German design awards celebrate emerging student talent

RIMOWA held the fourth edition of its Design Prize at Berlin's Kulturforum, awarding seven student teams with cash prizes ranging from €5,000 to €20,000. Projects recognized included NURA, a bracelet that translates sign language into speech, and the Paludi Harvester system for sustainable wetland agriculture.

In Apolda, the 12th European Design Award concluded with a fashion runway in the historic Eiermann building. Sixteen collections from graduates of 15 European art schools were judged, and the top prize of €12,000 went to Natalia Anna Dabrowska for her “Shaped by shrinkage” wool‑tweed collection, praised for its functional, everyday‑wear focus. Both events underline Germany’s role in nurturing new design talent across product and fashion disciplines.