History

Since 2000, iF has been setting the course for the future: in 2001 the existing iF Industrie Forum Design Hannover e.V. was joined by iF International Forum Design GmbH, a modern service provider operating as a mediator and consultant at the intersection of industry and design on the basis of its know-how and experience. The overarching aim for iF has been to consistently increase public awareness of design.

In 2002 all existing iF competitions were brought together in the iF design award: until 2004, all relevant areas of design were combined in one competition. This competition again united three categories: "communication" for entries from the area of communication design, "product" for outstanding product design and "concept" for contributions by design students. In 2003, the iF design award china was launched, an independent competition focusing on the Asian markets.


The constantly growing number of competition participants and the increasing popularity of the iF design award led to the establishment, in 2005, of independent competitions for the individual categories. The category "communication" was the first to receive its own competition in 2004 - the iF communication design award evaluating all facets of communication design. In 2005, the category "product" was transformed into the independent iF product design award, a competition for all areas of product design. The category "concept" became the iF concept award in which students and recent design graduates can present their innovative concepts. The iF material award, dealing with innovative materials, products and production methods, was also established in the same year. Since 2008, the iF packaging award, which takes place as part of the "interpack PROCESSES AND PACKAGING" trade exhibition (held every three years) has completed the list of iF competitions. In the years between the trade exhibitions, the iF packaging award is held as a category of the iF communication design award.


However, iF not only organizes its own competitions. Under the label "organized by iF", iF manages third party projects and offers its multi-faceted experience in the areas of competition design and management and in all issues relating to design and industry.

With the six iF competitions - the iF product design award, the iF communication design award, the iF material award, the iF design award china, the iF packaging award and the iF concept award for students - iF has become one of the largest and most-respected design centers in the world. The iF logo is an internationally acknowledged symbol of proven quality in design, and thus of product- and software quality. Companies and design studios use the iF logo in PR, advertising and marketing. iF is committed to continuing its successful work in keeping the iF design awards at the highest levels and will respond to changes in design and industry, and in technology and research in order to reflect these developments by changing and expanding the iF competitions accordingly.