Discover how design is shaping the future of the circular economy at the Circular Design Summit 2026 on 25 March in Stuttgart. Meet leading minds from business, design and sustainability, and explore how circular design drives new business models and innovation. Inspiring keynotes, panels and workshops show how transformation becomes reality.

How does strong brand management drive growth, innovation and resilience? Our new study, published in cooperation with GMK Brand Consulting, provides up-to-date insights into the future of brand management in Germany. The German Brand Monitor 2026 reveals how companies that follow clear brand strategies achieve higher profitability – and how brand has become a key success factor in business transformation. It offers robust data, benchmarks and practical recommendations for sustainable brand management – with insights from over 300 companies across all industries.

>> Please note: the study is available in German only.

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. Under the common denominator of Looking forward, das Morgen gemeinsam gestalten, targeted work can now be done on the implementation of projects in cooperation with all cities and municipalities in the region.

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.
 

How one of the world’s most influential tech companies uses design to drive sustainability is the focus of this episode of Design Perspectives, where host Moritz Marder talks to Katie Morgenroth, Head of Sustainable Design at Google. From the repairability of the new Pixel 10 series to Google’s commitment to plastic-free packaging and long-lasting hardware, Morgenroth offers insights into what it means to “engineer products to last”. She also discusses the designer’s evolving role as an orchestrator between disciplines – and why sharing progress openly across the industry is essential for circular innovation.

Together, they explore how circular design, responsible materials, and AI-supported processes can shape a more planet-centred and equitable future for technology.