Newcomer Awards ein&zwanzig 2020

The 21 winners of the German Design Council’s ein&zwanzig Newcomer Awards put on a firework display of creativity. From among 1,035 entries, 21 product and project ideas from international design students and graduates were selected. This means that the competition attracted 25% more entries than the previous year. Overall, newcomers from 74 nations competed for the awards. The supreme title “Best of Best” will be announced on 20 April.

Lutz Dietzold, Managing Director of the German Design Council, is excited about the growing success of the ein&zwanzig Newcomer Awards. However, he regrets that the 2020 awards ceremony cannot take place as usual in Milan during Tortona Design Week: “Due to the postponement, the winners will be presented with their awards on our various digital platforms — first and foremost in the online gallery on the ein und zwanzig award’s website, on social media (#einundzwanzigcompetition) and on ndion.”

The projects are about materials and forms, as well as perceptions and usability. This year’s submissions are characterized by inventiveness and research, the courage to experiment and a deep understanding of aesthetic and practical problem solving. Designs range from seating furniture and lamps to projects which are highly diverse in their form and function. The tendency among the submissions towards the domains of kitchen, furniture and lighting, as well as textiles, was particularly notable. All in all, the works present a kaleidoscope of current design.

High-calibre jury for the young talent awards

Since 2017, the German Design Council’s ein&zwanzig Newcomer Awards have evolved into a major event for up-and-coming talent in the international design scene. This year the jury was tasked with evaluating 1,035 entries from 74 countries. This is a 25% increase on the previous year (824 applications). The 14-strong committee includes a young generation of successful designers such as Hanne Willmann and Eva Marguerre. But also established design greats like Formafantasma and Sebastian Herkner evaluated the entries. “We are fascinated by the vital spirit of innovation we feel in every submission”, says Lutz Dietzold.

ein&zwanzig awards

The German Design Council’s international “ein&zwanzig” competition promotes and supports talented young designers. The award is open to design students and graduates who are producing innovative, pioneering work. From among all the entries, an international panel of expert judges chooses 21 outstanding works, of which one is awarded the “Best of Best” title.

Images of award winners (from left to right):

PIU– new interpretation of the electric piano by Valeria Lambrecht
a shelf made of ceramic by Jie Luo
TUBULAR by Junik JO and Kiyong Lee (Design Studio Craft Combine)
Primitive Forms by Christian Cowper and Claudia Surrage (Design Studio Phat)
tryk by Manuel Kugler
Augen zu. Eine unsichtbare Designsprache by Alena Halmes