Outcomes of the DAFES AWARDS 2025 International Award
On 21 November, the award ceremony for the DAFES AWARDS 2025 International Award was held at the «Creative» cinema. Founders of the Award are the ICU School of Design and the DAFES competitive platform. The event brought together about 500 guests: project authors, experts, industry representatives, partners and media.
This year ' s award, devoted to achievements in design, art, fashion and creative business, received a record 4,400 applications from dozens of countries around the world, including China, India, Brazil, Thailand and the CIS. From the fall season, in which more than 1,900 projects were involved, the jury selected 22 winners in various nominations, ranging from fonts and Moses design to game design and flash photography.
Winners were marked by brand statues and valuable prizes from partners. These include the possibility of an internship at Raketmedia, a place in the Moscow video game and animation cluster of AKI (Skolkovo), publications in The Big City, The Blueprint and Seasons of Life, as well as a meter from 2×2 and other opportunities to advance their projects.
Among the papers presented are vivid examples of an interdisciplinary approach: «Aidendics on technological singularity,» candles as a metaphor against procrastination,» «Secret Suce» design system and «MyCeli» mobile app, «Video-mapping» on the life of the Design School, «Eisner», «Besti-100», «Red Forest», and many others.
The Award continues to serve as a springboard for young talent, linking the academic environment with the professional industry. «We see not just an increase in the number of applications, but a qualitative leap: projects become scalable, relevant, ready to go to the international level. And our job is to give the authors real opportunities for development,» noted Pauline Loushev, director of the DAFES international competition programme.
Arsenius Cavekov, head of the ICU School of Design, stressed the value of the award as a tool for integrating Russian design into the world: «DAFES AWARDS is not just a reward, but a bridge between education and industry. We are proud to be helping talent to speak out in a global context.»
Among the media partners of the DAFES AWARDS Award are: DEL-10/ARTE Magazine, «Big City», Art Flash, The Blueprint, ST ART, «Aphisha Daily», ArchRevu, 2×2, Decornews, TopDesign Magazine, Seasons of Life, and others.
