Iconic Awards 2022: Innovative Interior

The ICONIC AWARDS: Innovative Interior is regarded as a barometer of trends in the furnishings industry and developments in interior design. With these prestigious awards, the German Design Council annually honours the most important international design innovations. This year, the design focus was increasingly directed towards products that have special relevance in the context of the ongoing pandemic. The international jury included the aspect of changed living conditions and new demands on the utility value of appliances, furniture and interior design in their selection. The ICONIC AWARDS 2022: Innovative Interior has therefore defined four trends that take these new priorities into account:


Smart together: The use of smart technology in the design of sanitary products is becoming more and more important. Many innovative ideas make use of digital support such as apps, sensor technology, electronic services and internet-based programmes to facilitate social distancing measures and minimise infection risks. And more than that: they are becoming a basic requirement for enabling social togetherness.

Less is more: On the formal, aesthetic level, a reduction to the essential in the design of objects is becoming more apparent. Filigree, constructive structures, a clear formality and rather cool and muted colours, as well as discreet material surfaces, represent a new simplicity.

Homo movens: The demands for mobility and flexibility are increasing, and this trend means that design objects are also becoming more hybrid. Functions are merged, stationary becomes transportable, assembly and disassembly are faster and easier, the design of objects becomes more universal and adapts to different contexts.

Material innovation: Material innovation is a key driver of design. It can move beyond familiar boundaries, provoke the emergence of new forms and objects, help minimise carbon emissions and thus contribute to mitigating the climate crisis. New material developments and technical components provide previously unknown design solutions. They serve to reduce resource consumption, support flexible expandability and help to simplify repairs.

From the 450 entries, the jury selected 22 designs for the coveted 'Best of Best' award, 75 designs for the 'Winner' award and 15 designs for the 'Selection' award. Industrial designer Carole Baijings (Amsterdam), Monica Förster from Monica Förster Design Studio (Stockholm), design journalist Barbara Friedrich (Hamburg), Benjamin Wolf from Funktion Möbel (Darmstadt) and Sebastian Wrong from Established and Sons / Wrong Shop (London) were responsible for selecting the winners.