Red Dot Design Award

🎙️Interview with the design team of HSBC Trusted Identity - Reimagine identities for a collaborative world HSBC (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) is one of the largest banks in the world and has been recognised with a Red Dot in the Service Design category of the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2024. The awarded project, "HSBC Trusted ID", provides a solution for the secure and efficient presentation and verification of identities in the digital space. It leverages trusted verification by banks to improve the handling of personal data. The concept enables the reliable issuance and protection of identity documents through the use of digital signatures and distributed ledger technology. This technology is a digital system for the decentralised storage and management of data across multiple networked computers, promoting security, transparency and decentralisation without the need for a central authority. The design concept paves the way for a future in which individuals can securely and easily verify their identity online without compromising their personal information. 👉 In this interview, the Group Head of Labs (Interim) at HSBC Guangzhou, Benjamin C., and Wenzhu Liu, Product Innovation Lead at HSBC, provide more insights into their project: https://lnkd.in/ehDZMWQV 🔴 P.S.: Today is the last day you can participate in the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2025! More information here: https://lnkd.in/eT4qgY9E #RedDot #DesignConcept 

Shaping the future: SCAD students in the Red Dot Design Award 🚀 Each year, the Red Dot Award recognises projects and concepts that distinguish themselves through innovation, outstanding design quality and social impact. One group that consistently impresses is the students from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Their projects demonstrate that contemporary design is far more than aesthetics. It embodies attitude, responsibility and a new perspective. Whether through visionary product ideas, powerful communication campaigns or hybrid brand experiences – SCAD students address relevant topics with fresh insights and set international benchmarks. Their work clearly illustrates how SCAD’s creative education fosters tangible design expertise and how young talents use design as a tool to actively shape society. 👉 Find out more about the impressive achievements of SCAD students in our magazine: https://lnkd.in/esZizRaz #RedDot #SCAD

🔥 Design for Extreme Conditions: The Future of Forest Firefighting 🔥 Extreme heat, unpredictable terrain, long operations—wildland firefighters face conditions that demand more than conventional clothing. With “Innovative Design of Products and Systems for Forest Fires”, Li Haolin from 江南大学 (Jiangnan University, China) addresses these challenges through a concept that prioritises safety, mobility and endurance. The design was honoured with a Red Dot: Best of the Best in the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2024. Developed with insights from active firefighters, the suit incorporates advanced materials, a modular system for adaptability, and ergonomic features tailored to real-life operations. 📌 Entry submission for the Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2024 closes on 30 April. Enter now: https://lnkd.in/eVQgeECb Want to know more about future of forest firefighting? 👉Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/eV9KuNFe #RedDot #DesignConcept

🎙 Neue Podcast-Folge online! „Good Design is Good Business.“ Was steckt hinter diesem Satz – und warum ist er aktueller denn je? Im BTS | Behind the Scenes Podcast spricht Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, Gründer des Red Dot Design Award, mit Max Ostermeier über die Rolle von Design als Wirtschaftsfaktor. Er erklärt, wie gute Gestaltung den Unternehmenserfolg beeinflusst, Marken stärkt und Innovationen vorantreibt – und warum Design nicht nur schön, sondern vor allem strategisch sein muss. 💬 Was macht ein Design wirklich „gut“? 📈 Warum investieren erfolgreiche Unternehmen gezielt in Gestaltung? 🌍 Und wie wurde Red Dot zu einem der renommiertesten Design Awards der Welt? Ein Muss für alle, die Design lieben – und verstehen wollen, wie es Business transformieren kann. 🎧 Jetzt reinhören: https://lnkd.in/edyBd4F8

🎤 4 Questions with Professor Dr. Peter Zec - Founder of Red Dot What does it take to build one of the most respected design institutions in the world? In this brief yet insightful conversation, Prof. Dr. Peter Zec reflects on the guiding principles behind the Red Dot Design Award, the value of consistent leadership, and the evolving role of design in shaping culture and industry. With over three decades at the helm of one of the world’s leading design accolades, Peter Zec offers a rare glimpse into the thinking that continues to define design excellence on a global stage. 📌 “For us however, the question that always arises is whether, beyond technology and efficiency, the products will also improve in terms of benefit and usability, aesthetics and social response.” 👇 Read the full interview with World Design Organization: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eQaPskWE #RedDotDesignAward #WorldDesignOrganization

Democratising Banking: How Varo Bank Is Turning Dollars into Dialogue 💸 In a bold move that challenges centuries-old symbols of economic power, Varo Bank has reimagined the face of finance, in cooperation with Serviceplan Group. With its Red Dot-winning campaign “Democratized Dollars“ (2021), this fully digital bank flipped the script on who belongs on a banknote — and why representation matters in the world of money. Varo was founded for the millions of Americans who’ve been overlooked by traditional banks. Its mission is to make banking inclusive, accessible, and built around real needs — not just profit margins. And with the slogan “A bank for all of us”, the brand took that message beyond screens and statements and straight onto the $20 bill. Out went the face of Andrew Jackson. In came a mosaic of modern America: diverse, expressive and human. From joyful smiles to proud gazes, the redesigned notes featured real people, looking back at us. But the campaign didn’t stop at symbolism. It invited everyone to take part. Through playful digital tools, anyone could place their own face on the $20 note and join a growing movement of everyday changemakers. The message was clear: money should work for everyone, not just a select few. And through this powerful redesign, Varo also voiced support for the long-standing proposal to honour Harriet Tubman — a Black woman and civil rights icon — on the $20 bill. A vision of finance where history is re-examined, and futures are rewritten. 👉 Which perspective is still missing in your brand’s story? Shoutout to the project team members: Stefan Schütte, Alex Schill, Jason Romeyko, Michael Wilk (Global Head of Art), Maximilian Florian Schöngen, Paul Foulkes, Matt Ashworth, Dennis Fritz (Head of Film), Kevin Lausen Sain’t Elmos: Kevin Proesel #RedDotAward #CommunicationDesign 

A Taste of Identity: How Zürcher Kantonalbank Turns Regional Culture into a Brand Experience 🍽️📘 How can a financial institution foster genuine closeness in a sector often shaped by abstraction and formality? With “Genuss” (Delight, eng.), Zürcher Kantonalbank redefines brand storytelling in a format that feels anything but conventional. This thoughtfully designed cookbook, created in collaboration with KMS TEAM, goes far beyond culinary inspiration. It reflects the essence of the brand—rooted in Zurich, committed to quality, and connected to the people it serves. At first glance, a cookbook might seem like an unlikely medium for a financial institution. But that’s precisely what makes this project so striking. It surprises. And it communicates what the bank stands for: substance, locality, and cultural relevance. The publication brings together recipes from regional producers and culinary experts across the canton of Zurich. It doesn’t chase trends. Instead, it focuses on craftsmanship, authenticity, and sustainable enjoyment. The imagery is calm and composed. The typography is restrained. The layout gives room to breathe. Every detail is meticulously designed—balanced, tactile, and timeless. This project is a reminder that brand presence doesn’t always require bold campaigns. Sometimes, a quiet format—executed with excellence—can say more. Especially when it speaks to the senses and honours the audience’s everyday life. 👉 How do you translate brand values into real-life relevance? 👏 Congratulations to the project team members: Patrick Märki (Management), Robert Meinolf Börsting (Head of Design), Nina Geromin (Designer), Christina Baur (Implementation Director), Maria Jemüller (Senior Media Designer), Maria Lucia Salvatore (Illustration), Celine Carle (Senior Project Management) #RedDotAward #CommunicationDesign 

One for all: How the AOK transforms healthcare branding into human connection ❤️🩹 How do you design trust? How do you translate something as personal and complex as healthcare into a brand that feels not only reliable, but human? The AOK, one of Germany‘s largest health insurance providers, has long been a household name. But in a world where health decisions are increasingly informed by digital experiences, a fragmented brand presence no longer meets expectations. The new identity, developed by MetaDesign, responds with a compelling answer: a system that unites structure with emotion. Titled “One for All” (2022), the redesign brings together the AOK’s eleven regional branches under one cohesive visual framework—without sacrificing their individual character. It’s a strategic evolution, not a reinvention. The recognisable green remains central, but now interacts with a flexible secondary colour palette that allows for differentiation and diversity. This creates a visual language that is both distinctive and adaptable. Typography, layout and motion all contribute to a design that feels calm, confident and contemporary. The logotype becomes a stable element in an otherwise dynamic system. Imagery focuses on real people in real situations—avoiding cliché in favour of authenticity. Every design decision reflects a clear ambition: to make health communication more accessible, more personal, and ultimately more effective. What makes this project noteworthy is not just the visual refinement, but the underlying strategic clarity. By aligning every brand touchpoint with the promise of reliability and support, AOK succeeds in transforming a complex system into an experience that feels intuitive and human-centred. 👉 How do you turn complexity into clarity through design? Let us know in the comments! Shout out the people who made this project come to life: Steve Plesker (Managing Director), Jutta Rick (Head of the Brand Management/Market Research Department), Michael Schönberger (Marketing/Media Specialist), Kerstin Blaszkowski (Brand Management Specialist), Olaf Schroeter (Head of Creation), Mathias Rolfes (Creative Director), Matthias Knoke (Design Director), Julian Hrankov (Senior Designer), Jörg Sesselmann (Head of Clients), Benjamin Seidel (Senior Client Manager), Caroline Ernst (Client Partner Spaces), Christian Renner (Design Director Spaces) #RedDotAward #CommunicationDesign

More than a meal: The storytelling power of McDonald's 🍔 How does a fast-food giant become a creative benchmark? How does a globally recognised brand stay fresh, relevant – and unmistakably itself? McDonald’s proves that strong brands aren’t static. They’re alive and full of stories. 🍟 With projects like “I’m Lovin’ It 2.0” and “The McDonald’s Brand Book”, a bold new chapter in brand communication unfolds. The iconic “M” remains – but everything around it is being reimagined: more inclusive, more visual, more flexible. A strategic update with attitude and authenticity. 🍟 “Popov, the Clown” takes things further: a moving short film revives a nearly forgotten character – poetic, tender, nostalgic. Instead of pushing products, it creates a piece of culture. 🍟 McDonald’s also knows how to strike a punchline. “Fishing Hook” turns the classic fries carton into a stylised fishing tool. It’s an image that sticks. 🍟 “The McDelivery Packaging” delivers clever design that blends function with brand character. Less is more – when it’s well thought through. 🍟 “Forest of Fries” combines sustainability with strong visuals: a forest made of used fries packs that lingers in the mind. Design as a wake-up call – no finger-wagging needed. 🍟 And then there’s “What We Love” – a heartfelt tribute to the everyday moments McDonald’s has shared with people for decades. Not staged, but sincere. What unites all these projects? They tell stories. They show how brand design can be versatile, moving, and brave – even within a global framework. They offer a powerful blueprint of how emotion, design and identity can work hand in hand. 👏 Shout out to all project team members: I'm Lovin' It 2.0 (2015): Leo Burnett / thjnk The McDonald's Brand Book (2017): Leo Burnett / thjnk ag Popov, the Clown (2015): Leo Burnett / thjink ag Fishing Hook (2016): Andreas Pauli, Armin Jochum, Thomas Koch, Michael Fuhr, Helge Kniess and Benjamin Merkel The McDelivery Packaging (2018): Armin Jochum, Andreas Pauli, Dimitrios Arampatzioglou, Daniel Gaßner, Radwan Atwi, Karl Wolfgang Epple-Humer, Gregor Renn, Jörg S., Katharina Form and Veronika Reisinger Forest of Fries (2017): Leo Burnett / thjnk ag What We Love (2016): Andreas Pauli, Armin Jochum, Jörg Hoffmann, Andreas Daum, Till Rothweiler and Viktor Kislovskij #RedDot #CommunicationDesign

📣Last chance! The Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2025 is closing submissions on 30 April 📣 Designers, design teams, companies and design studios have the final opportunity to present their latest ideas, visions, prototypes and ready to launch products. Established in 2005, the Red Dot Award: Design Concept was created to identify and celebrate groundbreaking design ideas and innovations—those that pave the way for the products of tomorrow. Over the years, it has evolved into a respected platform for assessing and honouring outstanding design achievements. The award welcomes submissions at all stages of development, from early concepts and prototypes to near-complete or market-ready solutions. 🗓️ Submission deadline: 30 April 2025 🔗How to enter: https://lnkd.in/eVQgeECb #RedDotAward #DesignConcept