“Best of the Best” winners: concepts that reshape everyday habits 

The two Red Dot Best of the Best winning concepts, SPIN and CAREFILL, both rethink familiar habits and interactions in everyday life.  

Botond Bánfalvi’s SPIN pencil sharpener replaces the traditional twisting motion with a simple push. The more straightforward action not only makes sharpening quicker and reduces the risk of broken pencil leads, but also makes the sharpener accessible to people who, for whatever reason, are unable to perform the usual twisting motion. Pressing down on the pencil sets the internal mechanism in motion, guiding it along a spiral path so the blade sharpens the pencil gradually and evenly. The semi-transparent casing shows the mechanism at work, while the spiral ridges on the outside provide a secure grip.  

Zsombor Égerházi’s CAREFILL concept rethinks the way water-based personal care products are made and distributed, using refill stations, attractive reusable bottles, and interchangeable dispensers. As cosmetic products typically contain 60–90% water, transporting them means carrying considerable extra weight and using more plastic. CAREFILL instead supplies concentrated powder to in-store refill stations, where customers can create a formula tailored to their skin or hair type. At home, they simply add water to the reusable bottle and shake to mix. The system thus offers a personalised product while reducing single-use plastic, transport weight, and carbon emissions from logistics. 

Public transport of the future: micromobility for everyone 

Benedek Tóth’s BUBI-KART concept adds a new dimension to shared micromobility with a vehicle designed not only for getting around, but also for the enjoyment of driving itself. Designed to integrate into Budapest’s public bike-sharing system, the single-seater, three-wheeled vehicle features electric pedal assistance, with a lightweight, rigid aluminium frame and low centre of gravity that recreate the driving experience of a go-kart. 

KENGURU, a vision for urban mobility in 2035 by Laura Vígh and Vince Tass, closes a fundamental gap in current micromobility systems: most urban bike-sharing vehicles and infrastructure are inaccessible to wheelchair users. KENGURU offers an alternative by pairing existing cycling infrastructure with a vehicle designed for wheelchair users and non-disabled people alike. Its design provides easy access, secure wheelchair restraint, safe travel, and intuitive controls, while the accompanying app factors in accessible routes, docking stations, and vehicle types. The system could therefore give wheelchair users greater freedom of movement and independence. 

When machinery makes its own decisions 

Zoltán Zoboki’s ATLAS concept is a portable, autonomous reach truck designed to automate material handling on construction sites, in logistics yards, and across industrial sites. Its foldable structure is housed in a protective box mounted on the lorry chassis, allowing the vehicle to be transported easily between worksites and deployed quickly on arrival. ATLAS uses AI-assisted sensors and cameras to navigate its surroundings, communicating continuously with the lorry before autonomously handling the loading once on site. Its 360-degree sensor system detects obstacles, workers, and changes in terrain, while lights, indicators, and emergency stop buttons help ensure safe operation. The forklift can also turn on the spot. In this way, ATLAS brings the precision of warehouse automation to changing outdoor environments. 

Preparing students for prestigious international design competitions 

In 2024, MOME launched a new programme at the initiative of teacher and Co-Head of the MOME Mobility Design Lab András Húnfalvi to support students entering prestigious international design competitions. Winning these awards can give emerging designers a significant boost at the start of their careers, raising their profile, and helping them build professional confidence.  

During the first stage, teachers help the students behind the selected projects identify the category best suited to their work and mentor them in preparing their written submissions and presentation materials. Educators Fanni Csernátony, Tamás Fogarasy, András Kerékgyártó, Péter Molnár, and Dániel Ruppert take part in the selection and mentoring process, after which Judit Huszár helps the students prepare and finalise their submissions. In its first year, the programme saw five MOME concepts win Red Dot Awards, with another seven receiving awards since – making this year’s accomplishments the continuation of a professional development process that has been evolving over several years. 

The Red Dot Award is an international competition spanning product design, communication design, and design concepts. Its Design Concept category focuses on forward-looking ideas, concepts, and new directions in design. The highest-rated entries in each category receive the Red Dot: Best of the Best distinction, reserved by the jury for pioneering concepts considered the very best in their category.