iF DESIGN AWARD
A global recognition celebrating innovation, functionality, and excellence in contemporary product design.
IF DESIGN AWARD: A GLOBAL BENCHMARK FOR PRODUCT DESIGN EXCELLENCE
Established in Germany in 1953, the iF Design Award stands among the world’s most respected and internationally recognised design competitions. Organised by iF International Forum Design GmbH, the award celebrates projects capable of combining innovation, functionality, aesthetic quality, and meaningful design research.
For more than seventy years, the iconic iF logo has represented a global benchmark of excellence across product, industrial, communication, and service design. Every year, thousands of submissions from around the world are evaluated by an independent jury of international experts, making the competition one of the most competitive platforms within the contemporary design industry.
The 2026 edition was judged by an international panel of 129 independent design experts from 21 countries, led by renowned chairpersons including Isabelle Dahlborg Lidström, Fritz Frenkler, Friederike Faller, Michael Lanz, Karen Korellis Reuther, Andy Payne, and Lidan Liu, further reinforcing the award’s position as one of the most authoritative recognitions in global design.
Recognised globally as a seal of quality, the award continues to highlight projects that successfully bridge visionary thinking with real-world impact, helping define the future direction of international design culture.
VIDA by Mariana Prestes (Brazil)
Developed within the Master in Product & Furniture Design, “VIDA” by Mariana Prestes evolved from an academic project into a lighting collection inspired by biophilic design and natural ecosystems.
The project takes inspiration from the cardeal-amarelo, a Brazilian bird threatened by extinction, translating its presence into fluid geometries and suspended light elements. Thin metal structures support curved LED components that evoke birds resting on branches, creating a delicate balance between precision and organic movement.
Combining emotional storytelling with technical research, “VIDA” explores how lighting design can generate well-being, calmness, and new relationships between people and space.
