IAI History

The IAI Design Award, or 'IAI' for short, is one of the most influential and prestigious design awards in the world. As the most innovative design award in Asia, the IAI juries evaluate awards based on outstanding design work. The IAI Design Award has been recognized as the world’s new global design award with high recognition and gold content.


The IAI Design Award was launched in 2006 at the Asia-pacific biennial award for interior design, which has gone through three changes in the name of the award during the period. In 2014, the IAI Design Award became the design award in the field of design; it is praised as 'Design Oscar' by China Central Television (CCTV) and other domestic and foreign authoritative media. In 2019, the IAI Design Award was once again transformed into three sub-awards: 'IAI Intelligent Manufacturing Award' (IAI + IM), 'IAI Architecture Award' (IAI + A), and 'IAI Interior Award' (IAI + I). The IAI Design has also enhanced the professional level and further established its authority and reputation.


The IAI Design Award is awarded to designers, universities and colleges and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to innovative and sustainable design. Each year, IAI publishes an annual yearbook for the winners' works, which is distributed globally for business collaboration; IAI Design Awards include interior design, architectural design, landscape design and intelligent manufacturing design which including intelligent manufacturing includes industrial products, visual communication, fashion, digital media, product concepts, service design and so on. APDF set up the IAI Global Design Award in Asia. Its purpose is to build a bridge for design creativity and business, help the sustainable development of economy, environment and social economy, and empower the development of cities and industries. At the same time, by finding and discovering the best design cases, the best creativity and wisdom of designers are displayed, and the greatest value of design is reflected.




IAI Activity chronology


2006                 Asia Pacific Interior Design Biennial Grand Prix                                                       Awarding place:China Hotel, Guangzhou

2008                 IAI Asia Pacific Interior Design Biennial Grand Prix                                                 Awarding place:The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai

2009                 IAI China Style Asia-pacific Interior Design Elite Invitational Tournament                Awarding place:Four Points by Sheraton, Hangzhou

2010                 IAI Asia Pacific Interior Design Biennial Grand Prix                                                 Awarding place:Shanghai Jin Mao Tower

2011                 IAI Natural Style Asia-pacific Interior Design Elite Invitational Tournament              Awarding place:Gran Meliá, Shanghai

2012                 IAI Asia Pacific Design Biennial Grand Prix                                                             Awarding place:Shanghai International Convention Center

2013                 IAI Global Space Design Award-Zhumei Award                                                       Awarding place:The Art Museum of China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing

2014/2015        IAI Design Award                                                                                                      Awarding place:National Stadium of China-Bird's Nest Cultural Center

2015/2016        IAI Design Award                                                                                                      Awarding place:National Stadium of China-Bird's Nest Cultural Center

2017                 IAI Design Award                                                                                                      Awarding place:Baoshan Wisdom Bay, Shanghai

2018                 IAI Design Award                                                                                                      Awarding place:Shanghai Exhibition Centre

2020                 IAI Design Award                                                                                                      Awarding place:Minyuan Square, Tianjin

2021                 IAI Design Award                                                                                                      Awarding place:Lohkah Hotel, Xiamen