Skip to content
Tech News
← Back to articles

What 21,000 design submissions taught me about sustainability

read original get Design Thinking for Sustainability Kit → more articles
Why This Matters

This extensive analysis of over 21,000 design submissions highlights the evolving priorities in the industry, particularly the increasing emphasis on sustainability. For consumers and companies alike, understanding these trends can drive more responsible and innovative product development, shaping a more sustainable future. Recognizing these patterns helps the tech industry align with global sustainability goals and meet consumer expectations for environmentally conscious design.

Key Takeaways

Design has moved from aspiration to expectation. For the past two years, I’ve had a front-row seat to one of the largest and most rigorous datasets in global design. Each year, the iF DESIGN AWARD receives over 10,000 submissions spanning 93 categories of design. Participants include industry giants like Apple and Coca-Cola, to startups and independent design studios that are actively shaping the field’s future. Taken together, these entries offer more than a snapshot of excellence. They reveal where design is actually headed.