2026 FIT Sport Design Awards: Join the Global Movement in Comfort, Innovation & Eco-Friendly Athletic Gear
July 4, 2025The FIT Sport Design Awards are now open for entries, kicking off the fourth edition of a competition that champions the most original, sustainable, and forward-thinking ideas in sport. Last year saw standout submissions from over 20 countries across 45 categories, proof that innovation in this space is happening everywhere. From breakthrough footwear to next-gen apparel and gear, the awards bring together a global mix of designers, creators, and brands who are changing the way we move, train, and compete.
The submissions are open to designers, brands, and manufacturers of sports equipment and apparel from across the globe. This year’s jury brings together some of the most forward-thinking names in sport and performance design. From Germain Thomine in France, known for his industrial footwear work, to Samantha Taylor, founder of The Good Factory in the UK, the panel blends global perspective with hands-on expertise. Angela Medlin, founder of Faas Design Collab, joins from the US alongside circularity specialists like Chris Stone from The North Face and Ida Urmas of Finnish studio Ethica. Alistair Hather, Joerg Rohwer-Kahlmann, Isa Svärd from POC, and Karl Askill from Gymshark round out a lineup that’s not just judging entries but spotting what’s shaping the future.
Last year’s winners set the bar high, with standout designs across gear, apparel, and emerging talent. The Kamarán Kayak by Walter Sidler took home Sport Gear Design of the Year for its 7kg inflatable catamaran-style form that folds into a single bag. In Sport Apparel, Stoko’s Supportive Tight turned heads by integrating medical-grade knee support into sleek athletic wear. Student winners like Behzad Rashidizadeh’s adjustable bike saddle and John Helf’s ballet training shoe showed just how bright the future of sport design looks. Other honored innovations came from global names like Adidas, Berghaus, Hayabusa, Overade, and Life Fitness, proving that performance and design are evolving hand in hand.
Astrid Hébert, the founder of the awards, expressed her excitement, saying, “It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in just four editions. From the start, the goal was to create a truly global platform for sport design, and that’s exactly what’s happening. The jury keeps growing with some of the most respected names in the industry, and last year we saw submissions from major brands as well as outstanding student work. That mix is what FIT is all about, supporting both established professionals and emerging talent equally.”
With 29 categories available for gear, equipment, and apparel designs, FIT Sport Design Awards is the most comprehensive program of its kind. This cross-disciplinary platform provides a powerful opportunity to showcase your designs to a truly international market. The categories are broadly divided into General Sports, Sport Specific, and Special Categories, each highlighting unique aspects of sports equipment and apparel design. In addition to recognizing established designers and brands, the FIT Sport Design Awards also support emerging artists and have established partnerships with some of the world’s most respected universities in design and innovation, including L’École de design Nantes Atlantique, Artcenter College of Design, Georgia Tech, MIT Institute of Design, ESNE – University School of Design, Innovation and Technology, and Politecnico di Milano – Scuola del Design, among others.
To submit your entry and learn more about the FIT Sport Design Awards, please visit fitdesignawards.com. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your groundbreaking designs and contribute to the transformation of the sports design industry. Participants will gain international recognition, network with industry leaders, and enhance their brand’s credibility. Submit your entry by September 15th to enjoy a 15% discount.
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Note to editor:
If you require any additional information, please get in contact with press@3cawards.com. Please note that all images related to the FIT Sport Design Awards can be downloaded at the following link fitdesignawards.com/winners. However, when publishing any of these images, it is important to credit the original source, which may include the photographer, designer, architect, or other relevant party. This ensures that the hardworking designers and architects behind these projects receive the recognition they deserve for their exceptional work.
About FIT Sport Design Awards
The FIT Sport Design Awards is looking for groundbreaking sports innovations, sustainable products, solutions enhancing performance, providing comfort to athletes or everyday players, and practices having a positive environmental impact. The program is open to professional Designers, Freelancers, and Emerging talents. More information is available on: fitdesignawards.com
About 3C Awards
FIT Sport Design Awards is a program under the 3C Awards, a leading organization curating and promoting design across the globe. The company represents today’s diversity and innovation in Design, each program is a symbol of design excellence around the world, showcasing Professional and Emerging designers’ work to over 100 expert jury members. The 3C awards is part of Three C Group GmbH, a Swiss-registered company based in Grabenstrasse 15a, 6340 Baar, Switzerland. More information is available on: www.3Cawards.com