
Temporary and Mobile Architecture
Mobile architectures, pavilions, pop-ups, undefined typologies, installations, novel building types, lightweight and membrane structures etc.
Mixed-use Development
Vertical mixed use (residential, work, retail, hospitality), horizontal mixed use, individual buildings, large-scale facilities and hybrid neighbourhoods, campuses etc.
Urban Regeneration and Development
Revitalisation and regeneration of existing neighbourhoods, urban renewal, district planning, connectivity concepts, redensification & inner development etc.
Transformation
Conversions: Conversion of department stores and office space, revitalisation of historic buildings, holistic utilisation concepts and industrial buildings, conversion of transport infrastructure etc.
Industrial and Logistic Development
Industrial parks, commercial areas, production and manufacturing facilities, research and development centres, logistics systems/hubs etc.
Surface and Facade
New constructions, renovation, facade systems and modular solutions, technical solutions etc.
Special
Hybrid buildings with unusual mixed uses, landmarks, observation towers and platforms, serial / experimental buildings, prototypes, greenhouses etc.
Interior
From exceptional retail concepts, restaurants, bars, and hotel facilities to the design of living spaces, offices, care facilities, and hospitals.
more
Retail and Commercial
Branded spaces, shops, concept stores, showrooms, department stores, shopping centres, outlets, etc.
Residential
Prefab buildings, detached homes, care homes, etc.
Corporate
Company buildings, office buildings, business premises, factories, warehouses etc.
Workplace
Office space, NewWork concepts etc.
Public
Schools, day-care centres, hospitals, stadiums, admin buildings, sports facilities, railway stations, bus stations etc.
Culture
Museums, concert halls, theatres, opera houses, sacral buildings, temples, religious sites, monuments etc.
Education
Education buildings, schools, day-care centres, sports facilities etc.
Hospitality
Hotels, boarding houses, serviced apartments, spa and wellness resorts, member clubs, gastronomy, bars, cafés, restaurants, etc.
Healthcare
Nursing facilities, hospitals, medical facilities, rehabilitation facilites, care facilities, hospices etc.
Special
Pop-up concepts, new or undefindes typologies, installations, lighting design and lighting concepts etc.
Communication
Outstanding holistic communication – at trade show booths, in advertising campaigns, or corporate designs for architectural firms, word-image brands for real estate projects, and urban concepts.
more
B2B Communication
Trade fair stands, ad campaigns, ads, flyers, brochures, catalogues, outdoor advertising, websites, image films, architectural photography, books etc.
B2C Communication
Trade fair stands, book publications, ad campaigns, ads, brochures, flyers, outdoor advertising, websites, image films, architectural photography, catalogues, etc.
Corporate Design
Branding, websites, letterhead stationery, business cards, flyers, posters, banners, signs, flags, etc.
Signposting System
Guidance systems for cities, public institutions, office and business premises, shopping centres, detached homes, etc.
Special
Free concepts for architecture and interior design, not realised brand and corporate design from architecture and interior etc.
Product
From fixed building products to innovations in building equipment and furnishings: including facades, doors, lighting, sanitary and kitchen equipment and furniture.
more
Facade
Paint, insulation, plaster, windows, doors, balconies, materials, fittings, railings etc.
Wall, Floor and Ceiling
Tiles, wallpaper, plaster, carpets, parquet, materials, floor laminates, ceiling elements, stairs, floor coverings, wall coverings etc.
Energy Solutions
Solar thermal energy, photovoltaics, materials, biomass, solar energy systems etc.
Sanitation and Wellness
Sanitary objects, fittings, bathtubs, shower enclosures, shower trays, bathroom furniture, ceramics, materials, swimming pools, saunas, water treatment etc..
Building Facility
Lifts, escalators, stairs, doors, windows, radiators, materials, switches and control panels, house and door signage, handles home automation, letterboxes, fittings etc.
Office and Workplace
Office furniture, furniture systems, acoustic solutions, technical equipment for the workplace etc.
Kitchen and Household
Kitchen taps, kitchen sinks, large electrical appliances, kitchen furniture etc.
Lighting
Lighting systems, outdoor luminaires, decorative luminaires, technical luminaires, work lights etc.
Material, Textile and Surface
Materials and textiles, surfaces, decorative fabrics, furniture fabrics etc.
Furniture
Cabinet and shelving systems, seating, tables, beds etc.
Outdoor & Urban Solutions
Street furniture, bus stops, shelters & waiting areas, bicycle racks, play and recreation areas, garden furniture and lounge modules, pavilions etc.
Special
New product typologies etc.
Concept
Visionary ideas and (yet) unrealized concepts in the fields of city and architectural design, as well as interior design.
more
Development Concept and Masterplanning
Hybrid neighbourhoods, urban development strategies, master plans for neighbourhoods and districts, street spaces and mobility concepts, squares and public spaces, climate-resilient urban planning, smart city concepts · etc.
Urban Planning and Landscape
Plazas, streets, renovation, conversion, villages, regions, urban branding, urban/district and neighbourhood developement, mixed-use building complexes, ensemble, open space planning, garden and landscape architecture etc.
Visionary & Uncompleted Architecture
Concepts and unrealised designs for the design of: public buildings, cultural buildings, company buildings, office buildings, stores, factories, prefabricated buildings, residential buildings, concepts for temporary buildings etc.
Transformation
Conversions, holistic utilisation concepts, revitalisation of city centres, conversion of transport infrastructure, conversion of existing buildings etc.
Special
Free designs, competition entries, future studies, city models, interdisciplinary concepts, digital architecture / metaverse connection, AI-supported architectural concepts, parametric / generative architecture, scenarios for new building typologies etc.
Innovative Material
The projects are characterised by the use of innovative materials that shape the design of architecture, interiors and products. The focus is on sustainability, energy efficiency and functionality.
Circular Design
This category recognises particularly innovative solutions that bring the current goals of the circular economy into practice and serve as a model for circular strategies
Want to learn more about the categories? Simply download our call for entries here.
Announcement 2026Registration and service fees 2026
Registration fees
details
Registration fees 2026
EUR 350 plus VAT
per submission (incl. digital date preparation)
EUR 300 plus VAT
Earl bird rate per submission until 27 March 2026 (incl. digital date preparation)
Service fees
An award is subject to a fee for the communications and media package.
»Winner«
details
Service fees »Winner«
2.450 EUR plus VAT
The award contains:
- – use of the »Winner«-label for your communications
- – two personalised winner documents
- – access to our exclusive marketing services
- – entry in the catalogue, one specimen copy of the catalogue per entrant
- – presentation of the prize-winning project/product in the ICONIC Directory
- – comprehensive public relations communications and social media coverage in relation to the competition
- – attendance at the awards ceremony, optional professional photograph of winners with document. Following the ceremony, all »Winner« projects will be presented to the guests through a digital presentation on screen.
»Best of Best«
Details
Serviceg fees »Best of Best«
2,900 EUR plus VAT
The award contains:
- – use of the »Best of Best«-label for your communications
- – two personalised winner documents, one in a high-quality frame
- – access to our exclusive marketing services
- – entry in the catalogue, one specimen copy of the catalogue per entrant
- – presentation of the prize-winning project/product in the ICONIC Directory
- – Exclusive public relations communications and social media coverage in relation to the competition
- – attendance at the awards ceremony, on-stage presentation of prize sculpture and personalised document, with professional photograph taken.
Grant programme
The German Design Council offers all small companies and start-ups the opportunity to obtain an exemption from the possible winner's fees via a request for support.
details
Our grant programme
The German Design Council offers all small companies and start-ups the opportunity to obtain an exemption from the possible winner's fees for the »Winner« and »Best of Best« awards via a request for support.
The prerequisite for support is an annual turnover of up to EUR 100,000 in the last two years. Funds will be released after a thorough review of the firm’s financial situation.
The application must be filed no later than 13 April 2026 (the date of receipt by the German Design Council is what counts in this regard).
Detailed information can be found in our announcement documents 2026.
Jury 2026
Each year, an international panel of 10–15 experts evaluates submissions for the ICONIC AWARDS.
In recent years, jury members have included Bram Aerts (ATAMA, Belgium), Tina Kortmann (UNStudio, Netherlands), Carsten Schmidt (Topotek 1, Germany), Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen (NORM Architects, Denmark), Felizia Berchtold (Tutto Bene, Italy), Gong Dong (Vector Architects, China), Wei Wu (gmp Architects, Shanghai), Jeanette Kunsmann (DETAIL Magazine), Stefan Diez (Diez Office, Germany), Lone Wiggers (C.F. Møller Architects, Denmark), Daniel Blum (Itten+Brechbühl, Switzerland), Esther Brutzkus (Germany), Piero Lissoni (Italy), and Antonio Rodriguez (Matteo Thun & Partners, Italy).
Jonas Bjerre-Poulson
Founding partner, Norm Architects
more
Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen is a founding partner of Norm Architects with over a decade of experience as an architect, designer, art director and photographer. Jonas shares his passion for phenomenology - the philosophical study of human experience - and striking spaces, objects and images with clients ranging from established design brands to international magazines and private homeowners. Educated at both the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and Copenhagen Business School, Jonas combines business-oriented and strategic thinking with the conceptual thoughts and visions that bring creative projects to life. I have a strong calling to create thoughtful projects that make a difference and stand out in an understated, refined way,' he says of his work, which has won awards including the Red Dot, IF Design Award, Design Plus Award and Good Design Award.
Jeeyeon Choi
Director & Design Executive, Design Strategy Department, Hanssem, Seoul
more
Jeeyeon Choi received a Bachelor’s degree in Housing and Interior Design from the College of Human Ecology at Yonsei University, and a Master’s degree in Design Management from Yonsei Graduate School of Human Environmental Science, Korea. She is currently working as Director and Design Executive in the Home Remodelling Design Strategy Department at the Research and Design Lab of Hanssem, the largest company in the Korean interior industry. Since 2002, she has developed expertise in design and lifestyle trends, furniture product design, planning and development processes under an online–offline O2O distribution strategy, launching and directing key seasonal products and commercialising them through the brand’s in-house design studio.
EFRAT FRIEDLAND
Industrial Designer, Founder materialscout
more
Trained industrial designer with a great passion for materials, Efrat is the founder of materialscout, a Munich-based consultancy that helps market-leading companies generate value through creative, competitive and sustainable implementation of materials and technologies. Focusing on consumer tendencies, materials sourcing, processing, implementation, emotional attachment and end usage with a circular approach, materialscout connects the materials industry with the creative industry. Efrat is also the co-founder of Positive Plastics, a toolbox and platform for designers and engineers, introducing them to commercially available polymers with a lower environmental impact.
Peter Ippolito
Managing Partner, Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects
more
Peter founded Ippolito Fleitz Group alongside Gunter Fleitz in 2002. Today, this multidisciplinary design studio has 120 employees in Stuttgart, Berlin and Shanghai. Its projects have won over 470 international design awards. It is listed as number one studio worldwide in the office interiors specialism in the iF Design Award Ranking. In this field, and across over 1,800 projects from a wide range of sectors, we demonstrate the realisation power behind a unique vision: designing spaces of possibility for the diverse tasks of transformation within companies and society. Peter and Gunter’s greatest personal achievement was being inducted into the ‘Interior Design Hall of Fame’ in New York in 2015, which made them the first German interior designers to join these illustrious ranks.
Evan Jahn
Assoc. AIA, President Jahn Studio, Chicago
more
Evan Jahn serves as President of Jahn Studio, where he leads the firm’s strategic vision with a strong emphasis on sustainable technical architecture and its capacity to enhance the urban and built environment. Evan’s combination of expertise in virtual design, sustainability and construction informs his holistic approach to project leadership, ensuring that critical coordinated decisions are made early in the design process to achieve optimal outcomes. Since joining Jahn as Vice President in 2020, Evan has been instrumental in guiding the firm’s growth and evolution, assuming the presidency in 2021. Evan holds a Bachelor of Arts from Union College (NY) and a Master of Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Sonja Jungnitsch
Studio Director and Senior Associate, Gensler (Berlin)
more
Sonja is an architect and designer with 10 years of experience specialising in workplace strategy, including a focus on digitalisation and interior design. Based in Gensler Berlin, she is a Studio Director and supports major companies and organisations with the implementation of new workspace concepts in their global portfolio. As project lead, she regularly engages with clients at all levels and takes overall responsibility for the successful delivery, balancing stakeholder needs with project and company priorities. Prior to joining Gensler, Sonja spent significant time abroad in China and Ethiopia, expanding her design skills and engaging in numerous projects of all types and sizes. Her drive for identifying innovative approaches and her experience in international project environments adds significant value to global clients.
Lara Katscher
Board Member of Werner Sobek
more
Lara Katscher has been a Board Member of Werner Sobek AG since 2025 and Managing Director of Werner Sobek Green Technologies since 2022. Previously, she held leadership roles in building physics and sustainability at Werner Sobek Frankfurt. Her academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Energy-Efficient Building Design and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Construction. She has been part of Werner Sobek AG since 2016.
Eva Marguerre & Marcel Besau
Founder, Studio Besau-Marguerre
more
Studio Besau-Marguerre stands for a holistic design approach that combines disciplines such as product design, visual communication, styling, colour consulting and interior design. Founded in 2011 by Eva Marguerre and Marcel Besau, the Hamburg-based design studio has made a name for itself with its attention to detail, sensitivity to colour, form and materials, and its interdisciplinary team. Whether it is bespoke exhibition concepts, iconic furniture designs or projects such as the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, each project reflects the studio’s unique signature. Numerous awards and prestigious clients such as Vitra, Artek and Thonet are testament to the creative excellence and passion with which Studio Besau-Marguerre rethinks design and brings it to life.
Caroline Nagel
Associate, Design Director, Member of the Executive Board COBE, Copenhagen
more
Caroline Nagel is an architect, associate, design director and member of the management board at COBE. She graduated from the Technical University of Berlin in 2004 and has more than 20 years of professional experience in architecture, urban planning and landscape design in Denmark and Germany. Her award-winning projects include the adidas HALFTIME building in Herzogenaurach, The Silo and Karen Blixens Plads in Copenhagen. In addition to large construction projects, she has managed significant urban and public space developments such as Israels Plads and Nørreport Station. She is currently managing the "Quartiere am Volkspark" project in Hamburg, a comprehensive urban development project ranging from master planning to landscape design.
Ana Relvão
Designer and Co-Founder of Relvãokellermann
more
Ana Relvão founded the Relvãokellermann studio together with Gerhardt Kellermann in 2014 in Munich. She was the award winner of the INOV-ART scholarship of the Portuguese Ministry of Culture and was nominated for the Design Award of the City of Munich in 2016 and 2020. She was a guest professor at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart in 2018. Relvãokellermann works in the field of industrial design, spatial design and art direction. Some of their clients over the years include Auerberg, Bulthaup, COR, Gumpo, Holzrausch, Huawei, LIGRE and Samsung.
Li Xiang
Founder&CEO of X+Living Architecture and Interior Design, Shanghai
more
Li Xiang studied Architecture at Birmingham City University and launched her firm in 2011, later moving into interior design. Her work across retail, culture, entertainment, and hospitality combines artistic insight with emotionally rich spaces, strengthening brand identity. She has won over 100 international awards and was named by Fast Company as one of the “Most Creative People in Business” (2020) and listed in the PMI Future 50 (2021).
Prof. ZHANG Jie
UNESCO Chairholder, National Master of Engineering Design, ICOMOS Honorary Member
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Prof. ZHANG Jie, Professor at Tsinghua University, is a distinguished practitioner and scholar who has focused on urban regeneration and heritage conservation in China for over thirty years. Pioneering the "Associative Renewal" framework, his work utilizes "Micro-Surgical Urbanism" and "Memory-Led Regeneration" to bridge heritage conservation with sustainable innovation. Notable works include Taoxichuan Park, recognized by RIBA and AIA, and the Pengjia Alley Compound. Both projects serve as influential benchmarks for heritage-driven development. By transforming cultural fragments into future-oriented resources, Zhang creates a resilient synergy between historical continuity and modern urban vitality, earning him extensive recognition from international architecture institutions.
FAQ
HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED LAST YEAR?
In total, there were over 560 entries from 46 countries for the ICONIC AWARDS in 2025.
IN WHICH CATEGORIES CAN I SUBMIT MY PROJECT?
There are five main categories: Architecture. Interior Design. Product. Concept. Communications. Further information can be found here.
WHICH AWARDS ARE PRESENTED?
"Winner": This award is presented to outstanding projects of the year that impress the jury with their quality and innovation.
"Best of Best": This special honour is strictly limited and is only awarded to projects that are characterised by exceptional excellence. The jury uses it to recognise pioneering top performance.
WHERE CAN I REGISTER FOR THE AWARDS?
Registration is via our submission portal.
WHO IS ADMITTED TO THE AWARDS?
All companies and studios whose projects fit into the categories.
CAN I REGISTER A PROJECT THAT HAS ALREADY WON ANOTHER GERMAN DESIGN COUNCIL AWARD?
Yes.
IS THERE A LIMITED NUMBER OF PROJECTS I CAN ENTER FOR THE AWARDS?
No.
HOW OLD CAN THE SUBMITTED PROJECT BE?
The project may not be older than 5 years at the time of the jury meeting.
WHAT ARE THE DATES AND DEADLINES?
All dates and deadlines can be downloaded here.
WHAT ARE THE COSTS AND FEES?
A registration fee will be charged for each registered project. Depending on the award, additional fees may apply. Information on the costs of the ICONIC AWARDS can be found in the fact sheet.
CAN I BE EXEMPTED FROM THE FEES?
The German Design Council offers all small businesses and start-ups the opportunity to be exempted from the possible winning fees by means of a funding application. Details can be found in our application documents.