Every year since 2007, we've paid tribute to the bright new talent in the industry. To give something back. To create the space and capacity for new talent, new ideas and new ways.
We believe that something utterly unique is created in the intersection between tradition and innovation. And that fresh, new talent is the future.
We have gathered a distinguished external jury, composed of experienced designers and dedicated professionals within the industry. They will be joined by our BOLIA design team, creating a competent and passionate panel.
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DESIGNER
KASPER SALTO
Kasper Salto (b. 1967) is a leading Danish furniture designer known
for merging traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.
Trained as a cabinetmaker and educated at the Danish Design
School, he gained international recognition with the Runner chair
in 1997. His collaborations with Fritz Hansen include the iconic
NAP chair and Little Friend table. In 2003, he co-founded Salto
& Sigsgaard, notably designing furniture for the UN Trusteeship
Council Chamber. Salto’s work is celebrated for its elegance,
functionality, and respect for Scandinavian design heritage. -
EXPERT IN RESPONSIBLE DESIGN
LINDA NHU
Linda Nhu Laursen is Associate Professor and Head of Research
at the AAU Design Lab, Aalborg University.
Her work focuses on sustainable design, circularity, and product
longevity. She has led interdisciplinary projects on repair culture
and zero-waste strategies, and co-authored the book Designing for
Longevity. Linda is also a jury member for the Danish Design Award
and recipient of the 2024 Kamma Prize for female leadership. -
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER
THOMAS ALKEN
Born in Copenhagen in 1970, Thomas E. Alken is a prominent
Danish industrial designer renowned for his functional and timeless
furniture designs. After graduating from the Danish Design School
in 1997, he founded his Copenhagen-based studio, Format Design.
Alken’s work emphasises the interaction between user and object,
focusing on ergonomics, sustainability, and material integrity. -
HEAD OF MATERIAL LAB AT DANISH ROYAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN
ANNETTE KJÆR
Annette Kjær is Head of the Material Lab and a Project Leader at the
Royal Danish Academy (Det Kongelige Akademi).
She specialises in material-driven design, sustainability, and
circular processes. Annette collaborates with organisations such as
MÅLBAR to integrate life cycle thinking and environmental impact
assessment into design practices. Her work bridges education,
research, and industry, promoting responsible material innovation
and future-ready design methods. -
BOLIA DESIGN TEAM
The final part of our BOLIA DESIGN AWARDS jury is a team of our own in-house experts. With experience ranging from furniture design and concept development to responsibility and compliance, they help bring focus and perspective on some of the important values, we are looking for in the future of design. And who knows, maybe your creation will catch their eye and become part of our collection?
Over the years, BOLIA DESIGN AWARDS have welcomed countless bold, beautiful, and innovative ideas. Several of the winning designs have made their way into our collection with royalty of sales to each talented designer, marking the beginning of a thriving collaboration - like the Zen rug series, the Latch tables, and the Bronco vase.
Latch Coffee Table
Designed by Dazingfeelsgood, 2017
Zen Rug
Designed by Emily Broom, 2020
Bronco Vase
Designed by Fabio Vogel, 2017
This year, you have the exciting opportunity to win one of three prestigious prizes
The Jury Prize, selected by the Jury
The Circularity Prize, selected by the Jury
The People’s Choice Prize, voted on by our community through BOLIA.com
The winners will be awarded 3.000 EUR and invited to join us for the 2025 BOLIA DESIGN AWARDS celebration event.
Moreover, as something extra special, the winners will have the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings with our product design manager, as well as getting to submit your designs to our official annual design brief, possibly becoming part of the BOLIA designer community and bringing your vision to life – and of course lots of exposure across all our platforms.
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DESIGN BRIEF
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With this year's BOLIA DESIGN AWARDS, we invite you to honour the heritage of Scandinavian design while shaping its future. This theme reflects the rich history and timeless values at the core of our philosophy - craftsmanship, nature, and enduring aesthetics. We encourage you to delve into tradition, reimagine classic forms, and showcase how design bridges the past and the future.
It’s an invitation to blend nostalgia with modernity, to bring together materials, techniques, and concepts that speak to the enduring appeal of Scandinavian design, all while pushing it forward into a new era. Whether through certified materials, artisanal techniques, or conceptual storytelling, we invite you to reimagine design traditions, while creating something truly original and forward-thinking.
When creating your design, please consider the following questions- How can we interpret Scandinavian design principles for the next generations?
- How do heritage and innovation intersect in your design vision?
- What story does your design tell about the values that shape our everyday lives?
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HOW TO APPLY
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Upload your design proposal in a PDF format – one file for each design, and you may submit 3 designs in total in separate files of max. 5 pages each.
- Present your design any which way you want – perhaps renderings supported by sketches, 3D models, or something completely different.
- Regarding formalities in the uploaded PDF: there are no specific guidelines, other than keeping it anonymous. Beyond that, it’s entirely up to you how you choose to present your work.
- Please do incorporate thoughts behind the design(s) and your choice of materials, as this is essential for the jury’s assessment.
If you have a prototype, great! Please share some pictures or video of it – we unfortunately cannot receive them physically as part of your submission.
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ANONYMITY
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Please do not include your name, logo, or any other identifying information in the PDF itself. This is to ensure an anonymous evaluation process by the jury. Your identity will only be known to the administrative team, who will organize and code the submissions before they are presented to the jury.
Important: Any submission that includes the designer's name or other identifying information in the PDF may be disqualified.
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SUBMISSION LIMIT
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Please upload your design proposal as a PDF – one file for each design. You can submit up to 3 designs, each in a separate file with a maximum of 5 pages.
Please remember not to include your name in the uploaded PDFs, as we want to keep everything anonymous for the jury when they vote for their favourite.
SUSTAINABILITY PHILOSOPHY
At BOLIA, we value thoughtful design that prioritises durability and careful material selection. We encourage all submissions to consider the long-term use of the product - how it’s made, what it’s made from, and how well it’s built to last.
We’re expecting to see beautiful, durable designs that take a considered approach to sustainability and reflect a commitment to quality and longevity.
Selection criteria
Each year, we collaborate with passionate creatives from the lifestyle and design industries to form our professional jury. This expert panel reviews all entries and selects the winners of the Jury Prize and Circularity Prize, as well as the eight finalists for the People’s Choice Prize - ultimately decided by our community through online voting. See specific criteria for each prize below
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JURY PRIZE
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Awarded by our expert jury for overall excellence in design.
ORIGINALITY & INNOVATION:
The design brings something fresh, bold, or unexpected.
AESTHETIC QUALITY:
Designed for durability and long-term use.
FUNCTIONALITY:
Clear purpose, usability, and problem-solving.
CRAFTSMANSHIP & FEASIBILITY:
Realistic for production, with attention to detail.
PRESENTATION & CONCEPTUAL STRENGTH:
Well-communicated idea and story behind the design.
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PEOPLE’S CHOICE PRIZE
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The Jury selects 8 finalists, which are then put to a public vote on Bolia.com
EMOTIONAL APPEAL:
The design resonates strongly with the audience.
VISUAL IMPACT:
Immediate and memorable visual impression.
DESIRABILITY:
Users can imagine owning or using the design in their lives.
CLARITY:
The concept and intent are easy to understand and appreciate.
RELEVANCE:
The design feels fresh, meaningful, and aligned with today’s lifestyle.
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CIRCULARITY PRIZE
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We place a strong emphasis on circular design — which is why there are several important criteria to consider. See the full Circularity Prize criteria further down on this page.
RECYCLED AND RECYCLABLE MATERIALS:
The product must be made from materials that either contain recycled content or can be fully recycled at the end of its life.
Describe the material used and explain the reasoning behind its selection.
DESIGN FOR DISASSEMBLY:
The product must be designed for easy disassembly into mono-materials.
Disassembly guide must be provided to support the evaluation process.
COMPONENT-BASED DESIGN:
Wear parts must be changeable, allowing for easy replacement of components needed for maintenance, repair, or recycling.
A guide detailing the replaceable components should be provided.
DURABILITY AND LONGEVITY:
The product must be designed for durability, with a strong construction being able to pass the European Norms for strength, durability, and stability.
PACKAGING:
Describe or illustrate how the product is shipped — flat-packed or pre-assembled — with a focus on space efficiency during transport.
EFFICIENCY IN PRODUCTION, PRODUCTION CAPABILITY AND SCALABILITY:
The design should avoid production methods that require high materials- energy consumption to support lower CO₂ emissions and less waste.
The product must be feasible for large-scale production and suitable for manufacturing in significant quantities.
COMMUNICATION:
Describe the design and explain how it meets the selection criteria for a circular product. Outline the design choices and demonstrate how they support a circular lifecycle, addressing all relevant aspects.
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EXCLUSIVITY
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We do not accept designs that are already in production or on the market.
Until the end of November 2025, your submitted design(s) are not to be pitched to other design brands or retailers.
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ENTERING OUR COLLECTION
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If your design catches the attention of our BOLIA Design Team, you will be contacted directly for a possible design collaboration after the competition has ended.
All submissions are eligible for the opportunity to become part of our collection – but none are guaranteed. Therefore, making sure your design is technically possible to manufacture is required.