The iF Design Student Award 2027 marks the 25th edition of iF Design’s international competition for emerging design talent. Organized by iF Design, it provides a global platform for student concepts addressing social, environmental and economic challenges and receives more than 7,000 entries annually.
Entrants are invited to submit design concepts aligned with one of 15 competition categories based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1–15, ranging from No Poverty and Zero Hunger to Climate Action, Life Below Water and Life on Land. The broad scope accommodates concepts across multiple areas of design while keeping the focus on solutions for major global challenges.
Entries first pass through an Online Jury, with the top 300 concepts progressing to the Final Jury in Berlin. Projects are assessed through criteria covering problem-solving, moral-ethical standards and beneficial experiences, solidarity, design relevance and economic calculation, giving participants a structured opportunity to benchmark their ideas through expert evaluation.
Entry fee: Free of charge; no registration or entry fee is required.
Eligibility
Open to students worldwide who are currently enrolled at a university or graduated no more than two years ago, entering individually or in teams of up to four; concepts must align with one of the 15 UN SDG categories, all entry information and descriptions must be in English, and the same concept may not be submitted to more than one category.
Prize
A total of EUR 50,000 in prize money will be distributed by the expert jury among the best entries, with all award winners considered for a share of the fund. Winners also receive an iF winner logo and digital certificate, permanent presentation in the iF Design winners section, international PR and social media support, exhibition of the awarded entry in Taipei and other destinations, and recognition at a two-day awards event in New York City in June 2027. The 2027 sponsor program additionally lists the GROHE Design Prize by iF, Haier Design Prize by iF and HOTO Design Prize by iF.