4 questions with Dr. Peter Zec, Founder of Red Dot

Few names are as closely associated with contemporary design recognition as Professor Dr. Peter Zec, the Founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award. Since launching the internationally renowned competition in 1993, the former International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (now WDO) President has built Red Dot into one of the most prestigious design awards in the world, an influential benchmark for quality, innovation and aesthetics. Here, he reflects on more than three decades of championing global design excellence, the real value of Red Dot’s coveted red seal and the future of design awards. 

You introduced the Red Dot Design Award at a time when the design industry was evolving rapidly. In your view, what are a few of the core values a design award must uphold in order to remain relevant across decades and disciplines?

This is a question we ask ourselves anew every year, because the essence of a design award lies in two processes: preservation and change. While the competition’s categories change because technologies change or design evolves as design teams become more international and more interdisciplinary, the independence and fairness of the evaluation must always be maintained. The award’s results are reflected in the internationality and competence of the jury, as well as in the quality of the competition’s organization.

Many awards recognize good design, but few shape the conversation around it. How does Red Dot go beyond recognition to influence how the world sees and understands design?

Good design needs good communication! This applies both to the winners and to us as organizers of the Red Dot Design Award. Winning is not the end of a successful participation – it is the beginning. The beginning of a story that should be told. The Red Dot winner label marks the starting point of this story. It is the perfect tool for communicating product quality, innovation and corporate values. But we too, tell these stories – in our yearbooks, on our website and across social media. We also bring this quality to life in our three museums in Essen (Germany), Singapore and Xiamen (China). These are places where the design and lifestyle culture of the 21st century is reflected. Last but not least, we have created international meeting places for the design community through our award ceremonies. Those who participate gain access to a global network of companies, design teams and design studios.

“Winning is not the end of a successful participation — it is the beginning. The beginning of a story that should be told.” 

For better or for worse, artificial intelligence is reshaping our industry. What are your thoughts on the impact AI will have on design awards moving forwards and how we recognize design creativity and innovation?

We are currently in a phase where artificial intelligence is still being used primarily as a tool to increase efficiency. 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. People are seeking meaning and guidance. This is what the evaluation by an international jury provides. I can imagine that this work will become even more important in the future.

Some say there are too many design awards out there. What do you think distinguishes awards and how can emerging awards build credibility in this crowded landscape?

The Red Dot Design Award celebrates its 25th anniversary next year. However, its history goes back to 1955. We are carrying this tradition into the future – with quality and independence. The future needs an origin and the ability to reflect on what we do. We like to observe what others are doing. We like to learn.

Professor Dr. Peter Zec is the Founder and CEO of Red Dot. In 1991, he took over at the helm of Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, which had been hosting a design competition since as early as 1955. Peter Zec developed what had until then been a national competition, transforming it into an international platform for the evaluation of design. He established its global gearing and expanded the Red Dot brand.