german design awards 2025 reveal 'newcomer of the year' finalists

German Design Awards 2025 reveal five finalists

The German Design Awards 2025 have announced the five finalists for its prestigious ‘Newcomer of the Year’ category. This accolade recognizes emerging talents whose work demonstrates innovative approaches to sustainability, technology, and design, shaping the future of the creative industries. From over 187 portfolios submitted by students across 35 universities, the finalists are representing diverse fields such as Architecture, Fashion & Textile Design, Industrial & Product Design, Digital Design, and Communication Design, showcasing the transformative potential of design in tackling societal and environmental issues. The highly anticipated winner is being revealed at the award ceremony in Frankfurt am Main on February 7, 2025.

Sophia Reißenweber takes a research-intensive approach, blending biotechnology with materials science | © Sophia Reißenweber Projekt: MFG, all images courtesy of the German Design Council

from Architecture to digital design and Fashion

Organized by the German Design Council, this annual award recognizes exceptional young talent shaping the future of design. The five finalists represent diverse fields including Architecture, Fashion & Textile Design, Industrial & Product Design, Digital Design, and Communication Design. These projects exemplify cutting-edge thinking, from creating circular materials to reimagining typographic systems. The winner will receive €15,000, while each finalist will be awarded €2,500.

The jury, composed of experts such as Teresa Franquera, Luzia Hein, Ole Heydekamp, Jasmin Jouhar, and Andreas Murkudis, praised the depth and variety of the submissions. They highlighted how each finalist addresses pressing global challenges, from sustainability to technological advancements, through creative and interdisciplinary approaches.‘We were impressed by the diversity and depth of the submitted work. Each entry showcased innovative design responses to current challenges, such as sustainability, materials research, or technological advancements. Selecting the finalists was challenging, as there were many outstanding projects,’ explained the jury in detailing their selection of the finalists.

Lena Weber brings a philosophical lens to communication design, crafting typographic systems and tools | © Lena Weber Projekt: Gradial Typeface Experiments

highlighting the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ 2025

The selected finalists all integrate sustainability and innovation into their practices. In Architecture, Amelie Kurz from Fachhochschule Dortmund addresses ecological and social challenges by designing resource-conscious spaces that reuse existing materials. Fashion & Textile Design nominee Juni Sun Neyenhuys from Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin explores biomaterials, using algae to create sustainable packaging solutions.

Sophia Reißenweber takes a research-intensive approach, blending biotechnology with materials science to achieve closed-loop material cycles, highlighting the potential for systemic sustainability. Max Seeger’s digital design projects demonstrate a bold fusion of generative design and creative technologies, pushing the boundaries of artistic and technological innovation. Lena Weber brings a philosophical lens to communication design, crafting typographic systems and tools that investigate the digital world’s aesthetic dimensions.

Amelie Kurz’s architectural projects focus on repurposing existing resources to design ecologically and socially forward-thinking spaces | © Fachhochschule Dortmund Projekt: AK front yard

Amelie Kurz’s architectural projects focus on repurposing existing resources to design ecologically and socially forward-thinking spaces. Her work illustrates how architecture can address sustainability while creating functional, community-oriented designs. Meanwhile, Juni Sun Neyenhuys explores the potential of algae and biomaterials, paving the way for innovative packaging solutions that prioritize environmental harmony.

Since its inception in 2012, the German Design Awards’ “Newcomer of the Year” category has provided young talents with vital industry exposure. Sponsored by Deutsche Telekom, this year’s prize pool of €25,000 continues the tradition of supporting emerging designers. Past winners, including Eva Marguerre and Sebastian Herkner, have gone on to establish successful careers, underlining the award’s role as a launchpad for transformative design talent.

Juni Sun Neyenhuys explores biomaterials, using algae to create sustainable packaging solutions | © Juni Sun Neyenhuys Projekt: Designing the Afterlife

Max Seeger’s digital design projects demonstrate a bold fusion of generative design and creative technologies | © Max Seeger Projekt: Jewels of the Sea