German luxury luggage manufacturer Rimowa has announced the launch of its fourth annual Student Design Prize, a prestigious competition dedicated to supporting and showcasing the next generation of creative designers. The competition aims to highlight innovative design projects that address global challenges and create meaningful social impact.
The 2025 competition continues Rimowa's tradition of recognizing outstanding student work in design innovation. Last year's winning prize was awarded to HOTTIE, a revolutionary belt designed to alleviate menstrual pain, created by Elisabeth Lorenz and Marc Hackländer. The previous year's winner was Janne Kreimer, who developed a pressure-technology waistcoat specifically designed to reduce anxiety through deep pressure stimulation therapy.
Several other notable projects have received special recognition in past competitions, demonstrating the diverse range of innovative solutions students are developing. These include a wearable safety device created by Daniela Lindenberg to enhance personal security for users in various environments, and Standalone, developed by Niels Cremer and Tom Kemter, which reimagines the functionality and aesthetic appeal of traditional forearm crutches.
This year's competition theme focuses specifically on mobility and movement, with Rimowa calling for project proposals that enable users to experience greater freedom of movement in their daily lives. The competition scope is intentionally broad, welcoming submissions that range from medical devices and assistive technologies to transportation solutions and urban design innovations that explore how people move through and interact with their environments.
The competition timeline extends until May 2026, with an initial submission deadline of December 9, 2025, when students must present their research findings and innovative ideas. Seven finalists will be selected to receive monetary awards, with the grand prize winner receiving €20,000, the runner-up earning €10,000, and the remaining five finalists each receiving €5,000 for their contributions.
Rimowa's educational initiative is supported by an impressive network of 42 leading universities across Germany, including prestigious institutions such as Bauhaus University Weimar, Berlin University of the Arts, and University of Fine Arts Hamburg. These partner universities provide students with access to expert mentors who offer guidance and coaching, helping transform bold creative concepts into practical, real-world solutions that have the potential to shape the future of design.
The competition features a distinguished jury panel comprising industry experts and design leaders. The panel includes Stefan Daniel, vice president of photo and design at Leica Camera AG; Farah Ebrahimi, partner and art director at e15; Konstantin Grcic, founder of Konstantin Grcic Design; Matylda Krzykowski, transdisciplinary practitioner and artistic director at Civic; Clemens Poloczek, founder and creative director of Ignant; Tim Richter, head of industrial design at Siemens Healthineers; and Hanne Willmann, founder of Studio Hanne Willmann. Honorary jury members include Alexandre Arnault, chairman at Rimowa, and Hugues Bonnet-Masimbert, CEO at Rimowa.
Participating students gain access to exclusive networking opportunities throughout the competition process, including invitations to visit their mentors' professional workspaces and experience firsthand how professional design environments operate. This exposure provides invaluable insights into the design industry and helps bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice.
Rimowa, founded in Cologne, Germany, in 1898, has built its reputation on producing premium luggage with an unwavering commitment to quality and innovation. The company's annual design competition reflects its dedication to traditional craftsmanship while simultaneously promoting sustainable and pioneering design approaches that address contemporary global challenges and social needs.
