Top design also includes agricultural machinery
A blend of aesthetics and technological efficiency that goes beyond mere definitions: design is a lens through which to interpret the transformations of reality, it is a driver of innovation, creativity, and enterprise. It is therefore not surprising that there are so many entries in the ADI Design Index 2025, the annual selection from the Permanent Design Observatory of the Association for Industrial Design (ADI). "This Observatory," says ADI President Luciano Galimberti, "aims to provide a broader and more inclusive snapshot of Italian design, as a tool for knowledge and perspective". The 2025 selection, curated under the supervision of a Steering Committee composed of Makio Hasuike, Domenico Sturabotti, Laura Traldi, and Francesco Zurlo, key figures in international design, represents the first step towards the 2026 ADI Compasso d'Oro Award and brings together 344 projects that are representative of the quality and diversity of contemporary Italian design.
Design for living is the most represented sector, with 69 projects dedicated to domestic spaces and new ways of experiencing everyday environments. Next up are designs for the workplace, with 36 proposals that interpret the evolution of professional spaces, and designs for the individual, with 27 projects geared towards personal well-being. Mobility design and lighting design each feature 17 projects, while food design includes eight solutions that explore the relationship between design and food culture. Ample space is also reserved for the design of materials and technological systems, with a total of 21 projects, and for the design of services, with 15 instances that innovate the user experience and organizational models. Design for Social Impact features 14 initiatives addressing inclusion and sustainability, while Research for Business includes 17 projects highlighting design's ability to generate value in production processes. The exhibition also features 20 communication design projects, 30 exhibition design projects, and 25 theoretical, historical, and critical research projects, reflecting the ongoing dialog between practice and cultural reflection. Finally, the Youth Design (Targa Giovani) category brings together 28 projects by students and young designers, placing the focus on new generations and the future of Italian design.
This broad range of proposals also includes agricultural mechanization, which receives five honorable mentions: the Atomatika agricultural robot by Agricobots/Hymach, the Case Impact wheel loader by CNH Industrial, the Fendt 600 Vario tractor, the Super G/La Guaresi machine by Guaresi, and the Merlo TF43.7 E telescopic handler. We are dedicating a specific in-depth look at these machines.
During the presentation of the 2025 nominations, the Industrial Design Association also announced the creation of the ADI Study Center, a new facility dedicated to research and enhancing the skills developed by the association. The Center, which works closely with the Permanent Design Observatory, is divided into the Departments of Designers, Businesses, Distribution and Services, and General, and collaborates with organizations such as the Symbola Foundation, the FederlegnoArredo Study Center, Confindustria, and Federculture. With this step, the ADI Permanent Design Observatory is further developing its role, no longer just a selection platform for the Compasso d'Oro, but now also a place of research, discussion, and interpretation capable of offering an updated and strategic overview of the state of Italian design and its future prospects. Meanwhile, the 2026 Compasso d'Oro ADI is approaching, with the award ceremony to be held in Milan in June 2026, coinciding with the Salone del Mobile. The exhibition will then move to the Maxxi Museum in Rome in the fall of 2026.
