Red Dot Award: Product Design 2027

The Red Dot Award Product Design is one of the best-known design competitions in the world, run since 1955 from Essen, Germany. For 2027, manufacturers and designers can enter products launched between 1 January 2025 and 1 July 2027 in 52 categories, from furniture and lighting to consumer electronics, vehicles and medical devices. An international jury of around 40 design experts judges each product on its own merits. Registration closes on 15 January 2027.

The Red Dot label is widely used on packaging and in marketing, which is the main reason companies enter. Winning products are shown at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, in the Red Dot Design Yearbook and online, and the very best receive the Red Dot: Best of the Best.

The award is expensive, so it suits companies and studios with a product on the market. Designers who graduated within the last five years can try for one of 50 free places on 18 November 2026.

Who Can Enter the Red Dot Award Product Design?

Manufacturers, designers, agencies and studios worldwide can enter products that were launched, or will be launched, between 1 January 2025 and 1 July 2027.

It is particularly relevant to:

• Industrial and product designers
• Furniture, lighting and homeware brands
• Consumer electronics and tech companies
• Design studios with client products on the market

What Can You Enter?

Any industrially produced product in one of 52 categories. A product can also be entered in the Sustainable Design or Innovative Design metacategories, which counts as a second registration.

Entry Fees

Registration fees per entry, excluding VAT:

• Early Bird: €470 (closed)
• Regular: €725, until 11 December 2026
• Latecomer: €935, until 15 January 2027
• Outsized products (3 m² or more): an extra €700

Winner packages are paid separately. If a product wins, a Red Dot package costs from €4,900 and a Best of the Best package from €7,500, excluding VAT. They include the label licence, certificates, the yearbook and the museum exhibition.

Young Professionals

Designers who graduated no more than five years ago can apply on 18 November 2026 for a draw of 50 free registration places.

Submission Requirements

Register online, upload images and a description of the product, and deliver the physical product (or the agreed alternative for large items) to Essen in February 2027 for judging.

When Will Entrants Be Notified?

Results are sent at the beginning of April 2027, after the jury session in March.

Is It Worth It?

For companies, a Red Dot is a marketing tool: the label on packaging, in shops and online signals design quality to buyers, and the museum exhibition and yearbook add visibility with retailers and the press. For independent designers the costs are high, so it makes most sense when a client or manufacturer pays, or through the free Young Professionals places. The jury judges each product against its own purpose rather than ranking it against others, so a well-made niche product can win as easily as a famous brand's flagship.

Things to Consider

• Budget for winning, not only entering. Use of the label and exhibition depends on the winner package.
• Enter in the right category. The jury compares products within the category's context.
• Register early. Fees rise from €725 to €935 after 11 December.
• Plan logistics. Products must reach Essen in February.
• Young designers: mark 18 November in your calendar for the free-place draw.

Enter the Competition

Interested in entering a product?

Enter the competition

For the full dates, fees and categories, visit the official Red Dot website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 16, 2026