Photo: iF Design Hannover.On April 27th, we had the honor of attending the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026, one of the world's most important and influential design awards. The iconic Berlin Friedrichstadt-Palast It brought together nearly 2.000 guests from 42 countries at a gala dedicated to recognizing excellence in design and innovation.
This edition featured traditional out of 10.000 applications from 68 countries, distributed in 93 categories encompassing disciplines such as Product Design, PackagingBranding & Communication, Architecture, Interior Architecture, Service Design, System & Process Design, UX, UI and Professional Concepts.
An independent jury composed of 131 international experts evaluated the proposals in two rounds to select the most outstanding projects of the year.
The gala was presented by Uwe CremeringCEO of iF Design, alongside the television presenter Yasmine Blairwho were responsible for presenting the coveted iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 Gold trophies. During the ceremony, Cremering personally congratulated the 74 Gold winners on the stage of one of the world's largest theaters.
Photo: iF Design Hannover.
Patricia Urquiola: iF Design Lifetime Achievement Awards 2026
One of the highlights of the gala was the presentation of the iF Design Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 to Spanish designer and architect Patricia Urquiola. Considered one of the most important designers internationally, she has shaped the design landscape for decades, with work ranging from iconic furniture designs to interior design projects.
Her work is characterized by a vision that combines materials research, technological innovation and aesthetic sensitivity, and has made her one of the most respected designers of our time.
During the ceremony, Uwe Cremering emphasized the direction the industry is heading: “Design is increasingly defining how we build the future: how we take responsibility, use resources efficiently, and ensure that new technologies, including AI, serve people. AI does not replace design. Without design, AI is mediocre; with solid design, it becomes a strategic asset.”
Winners of the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 in the packaging category
iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 Gold
- ZERO-glue express BOX, from ShenZhen YUTO Packaging Technology Co., Ltd.
DESIGN: Shenzhen Yuto Packaging Technology Co., Ltd.
- WAZU, from THREE Inc.
DESIGN: Canaria Inc.
- CurifyLabs Blister 10 x 1ml, by CurifyLabs
DESIGN: Studio Aslak Siimes
- ERROR, Offbeat, of DSIGNTANK
DESIGN: SERIESNEMO / DSIGNTANK
iF DESIGN AWARD 2026
- Xenon, from SIMON Group
DESIGN: SIMON Group
- WILDLY CRAFTED, Bottles for Spirits & Wines, by ESTAL packaging
DESIGN: DSIGNTANK
- VINOLOK DUET, the harmony of wood and glass, by ViNOLOK
DESIGN: DSIGNTANK
Spanish iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 Gold Awards outside the packaging category
- VEGA & ALTER VEGA -Sustainable switch program, by Asea Brown Boveri SAU – NIESSEN
DESIGN: Asea Brown Boveri SAU – NIESSEN / Made By Makers
