Six outstanding European designs have been shortlisted for the DesignEuropa Awards 2024 where German designer Dieter Rams, who has shaped industrial design for decades, will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony, organized by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), is set to take place on in Riga, Latvia, on 25 September.
This year’s DesignEuropa Awards saw a record participation, with over 800 applications and nominations from countries across Europe for the two competing categories: the Entrepreneurs and Small Companies award and the Industry award. This year will also see the introduction of a new category, the Next Generation Design Award, to recognise young designers up to 29 years old.
Six finalists from across Europe
The six finalists come from various European countries (Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Romania, and Sweden) and cover a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, audio devices, home appliances, energy storage, and housing and architecture. The designs come from established brands such as Bang & Olufsen, Linet and Meze Audio, and newcomers like Arsenit, MyGrid and Transparent. All products have a strong focus on sustainability and are setting new standards in the design industry.
Finalists in the entrepreneurs and small companies category
ModuleOne (Belgium): A smart home battery system that prioritises accessibility and sustainability, enhancing energy independence.
Company: MyGrid. Designer: Jan Wellens
Piil (Estonia): A prefabricated, modular retreat combining functionality with environmental sustainability, offering a solution for work and living spaces.
Company: Arsenit. Designer: Arseni Timofejev.
Transparent Turntable (Sweden): A modern reinterpretation of the classic vinyl record player, with a focus on repairability and sustainable design.
Company: Transparent. Designer: Per Brickstad.
Finalists in the industry category
Beolab 8 (Denmark): A modular speaker offering high-fidelity sound, versatility in placement and durability.
Company: Bang & Olufsen. Designers: NOTO design team.
Empyrean II (Romania): Headphones that blend exceptional sound quality with an ergonomic design.
Company: Meze Audio. Designer: Antonio Meze.
Essenza 300 LT (Czechia): A hospital bed with technology for improved safety and operational ease, enhancing patient care and caregiver efficiency.
Company: LINET. Designer: LINET design team in cooperation with external design studio.
The DesignEuropa Awards Jury was led by chair Lorenzo Imbesi, architect and professor at the Sapienza University of Rome and president of the Cumulus Association. The jury includes designers, academics, entrepreneurs, former winners, and intellectual property experts. They selected the finalists for their design merit, market impact, social and environmental considerations and innovative use of the registered Community design system.
Dieter Rams, a design icon
The Awards will honour Dieter Rams from Germany with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award for his major impact in the field. A pioneer of both design and sustainability, Rams designed more than 200 iconic devices and shaped the look and functionality of consumer products for decades. His T3 pocket radio for Braun and 606 Universal Shelving System for Vitsœ are permanently featured in the MoMA.
The DesignEuropa Awards 2024 will take place in Riga, Latvia, in collaboration with the Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia. This edition marks the DesignEuropa Awards as an annual event; previously, it took place every two years. Past awards took place in Milan (2016), Warsaw (2018), Eindhoven (2021) and Berlin (2023).