Wuppertal Institute is Scientific Partner of the German Design Award

Circular design plays a central role in the development of sustainable product strategies to effectively address global challenges such as resource scarcity, environmental pollution, and climate change, and to build a more sustainable and resilient economy. By designing products from the outset to be durable, easy to repair, and easy to recycle, circular design helps to minimise resource consumption, reduce waste, and minimise environmental impact.

As part of the renowned German Design Council Awards, the additional category "Circular Design" was created to honor projects submitted in the categories "Excellent Architecture," "Excellent Communication Design" and "Excellent Product Design" that additionally demonstrate outstanding compliance with circular design principles. Eligible projects include those published in the past five years as well as visionary concepts and redesigns that demonstrate a forward-looking approach.

Expert jury systematically evaluates projects based on comprehensive criteria

Alongside other experts Dr. Manuel Bickel, Co-Head of the Production and Consumption Research Unit at the Wuppertal Institute, is part of the expert jury. "Thanks to the interdisciplinary jury, the discussion about the submitted projects is particularly exciting – we learn from each other and contribute different perspectives. For me, it is particularly important that we recognise projects that take a holistic view of the circular economy and see it not only as recycling, but as the intelligent use of resources," Bickel says.

Together with the German Design Council, the Wuppertal Institute, as a scientific cooperation partner, has developed a comprehensive catalog of criteria for this category. The jury evaluates the submitted projects based on this catalog of criteria – in particular with regard to their degree of innovation, readiness for implementation and potential. The jury also places particular emphasis on projects with forward-looking responsibility.

The winners will be announced in February 2026 and honoured at the award show. Project ideas can be submitted until 5 September 2025.

Further information on participation and the award can be found in the links below.