The circular economy starts with design!

The Circular Design Summit 2025 brings together top innovators from business, industry, and design, all with a shared goal: combining economic success with environmental sustainability.

Discover how circular design – the heart of the circular economy – is transforming industries, and learn how you can play a key role in shaping this change. Through inspiring masterclasses and keynotes, you’ll explore cutting-edge solutions and have the chance to connect with leading experts from a range of sectors. Be part of the movement and help us shape the future!

How well positioned is design research in Germany?

The study ‘On the Practice of Design Research in Germany 2024’ (Zur Praxis der Designforschung in Deutschland) published by the German Design Council clearly shows that, in an international comparison, German design research still has considerable potential for improvement. At the same time, the study shows that design research can help not only to strengthen design practice, but also to significantly increase the innovative strength of companies.

The new study by the Institute for Design Research and Appliance (IfDRA) offers exciting insights and concrete recommendations on how design research can promote innovation and transformation in companies.

(Download is currently only available in German)

New views and inspiring insights from the world of design. That's why we regularly bring the members of the German Design Council Foundation together.

Our various formats and different focal points open up new perspectives, create tangible design content and enable experts, decision-makers and design enthusiasts to engage in cross-industry dialogue.

‘Linking together clever ideas for ensuring efficient (re)usability of products on the one hand, with a design that is functional on the other, will unlock tremendous economic power.’

Dr Rober Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection

What are the stories behind strong brands? The German Design Council offers a comprehensive overview of the German brand landscape and shows how The Major German Brands 2025 - pushing circular design. is shaping our common future sustainably with circular design and transformative approaches. With exciting company portraits and inspiring examples of best practice.

The World Design Organization™ (WDO), based in Montreal, Canada, announced that Frankfurt and the RheinMain Region will become World Design Capital for the year 2026.

Frankfurt RheinMain was nominated with the content concept Design for Democrcacy. Atmospheres for a better life, along with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was one of the two finalists selected by the WDO's international committee, which represents all continents, and prevailed with its concept.

The German Design Council is a partner of the initiative and, together with the implementation company under the direction of Prof. Matthias Wagner K, is delighted about the well-deserved project award.

In the new Design Perspectives Podcast, personalities from design, brand management and architecture reveal in inspiring conversations how they use design to drive transformation, sustainability and economic success.

In this episode, host Martin Pauli talks to Jasna Moritz from kadawittfeldarchitektur about the future of building. They discuss why sustainable architecture is more than just reducing CO₂ emissions and why a holistic approach is necessary. Particular focus: circular building. Instead of constantly building new buildings, we need a more conscious approach to existing buildings, materials and resources. How can we design buildings so that they are flexible, demountable and reusable? What role do social and functional aspects play in this? And why are honesty and a dialogue-based planning process essential for sustainable solutions? A multi-layered discussion about the challenges and opportunities of the building revolution.