IAI Global Design Award: Reevaluating Design Value and Defining Future Form

IAI Design Award, which started in 2006, is an international comprehensive design award created by APDF. After more than ten years of evolution and innovation, IAI has rapidly changed from a single interior design competition to an authoritative benchmark covering the whole design fields such as architecture, industry, interior, landscape, cultural creation, intellectual creation and carbon neutrality. With the reputation of "Design Oscar", we are committed to building a bridge between design and industry, commerce and society, and commend outstanding designs that "define the future form" with extraordinary creativity and profound sense of responsibility on a global scale.

Why participate in IAI? A journey to give design the highest value.

Choosing IAI means that your work will step into a high-profile international stage and gain all-round value empowerment beyond the award itself:

● International authoritative certification: won the IAI mark, that is, obtained the endorsement of quality and innovation recognized by the global design community, which significantly enhanced the market reputation of you and the organization.

● Global media matrix exposure: The winning works will be widely disseminated through the global authoritative media network (including CCTV, etc.) cooperated by IAI to maximize your professional influence.

● Commercial transformation and industrial docking: direct access to industrial leaders, manufacturing enterprises and investment institutions within the IAI ecosystem, creating valuable opportunities for your design achievements and business cooperation.

● Special support for design going out to sea: relying on the global network of APDF, we will provide the whole chain service of "design going out to sea" for outstanding works and explore the international market.

● International Exhibition and Industry Summit: Winners will be invited to participate in the IAI Award-winning Exhibition and International Design Summit held in many places around the world, communicate with top figures in the industry and expand high-end contacts.

● Career development accelerator: providing students and young designers with significant advantages in further studies and employment; Establish a solid industry position for certified designers.

Our award system: covering every creative field.

IAI fully responds to the issues of the times and pays tribute to all kinds of design Excellence through a professional sub-award matrix:

● IAI Intelligent Creation Award (IAI+IM) - Focus on innovative manufacturing fields such as industrial products, intelligent technology, visual communication, fashion and digital design.

● IAI Architecture Award (IAI+A) - Focus on forward-looking architectural design and theoretical practice.

● IAI Indoor Award (IAI+I) - The indoor space design that creates excellent experience is commended.

● IAI Landscape Award (IAI+L) - Committed to the landscape design and environmental planning of harmony between man and nature.

● IAI Creative Award (IAI+CC) - Promote the design transformation and commercial empowerment of cultural and creative industries.

● IAI Carbon Neutrality Award (IAI+CN) - Advocating low-carbon concept and commending projects that have made outstanding contributions to environmental friendliness and sustainable development.

● IAI Academy Award (IAI+ACAD) - encourages educational innovation and future stars of design colleges and students.

The iconic IAI Prize: A Design Monument Integrating Philosophy

IAI Prize is not only a symbol of honor, but also the crystallization of oriental wisdom and global vision. The trophy was creatively conceived by Mr. He Changcheng, the chairman, and jointly created by Eric Gizard, a famous French designer.

Its modeling uses three precisely inlaid right-angle blocks to abstract the wisdom of China's "tenon and mortise", which looks like a modern building, embracing each other and rising step by step. This design profoundly explains the development track of IAI from single to global, and conforms to the philosophical thought of "Tao gives birth to everything", which means that IAI will embrace an infinite future together with global design forces.

Justice and Authority: Our Appraisal Mechanism

Each IAI trophy is a crystallized chapter of history, an eternal symbol of innovation and excellence. It is not merely a testament to the winner's honor, but a philosophical manifesto embodying the value of design.

From the Soul of "Mortise and Tenon" to the Form of Architecture

The birth of the IAI trophy was born from a cross-cultural dialogue in design. In 2017, guided by the philosophical core defined by Mr. Okar Ho, Founder and President of the IAI Design Award, and brought to life in collaboration with renowned French designer Eric Gizard, this iconic symbol was created.

The trophy takes the traditional Chinese "mortise and tenon" structure as its soul. Three three-dimensional volumes interlock seamlessly without nails or rivets, fitting together precisely and ascending step-by- step. Its form resembles a miniature modern building, visually narrating IAI's growth trajectory from its origins in interior design to its expansion across all design disciplines. Its philosophy profoundly embodies the Eastern wisdom of "From One comes Two, from Two comes Three, and from Three comes all things.

Evolving Through Time, Transcending Through Legacy

This trophy is a "living" brand icon. In 2025, under the guidance of Mr. Oskar Ho, the trophy underwent a new evolution. While faithfully preserving its classic form and inherent spirit, significant enhancements were made to the materials, craftsmanship, and visual system, endowing it with a more contemporary texture and visual impact, transforming it into a modern symbol of timeless glory.

It is dignified and upright, representing IAI's values of rigor, fairness, and impartiality. It is inclusive and open, communicating a sustainable development philosophy that harmonizes tradition with innovation.

Today, when a laureate raises this trophy, they are lifting not only the highest professional accolade but also a monument to design—a monument condensed with Eastern wisdom, global vision, and the unyielding spirit of innovation.

Act now and let the world see your design.

We expect your outstanding works to shine on the IAI stage. Please visit the official entry portal below for detailed information about the latest event time, entry category, fee standard and submission guide.

https://iai-apdf.com

About APDF (Asia Pacific Designers' Union)

Asia-Pacific Designers' Union (APDF) is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting the exchange and cooperation of design professionals. Our core members include world-renowned design masters, scholars and industry experts. APDF has always been committed to building an open and win-win international platform for designers, educational institutions and industrial partners in Asia-Pacific and the world.

Learn more about APDF's mission and activities

HOME - ASIA PACIFIC DESIGNERS FEDERATION (iai-ap.org)

Welcome to join APDF's membership

Joining APDF means you will have access to a strong network of designers and creative visionaries around the world. The APDF official website and federation's community can establish face-to-face or one-to-one communication and interaction, effectively promote your career development and help you achieve greater career advancement! Look forward to seeing you in APDF!

The website of membership and user login:

http://iai.iai-apdf.com/user/login/register

IAI Design Award Competition Organizing Committee

\IAI Design Award' Entry website：www.iai-apdf.com

WeChat ID：apdf13816551438

WeChat Official Account：IAI Design Award

Tel: +86-21-62820584

E-mail：iai-award@iai-ap.org