A’ design award and competition reveals top creative nations in world design ranking 2025

WORLD DESIGN RANKING REVEALS TOP NATIONS LEADING IN 2025

The World Design Rankings (WDR) has unveiled its 2025 results, providing a snapshot of how design-led innovation is distributed across the globe. The ranking offers a deep dive into the creative power of 114 nations, measured by their success within the A’ Design Award. The latest data confirms China’s continued dominance in the top spot, followed closely by the United States, Japan, Italy, and Hong Kong. From the architectural precision of European countries to the rapidly evolving tech-design sectors in Asia, the 2025 results highlight where innovation is accelerating. This year’s top 20 also sees strong performances from Turkey, Portugal, Australia, and Brazil, signaling a diverse global distribution of design excellence.

Rotunda Sale Center by Kris Lin
image credit: Kris Lin International design

rank: 1st

country: China
project: Rotunda

designer: Kris Lin

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design

A’ DESIGN AWARD & COMPETITION’S MAP OF GLOBAL DESIGN EXCELLENCE

At the core of these rankings is the A’ Design Award and Competition, a platform that acts as a barometer for international design quality. The competition spans a vast array of disciplines, highlighting everything from the structural complexity of Architecture and Building Design to the intricate details of Kitchenware and Lighting Products.

By recognizing achievements in specialized fields like Wearable Technologies and Digital Device Design, the A’ Design Award provides a vital springboard for designers to elevate their professional standing. For those looking to see their country climb the 2026 rankings, the call for entries is currently active. Submit your project for the upcoming edition here.

Pepsi Diner Milan 2024 Experiential by PepsiCo Design and Innovation
image credit: PepsiCo Design and Innovation

rank: 2nd

country: United States

project: Pepsi Diner Milan 2024

designer: PepsiCo Design and Innovation

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design

DECODING CREATIVE STRENGTHS THROUGH STRATEGIC DATA

The WDR rankings extend beyond a simple list through its Design Business Insights and Design Classifications. These tools offer a granular look at where specific industries are thriving. For example, the 2025 data allows users to identify which countries are dominating Fine Arts versus those excelling in the technical realms of 3D Modeling and Computer Graphics.

These insights are invaluable for agencies and policymakers looking to understand their creative IQ. Meanwhile, the Designer Rankings offer a transparent view of individual excellence, celebrating the architects, interior designers, and graphic artists who have consistently pushed the boundaries of their craft.

Youngor Experien Fashion Store by Masato Kure
image credit: Masato Kure

rank: 3rd

country: Japan

project: Youngor Experien

designers: Masato Kure, Masashi Ota, Tatsuya Yokoyama and Yuze Ma

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design

Cali Drinking Glass by Florian Seidl
image credit: Florian Seidl

rank: 4th

country: Italy

project: Cali

designer: Florian Seidl

category: Kitchenware Design

rank: 5th

country: Hong Kong (China)

project: Rising Moon

designers: SIU Kwok Kin Stanley, CHAN Pui Hong Aden, HUI Chun Hoi Eddie and HE Yiteng

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Ripple of Knowledge Library by Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan
image credit: Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan

rank: 6th

country: Taiwan (China)

project: Ripple of Knowledge

designers: Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design

Or2 Photochromic Canopy Structure by Francesco Brenta, Christoph Klemmt and Laura Micalizzi
image credit: Francesco Brenta, Christoph Klemmt and Laura Micalizzi

rank: 7th

country: Great Britain

project: Or2

designers: Francesco Brenta, Christoph Klemmt and Laura Micalizzi

category: Fine Arts and Art Installation Design

Pebble Heater by Hakan Gürsu
image credit: Hakan Gürsu

rank: 8th

country: Turkey

project: Pebble

designer: Hakan Gürsu

category: Digital and Electronic Device Design

Misterio Luminaires by Alexey Danilin
image credit: Pavel Dunaev

rank: 9th

country: Germany

project: Misterio

designer: Alexey Danilin

category: Lighting Products and Fixtures Design

Paths of Light Dvd Box by Francisco Elias & Nelson Fernandes
image credit: Francisco Elias & Nelson Fernandes

rank: 10th

country: Portugal

project: Paths of Light

designers: Francisco Elias & Nelson Fernandes

category: Packaging Design

Syha Sanitary Pad Packaging by Angela Spindler
image credit: Angela Spindler

rank: 11th

country: Australia

project: Syha

designer: Angela Spindler

category: Packaging Design

Bouji 3D Stills by Mateus Morgan de Aguiar
image credit: Mateus Morgan de Aguiar

rank: 12th

country: Brazil

project: Bouji

designer: Mateus Morgan de Aguiar

category: Computer Graphics, 3D Modeling, Texturing, and Rendering Design

rank: 13th

country: Spain

project: Living the Gardens

architects: Victor Sanz Pont, Sergio Sanz Pont, Álvaro Licona, Ana Cristina Avilés, José Rodríguez, Erik Pacheco and Bernardo Ortiz

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Micro Matter Miniature Sculptures in Glass Test Tubes by Rosa de Jong
image credit: Rosa de Jong

rank: 14th

country: Netherlands

project: Micro Matter

designer: Rosa de Jong

category: Fine Arts and Art Installation Design

Square Hsg Learning Center by Evolution Design
image credit: Peter Wuermli

rank: 15th

country: Switzerland

project: Square

designers: Carolin Michalka, Jessica Mentz, Zhiyang Chiu, Patrik Uihlein, Dariusz Florczak and Stuart Dickens

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design

rank: 16th

country: Republic of Korea

project: KT 5G

designer: TIST

category: Fine Arts and Art Installation Design

Bubble Forest Public Sculpture by Mirek Struzik
image credit: Mirek Struzik

rank: 17th

country: Poland

project: Bubble Forest

designer: Mirek Struzik

category: Fine Arts and Art Installation Design

Bonita Pour Femme Perfume Packaging and Structure Design by Vishal Vora
image credit: Vishal Vora

rank: 18th

country: India

project: Bonita Pour Femme

designers: Vishal Vora, Janak Vora, Hardik, Jyoti

category: Packaging Design

3D Cakes CGI Food by Andre Caputo
image credit: Andre Caputo

rank: 19th

country: Canada

project: 3D Cakes

designer: Andre Caputo

category: Computer Graphics, 3D Modeling, Texturing, and Rendering Design

Dab Ecg holter patch by Adam Miklosi
image credit: Kevin Harald Campean

rank: 19th

country: Hungary

project: Dab

designer: Adam Miklosi

category: Wearable Technologies Design

See the full list here.