5 trends shaping the future of design awards

The rise of artificial intelligence

As AI becomes more accessible and mainstream, design awards are grappling with new ethical questions. Who owns the work? What defines originality? While it’s hard to know what the future holds, some platforms have started creating new categories for AI-assisted design, while others are updating their judging criteria to consider the role of machine intelligence.

Regenerative design versus sustainability

Sustainability has been a staple in design awards for over a decade, but is the next frontier regeneration? Unlike sustainability, which often focuses on reducing harm, regenerative design seeks to restore, renew and actively contribute to ecological and social systems. This shift is pushing award programmes to look toward projects that enhance biodiversity and foster long-term resilience.

Interdisciplinary collaboration

It’s no secret that the most impactful design projects now arise at the intersection of disciplines: when product design meets psychology or architecture meets data science. This fusion is now reflected in design awards, with judging panels now including experts from outside the traditional design world to better assess the broader implications of a project. 

Social impact as a non-negotiable

Social impact is an increasingly important consideration for many awards criteria. With a push to centre submissions that address systemic issues, more awards are now asking applicants to consider: who benefits from this design? Who was involved in the process? And how are marginalized voices being centered?

Focus on emerging talent

Many awards programmes are now focused on uplifting emerging talent. Through dedicated student categories or entirely separate young designer competitions, this trend not only spotlights the next generation of creative leaders but also serves as a testing ground for new design ideas, approaches and tools.