The prize is yet another international victory for a project that makes creating digital touchpoints easy for the student and research community.
We are beyond excited to announce that the Aalto University design system has been awarded the Red Dot Award in Brands & Communication Design!
One of the leading educational institutions in Finland, Aalto University is known worldwide for its forward thinking programs and research. The design system makes it easy for students and staff to build digital interfaces that look and feel like Aalto University – while leaving plenty of room for experimentation.
“It's great to see that long-term and systematic digital design is recognised and rewarded at this level,” Taiste’s Design Director Sami Sorvali says.
“Rather than a single digital experience, the design system is a long-term solution that continues to serve the evolving needs of the community. Being recognised among the best works in the field highlights the lasting value of our collaborative approach.”
Aalto University’s Head of Brand, Digital & Marketing Robert Salvén agrees:
“The design system is a set of building blocks, a creative and accessible playground for our community to express themselves and tell their stories.”
Built to be expanded well into the future, the system is not tied to any specific technology. Instead, the design philosophy is to accommodate a wide variety of approaches and needs while remaining flexible in a changing world. New ideas for what the design system can evolve into are constantly being brainstormed.
“We’re only getting started – by involving a community like ours there is no limit to what we can achieve together,” Salén muses.
Established nearly 70 years ago, the Red Dot Design Award is one of the most famous design competitions in the world, recognised as a seal of outstanding design quality. In 2025, submissions from 58 countries were evaluated across 18 categories.
Since its release in 2023, the Aalto University design system has also made us proud by having been recognised in many other notable international design competitions. These include the European Design Awards, Lovie Awards, Anthem Awards, Interaction Awards, and UX Design Awards.
