iF International Forum Design GMBH Announces 2024 Programming Including First-ever Metaverse Experience and Trend Conference
iF International Forum Design GmbH is thrilled to announce an impressive lineup of programming and events slated for 2024, kicking off with the global celebration of the iF DESIGN AWARD 2024 winners at the iF DESIGN AWARD NIGHT Gala on April 29, in Berlin. The programming for 2024 includes two firsts for iF Design: the inaugural iF Design Trend Conference, which will dive into takeaways from the 2024 iF Design Trend Report with actionable insights for all attendees, and the launch of an immersive Metaverse experience, The Landmark of Design Excellence, aiming to both celebrate and connect the design community around the world.
Immersive Metaverse Experience
In a groundbreaking move, the iF DESIGN AWARD 2024 winners will debut in an immersive metaverse world for the first time. The unveiling will coincide with the official awards ceremony at the Friedrichstadt-Palast on April 29, 2024. During this event, iF Design CEO Uwe Cremering will honor the outstanding design achievements while launching the innovative iF DESIGN AWARD Metaverse Experience, titled “The Landmark of Design Excellence.”
Design enthusiasts worldwide will be invited to explore this new virtual realm at ifdesign-metaverse.com, where they can discover the best design achievements of the iF DESIGN AWARD 2024. The centerpiece of this artistic concept is the iconic iF Design Gold Trophy, which features all 75 Gold Awards together in the virtual space. The iF Design Metaverse Experience was created by Artificial Rome, a world-renowned creative studio for immersive and narrative experiences in virtual space, which has been part of the LIGANOVA GROUP since 2023. This initiative aims to spark discussions on design and provide a platform for networking and inspiration within the design community.
Furthermore, iF Design plans to expand the experience with regular virtual conferences. These conferences, scheduled multiple times a year, offer a unique opportunity for designers, experts, and enthusiasts to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss the future of design and creativity within this innovative virtual space.
The iF DESIGN AWARD Metaverse Experience will be officially launched at the iF DESIGN AWARD NIGHT Gala in Berlin on April 29, 2024, where 1,800 guests from the international design community, representatives of the media and politics, all award winners, jurors and the global iF Design Team will come together to honor the best design achievements.
Inaugural iF Design Trend Conference 2024
Following the iF DESIGN AWARD NIGHT Gala, iF Design will debut another new program with its inaugural iF Design Trend Conference on April 30th. Set against the backdrop of the AXICA building at the Brandenburg Tor, the first-of-its-kind event aims to explore the question: “How can design help drive the transformation towards a future worth living?” Geared towards designers and industry experts hungry for insights into global and interdisciplinary design trends, the conference promises to be an enlightening and immersive experience, making use of the invaluable insights gained from the soon-to-be-released 2024 iF Design Trend Report.
The Trend Conference will feature an esteemed lineup of speakers, each bringing unique perspectives and expertise to the forefront including:
Welcome by Uwe Cremering, CEO iF International Forum Design GmbH with moderation by Lisa Gralnek, Managing Director iF Design USA.
Anne-Liese Prem, Founder and CEO of tomorrowstories, will explore “The Future of Branding in the Metaverse.” Drawing on her extensive experience in communications and public relations for future-forward brands, Prem will shed light on the evolving landscape of branding across AI and immersive tech.
Ziyuan (Zoey) Zhu, an interdisciplinary designer and creative technologist at IDEO, San Francisco, will take the stage to discuss “Humanizing AI in Design.” With a keen focus on the intersection of design and emerging technology, Zhu will share insights into how we can incorporate AI into our design process not just as a tool, but as a collaborator to create products and experiences that resonate with users.
Giulia Frittoli, Partner at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Copenhagen, will offer her expertise on “Social Nature – Designing Cities for People and the Planet.” As a key leader within BIG Landscape, Frittoli will delve into the innovative approaches to urban design that prioritize sustainability, ecology, and human connectivity.
Nadine Clarke, Strategy Partner, and Richard Trigg, Design Lead at Tangent London, will team up to present “The Green Interface: Digital Design with Sustainability in Mind.” Together, they will explore the intersection of digital design and sustainability, offering actionable insights for creating eco-friendly digital products and experiences.
iF Design Trend Report 2024
In addition to the captivating talks, all participants of the iF Design Trend Conference 2024 will get access to the full insights available in the iF Design Trend Report 2024. This comprehensive report will provide deep insights into emerging design trends and their implications for the future.
The report will explore issues relevant to designers as they navigate the complex interplay of occupational and personal influences and will explore the factors shaping innovative design solutions guided by the emerging, current megatrends. The iF Design Trend Report aims to offer valuable perspectives and insights for users, manufacturers, and, most importantly, designers, providing impetus for ideas and plans in the dynamic field of design. Learn more and register for the Conference here.
iF DESIGN AWARD 2024 Winners
The Trend Conference will follow immediately after the iF DESIGN AWARD NIGHT Gala in Berlin on April 29, 2024, which brings together 1,800 guests from the international design community, representatives of the media and politics, all award winners, jurors, and the global iF Design Team will come together to honor the best design achievements.
The iF DESIGN AWARD 2024 received 10,800 submissions from 72 countries. A panel of international experts, consisting of 132 jury members, evaluated products and projects from across nine design disciplines and 82 categories. This year’s jury, includes eleven members from North America, the most in the award’s 70-year history, to ensure transparency, objectivity, and a rigorous selection process culminating in in-person judging in Berlin this February.
The 2,294 selected iF DESIGN AWARD 2024 winners from 52 countries demonstrated unparalleled creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship, receiving not only the recognition of the prestigious award but invaluable design feedback from the jury at each step of the process. Among the 275 North American and South American recipients are industry giants of tech, as well as lighting, product, interior design & architecture and industrial design teams including Apple, Adidas, Google, Microsoft, Allbirds, Koncept Lighting, and Studio O+A, among others. Eight North and South American projects were also recognized as iF DESIGN AWARD 2024 Gold Winners by Treevia Forest Technologies, Campana, Avabrum/Greco Design, Oru Kayak, Apple, and HP.
“The iF Design Award has such a grand history of honoring great design from around the globe,” said Primo Orpilla, Co-Founder & Principal of iF DESIGN AWARD-winning Studio O+A. “We are honored and humbled to have our Adidas project selected amongst the many great projects as a winner for both Interior Design and Environmental Graphics! We look forward to seeing everyone in Berlin!”
“Winning the iF DESIGN AWARD is a true testament to Koncept’s commitment to innovation and design excellence. We are incredibly proud of our team and honored to be recognized alongside such an esteemed company.” Kenneth Ng, Co-Founder and Designer, Koncept said of the company’s win for lighting design. “This award reinforces our dedication to pushing boundaries and creating products that not only meet but exceed the expectations of our customers.”
Since its establishment in 1953, iF Design has been an influential force within the global design community. Presenting one of the most prestigious design awards in the world, the iF DESIGN AWARD celebrates the most important design achievements across product, packaging, communication, service design, user experience (UX), user interface (UI), architecture, interior architecture, and professional concept disciplines.
The iF Design Foundation
Founded in 2018, the non-profit iF Design Foundation is the only shareholder of iF International Forum Design GmbH and its subsidiaries. The Foundation’s goal is to promote design and its social significance away from economic conditions or constraints. It is committed to the common good, dedicating resources and expertise to scientific research and education in the context of design. It runs the iF DESIGN STUDENT AWARD and iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE. The iF Design Foundation replaced the iF Industrie Forum Design e.V., which operated from 1953 to 2018.
