CDN People Awards 2025 winners announced

 The fourth edition of the People Awards took place at a new venue this year: the historic Old Billingsgate. It's illustrious setting provided the perfect backdrop for celebrating the finest talent in car design. Winners across 19 categories were announced on stage, selected by an esteemed panel of industry experts. 

The evening began with the Hyundai-sponsored sketch-battle, featuring automotive design students from around the world. Following the People Awards announcements, the winner concept and production cars from the 12th edition of the Car Design Review book were unveiled, along with the presentation of a special honour, the Peter Horbury Fellowship.

To ensure complete fairness, judges do not cast votes for themselves, their teams, or any brands within their own group; all decisions are made independently and awarded strictly on merit. 

Sketch battle – partnered with Hyundai

- Peer Steffensen, Pforzheim University

- Yian Xie, Pforzheim University

- Vilius Minkevicius, IAAD

- Edoardo Baruzzo, IAAD

- Tom Klein, Creapole

- Paul Yazbeck, Creapole

- Laith Shamti, Coventry

- Yutong Xiong, Coventry

- Rayhan Arifinsyah, Royal College of Art

- Harry Charlesworth, Royal College of Art

WINNER: Peer Steffensen, Pforzheim University

AI Explorer – sponsored by Audi

- ChangAn Global Design Center, AI Explorer Team

- College for Creative Studies, Shima Solati & Hoda Solati

- DAF Trucks, Bart van Lotringen

- IM Motors, Qifeng Gao

- Kia, Kyoungkwun Shin

- Onpoint Team

- Stellantis, Sara Fallahi

WINNER: Sara Fallahi, Stellantis

Best CMF Team – sponsored by UE Studios

- Bentley Motors, CMF & Bespoke Team

- Chery Europe Advanced Design, Color & Material Team

- Citroën, Ami & Ami Buggy CMF Design Team

- Citroën, C5 Aircross CMF Design Team

- firefly, CMF Team

- Kia, CMF Group

- Lotus Creative, CMF Team

- Rivian, CMF Team

- Slate Auto, CMF Team

- Volvo Cars, Shanghai and Gothenburg Studios, ES90 CMF Team

Honorable mention: Lotus Creative CMF Team

WINNER: Bentley Motors, CMF & Bespoke Team

Most Sustainable Team – sponsored by Bridge of Weir

- Citroën, C5 Aircross Design Teams

- firefly, CMF Team

- Hyundai, CMF Team

- Kia, CMF Group

- Lotus Creative, CMF Team

- Mahindra Global Design, CMF Team

- Rivian, Rivive Studio

- Slate Auto, Design Team

- Ultrafabrics, Product Development Team

- Xiaomi (Shao-mee) EV, CMF Design Team

Honorable mention: Rivian, Rivive Studio

WINNER: Slate Auto, Design Team

Best Clay Modelling Team – sponsored by Kolb Design Technology

- Audi Design, Clay Modelling Team

- ChangAn Global Design Center, Modelling Team

- General Motors Design, Europe Clay Team

- JLR, Clay Modelling Team

- Mahindra, Clay Modelling Team

- Slate Auto, Clay Team

- Volvo Cars, Physical Modelling Team

WINNER: General Motors Design, Europe Clay Team

Digital Modelling Team – sponsored by Contechs

- Bentley Motors, Digital Surfacing Team

- firefly, Digital Modelling Team

- Ford Design, RS2.00

- General Motors Advanced Design Europe, Digital Modelling Team

- Harman Automotive, Industrial Design Team

- Hyundai Europe, Digital Design Team

- Karma, Digital Modelling Team

- Kia, Digital Design Team

- Pininfarina S.p.A., Design

- Rivian, Digital Modelling Team

- Xiaomi EV, Digital Design Team

Honorable mention: Kia Digital Design Team

WINNER: Hyundai Europe, Digital Design Team

Best Lighting Design Team – sponsored by Nicha

- Bentley Motors, Lighting Design Team

- ChangAn Global Design Center, Lighting Design Team

- Citroën, C5 Aircross Lighting Design Team

- Feno (phee no) GmbH, Design Team

- Harman Automotive, Design Team

- Kia Next, Design Exterior Team 3

- Lynk&Co (link and co), Infinity Light Design Team

- Lotus Creative, Theory 1 Lighting Design Team

- Tata Motors, Design Teams

WINNER: Bentley Motors, Lighting Design Team

Beyond Automotive Design Team Award – sponsored by Swarovski Mobility

- Bentley Motors, Design Strategy (GDS) Team

- Hyundai, Genesis Future Design Team

- Hyundai Europe, Insteroid Design Team

- Jakub Szewczyk and Cao Shi from the Umeå Institute of Design

- Mahindra Global Design, BEV Showroom Team

- Rivian, Industrial Design Team

- Tata Motors Design India, Commercial Vehicle Team

- Ultrafabrics, Product Development Team

- Xpeng Design Center, AEROHT Design Team

Honorable mention: Hyundai Europe Insteroid Design Team

WINNER: Rivian, Industrial Design Team

Challenging the Industry – sponsored by Bentley

- Audi, E5 Sportback Design Team

- firefly, Design Team

- Harman Automotive, Design Team

- Hyundai, Genesis Future Design Team

- Lotus Creative, Design Teams

- Patrick Jordan Patrikios Luxesound

- Slate Auto, Design Team

- Tata Motors Design Europe, Avinya Brand Design Team

WINNER: Slate Auto, Design Team

Design Educator of the Year – sponsored by Mahindra

- James Hope, China Academy of Art

- Prianjali Kapur, Pininfarina

- Sanghamitra Datta

- Shaun Hutchinson, Coventry University

WINNER: James Hope, China Academy of Art

Best Supplier Award

- AFRY Experience Studios

- Bridge of Weir Leather

- Harman Automotive

- Incari GmbH

- Kolb Design Technology GmbH & Co. KG

- Marelli Motherson Automotive Lighting India

- Saint-Gobain SEKURIT, Advanced Engineering & Design Team

- UE | Studios

WINNER: UE | Studios

Undiscovered Talent – sponsored by Zeekr Design

- Bartu Harmandagli Royal College of Art

- Farah Amjad Al Khamissi, Umeå Institute of Design

- Hanil Kim, Coventry University

- Henrik Svanvig, Royal College of Art

- Henry Zhang, China Academy of Art

- Jane Kim, Mahindra Advanced Design Europe

- Josh Tandy, University of Staffordshire

- Juean Chen, Umeå Institute of Design

- Shima Solati & Hoda Solati, College for Creative Studies

- Siddharth Camarushy

- Ryan Wei, China Academy of Art

WINNER: Hanil Kim, Coventry University

Best Studio Engineering Team – sponsored by Vital Auto

- ChangAn Global Design Center, Studio Engineering Team

- firefly, ST-ENG Team

- General Motors Advanced Design Europe, Design Technical Team

- Hyundai Europe, Design Engineering Team

- Italdesign, Studio Engineering Team

- Kia, Design Engineering Team

- Mahindra Global Design, Studio Engineering Team

- Volvo Cars, Shanghai Studio Engineering Team

WINNER: Italdesign, Studio Engineering Team

Best Exterior Design Team – sponsored by Autodesk

- Bentley Motors, Exterior Design Team

- Citroën, Ami & Ami Buggy Exterior Design Team

- firefly, Exterior Design Team

- Hyundai Europe, Insteroid Exterior Design Team

- Karma, Exterior Design Team

- Kia Next, Design Exterior Group

- Lamborghini, Exterior Design Team

- Mahindra Global Design, Exterior Design Team

- Tata Motors, Avinya Exterior Design Team

- Tata Motors, Sierra Exterior Team

- Xpeng, Exterior Design Team

WINNER: Kia Next, Design Exterior Group

Best Interior Design Team – sponsored by Ultrafabrics

- Audi, Interior Design Team

- Bentley Motors, Interior Design Team

- ChangAn Global Design Center, NEVO Interior Design Team

- Citroën, Ami & Ami Buggy Interior Design Team

- firefly, Interior Design Team

- Hyundai, Ioniq 9 Global Interior Design Team

- Hyundai, NEXO Interior Design Team 2

- Kia Next, Interior Design Team 1

- Tata Motors, Avinya X Interior Design Team

- Volvo Cars, Interior Design Team

WINNER: Bentley Motors, Interior Design Team

Peter Horbury Fellowship Award – sponsored by Bridge of Weir

WINNER: Harry Charlesworth from the Royal College of Art

Unsung Hero – sponsored by Changan Automobile

- Claudia Bester, Harman Automotive

- Ford Design, E-Tech Team

- Jooeun Lee, Harman Automotive

- Lincoln, Nautilus Design Team

- Mahindra Global Design, Design Operations

- Maruti Suzuki, Hard Modelling Team

- Tata Motors, Design Visualisation Team

Honorable mention: Mahindra Design Operations

WINNER: Tata Motors, Design Visualisation Team

Best Advanced Design Team – sponsored by Afry

- Audi, Design Team

- Chery Design Shanghai, Advanced Design Team

- Forvia, Saphir Concept Design Team

- GAC Group, Guangzhou Advanced Design Team

- General Motors Advanced Design Europe, Design Team

- Hyundai Europe, Insteroid Design Team

- Lotus Creative, Design Team

- Mahindra Global Design, Design Team

- Mazda Design Europe, Design Team

- Peugeot, Advanced Design Team

- Tata Motors, Avinya X Design Team

WINNER: Audi, Design Team

Best UX/UI Design Team – sponsored by Techic

- Bentley Motors, UX Design Team

- firefly, UI/UX Design Team

- Granstudio, DigiPHY and UX/UI Design Team

- Harman Automotive, Design Team

- Hyundai Europe, Insteroid Design Team

- Lamborghini, Pilot Interaction UX Design Team

- Lotus Creative, UX/UI Team

- Rivian, Digital Studio Team

- Tata Motors, Avinya UX/UI Team

- Tata Motors Design India, UI/UX Team

Honorable mention: Hyundai Europe, Insteroid Design Team

Winner: Rivian, Digital Studio Team

Production Car Design of the Year

WINNER: Polestar 5

Concept Car Design of the Year

WINNER: Audi Concept C

CDN Lifetime Achievement

WINNER: Marc Deschamps