2026 DBA Design Effectiveness winners
Published 19th March 2026
The winners of the 2026 DBA Design Effectiveness Awards have been announced at The Design Effect in London, highlighting how design continues to shape businesses, communities, and everyday life. Gold, Silver and Bronze accolades, along with the coveted Grand Prix, were revealed on the 10th of March, in a celebration of creativity and impact.
The live event brought together design leaders, pioneering businesses and industry voices in the iconic National Gallery. Speakers included Samsung’s President and Chief Design Officer, Mauro Porcini, and technology broadcaster Lara Lewington, who shared insights on design’s role in driving meaningful change.
Demonstrating the power of design
The DBA Design Effectiveness Awards recognise projects entered jointly by client and designer, judged by a diverse panel of business leaders. From start-ups to FTSE 100 companies, the winning projects demonstrate how thoughtful design drives measurable results, builds trust, and improves lives.
Sean Carney, Chair of the judging panel, explained: “The awards show how design can deliver better outcomes, build brands, generate value and truly help business and society grow inclusively and responsibly.”
Grand Prix winner GoSolr exemplifies this impact, transforming solar energy in South Africa with a human-centred subscription model that resonates emotionally and practically with the public.
Inspiring classroom takeaways
Among the 40 winners were projects that offer inspiring examples for the classroom. From The Royal British Legion’s Plastic Free Poppy, which removed 70 million pieces of single-use plastic annually, to Glasgow Life and Museum Studio’s inclusive redesign of The Burrell Collection, the case studies showcase creativity, problem-solving, sustainability, and user-centred thinking, all core to design and technology teaching. Other highlights include CleanCo’s eco-conscious packaging redesign, Wild’s refillable deodorant innovation, and Diageo’s immersive Guinness Storehouse experience.
For D&T teachers, these examples provide rich material to spark discussion, challenge students to think critically about design’s societal impact, and demonstrate how real-world projects translate creativity into tangible outcomes.
Explore the full list of winners and their case studies to bring these lessons into your classroom.
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