NEWS
Expanded categories and new opportunities
In order to do justice to the growing interdisciplinary design practice, we are expanding our content focus: In addition to product and industrial design, work from the fields of textile and fashion design, communication and digital design can also be submitted from 2025. In addition, all graduates who submit entries will automatically qualify to take part in the German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer. The four finalists of the German Design Award – Newcomer will each receive €2,500 in prize money, while the winner will be honoured with €15,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
This year’s application phase for German Design Graduates 2025 starts on 14 April 2025, which we are particularly pleased about – for the first time, final theses from related design disciplines can also take part. We have compiled the most frequently asked questions and answers so that you can prepare yourself optimally.
GDG Supported By
This year, we were able to realise exciting formats such as an exhibition in the MAGAZIN shop in Stuttgart, school workshops at the Museum Angewandte Kunst and various professionalisation workshops.
Programme
German Design Graduates, sponsored by the German Design Council Foundation, is the only nationwide initiative with the purpose of promoting young graduates in product and industrial design, textile and fashion design, communication and digital design as well as the presentation of renowned German universities, art colleges and universities of applied sciences.
Platform
Museum Exhibition
Festival Exhibition
Training Programme
COoperations
German Design Award – Newcomer
ABout German Design GRaduates
Timeline
3 March – 3 April
Registration
Schools
14 APRIL – 12. MAY
Call For Entries
German Design Graduates
10 JUNE – 15 AUGUST
Submission
German Design Award 2026 – Newcomer
AUGUST
Publication
Graduates Platform
04 September
– 12 OCtober
Museum Exhibition Museum für Angewandte Kunst
Köln
18 – 26 OcTOBER
Festival Exhibitoion
Dutch Design Week
Eindhoven
NOVEMBER – DeCember
Training Programme
Workshops on professionalisation
FebruarY 2026
German Design Award – Newcomer
Award Ceremony
Study Design!
The most renowned universities in Germany at a glance
GDG SOCIAL
Folge uns bei Instagram und bleibe immer auf dem neuesten Stand!
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