The 2024 EU Design Award has selected six outstanding European design finalists, and German designer Dieter Rams will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. The final award ceremony will be organized by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and held in Riga, the capital of Latvia, on September 25.
This year’s Design Europa Awards saw record participation, with more than 800 applications and nominations from across Europe for the Entrepreneur and Small Business Awards and the Industry Awards. This year also saw the introduction of a new special category, the Next Generation Design Award, which honours young designers under the age of 29.
The six finalists come from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Romania and Sweden, covering a wide range of fields including healthcare, audio equipment, home appliances, energy storage, housing and architecture. The designers come from well-known brands such as Bang & Olufsen, Linet and Meze Audio, as well as new brands such as Arsenit, MyGrid and Transparent. All the participating products focus on sustainability and set new standards in the design industry.
The final design works of the SME group are:
ModuleOne (Belgium): A smart home battery system that is accessible, sustainable and improves energy independence. Designer: Jan Wellens from MyGrid.
Piil (Estonia): A prefabricated modular retreat that combines functionality and environmental sustainability to provide a solution for work and living spaces. Designer: Arseni Timofejev, Arsenit.
Transparent Turntable (Sweden): A modern reinterpretation of the classic turntable with a focus on repairability and sustainable design. Designer: Per Brickstad, from Per Brickstad.
List of finalists for the industry awards:
Beolab 8 (Denmark): High-fidelity speakers, placement versatility and durability. Designer: NOTO Design Team, Bang & Olufsen.
Empyrean II (Romania): Headphones that combine excellent sound quality with ergonomic design. Designer: Antonio Meze, from Meze Audio.
Essenza 300 LT (Czech Republic): A hospital bed that improves safety, offers ease of use, increases caregiver efficiency and improves patient comfort. Designer: LINET Design Team, from LINET.
