These are the 397 most inspiring, innovative designs of 2018

Finalist:Experimental

Zoa graphic T-shirt

Modern Meadow

See Credits

Modern Meadow Design Team led by Chief Creative Officer Suzanne Lee, Team Lead for Materials Design Amy Congdon, Research Associate Callie Clayton, Research Associate Morgan Schneider, with the support of Hemanthram Varadaraju and the materials and technology teams.

Honorable Mention:General Excellence

Zoa graphic T-shirt

Modern Meadow

See Credits

See past winners: 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

All Stories In Innovation By Design

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Design will kill marketing, says Ikea’s former design chief

Marcus Engman is leaving Ikea to run a consultancy that convinces companies to spend their marketing budget on what matters: design.

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Dyson’s latest product is a $550 hair curler

After six years and $31 million in development, Dyson is launching the Airwrap, a device that creates ringlets using a bit of aerospace-inspired physics.

Innovation By Design

Meet Krewe, the eyewear brand that New Orleans (and Beyoncé) built

The five-year-old brand’s founder is focused on giving back to his native New Orleans and putting it on the map of fashion-forward cities.

Innovation By Design

There’s even a Warby Parker of towels now

Weezie wants to shake up a mundane industry with design.

Innovation By Design

What the healthcare industry could learn from Lyft and Airbnb

The sharing economy is built upon service and interaction designs that engender interpersonal trust. Healthcare organizations could learn from it.

Innovation By Design

The future of web design is less, not more

Low-Tech Magazine’s new website is solar-powered, which means it goes offline in cloudy weather.

Innovation By Design

This building’s giant sundial shows how much energy it’s making

It’s one of the most efficient buildings in the country–but its most unique design feature might be the 40-foot-tall installation in the atrium.

Innovation By Design

Dieter Rams wants Silicon Valley to stop

In Gary Hustwit’s highly anticipated new documentary “Rams,” the legendary industrial designer indicts the world he helped create.

Innovation By Design

This long-lost Eames design is being produced for the first time

In the 1940s, radio companies rejected the Eameses’ designs as being “too modern.” Not anymore.

Innovation By Design

Sick of midcentury modern? Here’s where to buy today’s best design

Skip the spindly leg sofas and knockoff Eames chairs, and try these shopping destinations instead.

Impact

This soap refill company is salvaging soap dispensers from other brands

Impact

These new poverty maps could reshape how we deliver international aid

Impact

Ready for post-vaccine life? This astronaut explains how to reenter society after a long time away

News

Should the America First Caucus sound an alarm about white nationalism?

News

How opera singers are using low-latency ‘jam session’ tech to prepare for live performances

News

Claws or tails? No matter. This Panera Bread lobster dish has been recalled in 20 states

Co.Design

This clever children’s book uses interactive data visualizations to explain the universe

Co.Design

Green and gorgeous: This new e-com site sells only the world’s most sustainable home goods

Co.Design

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Finalist:Experimental

Modern Meadow

Honorable Mention:General Excellence

Modern Meadow

All Stories In Innovation By Design

Design will kill marketing, says Ikea’s former design chief

Marcus Engman is leaving Ikea to run a consultancy that convinces companies to spend their marketing budget on what matters: design.

Dyson’s latest product is a $550 hair curler

After six years and $31 million in development, Dyson is launching the Airwrap, a device that creates ringlets using a bit of aerospace-inspired physics.

Meet Krewe, the eyewear brand that New Orleans (and Beyoncé) built

The five-year-old brand’s founder is focused on giving back to his native New Orleans and putting it on the map of fashion-forward cities.

There’s even a Warby Parker of towels now

Weezie wants to shake up a mundane industry with design.

What the healthcare industry could learn from Lyft and Airbnb

The sharing economy is built upon service and interaction designs that engender interpersonal trust. Healthcare organizations could learn from it.

The future of web design is less, not more

Low-Tech Magazine’s new website is solar-powered, which means it goes offline in cloudy weather.

This building’s giant sundial shows how much energy it’s making

It’s one of the most efficient buildings in the country–but its most unique design feature might be the 40-foot-tall installation in the atrium.

Dieter Rams wants Silicon Valley to stop

In Gary Hustwit’s highly anticipated new documentary “Rams,” the legendary industrial designer indicts the world he helped create.

This long-lost Eames design is being produced for the first time

In the 1940s, radio companies rejected the Eameses’ designs as being “too modern.” Not anymore.

Sick of midcentury modern? Here’s where to buy today’s best design

Skip the spindly leg sofas and knockoff Eames chairs, and try these shopping destinations instead.

Impact

This soap refill company is salvaging soap dispensers from other brands

These new poverty maps could reshape how we deliver international aid

Ready for post-vaccine life? This astronaut explains how to reenter society after a long time away

News

Should the America First Caucus sound an alarm about white nationalism?

How opera singers are using low-latency ‘jam session’ tech to prepare for live performances

Claws or tails? No matter. This Panera Bread lobster dish has been recalled in 20 states

Co.Design

This clever children’s book uses interactive data visualizations to explain the universe

Green and gorgeous: This new e-com site sells only the world’s most sustainable home goods

Miss the smell of the office printer? These candles recreate our prepandemic life

Work Life

3 types of boundaries to emphasize while continuing to work from home

This special sixth sense has helped my career

The 4 work personas that have come out of the pandemic