What gives contemporary design international cultural weight? In a world increasingly driven by digital metrics, fleeting online impressions, and the rapid turnover of viral trends, true creative significance is rarely measured by ephemeral metrics. For Expo 2027 Belgrade, the prestigious Compasso d’Oro International Award suggests that the answer to this enduring question lies fundamentally in human play.
Curated by the Association for Industrial Design (ADI) in collaboration with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) under the guiding theme “Design for Humanity at Play,” the high-profile initiative has officially issued an international call for entries. The competition invites creators, manufacturers, and design studios from around the globe to submit recently launched products, innovative services, and immersive interactive experiences. Moving far beyond the confines of online submissions and digital galleries, shortlisted projects will eventually step out into the physical world, inhabiting a dedicated, purpose-built pavilion situated within Belgrade’s vibrant Best Practices district during the upcoming world exposition.
Entering the ADI Compasso d’Oro Historical Collection
While the modern creative cycle often rewards quick engagement and momentary digital buzz, enduring significance in architecture and industrial design is still measured by cultural permanence and the ability to transform daily life. The ADI Design Museum in Milan provides precisely that vital anchor, serving as an active, prestigious custodian of the objects, systems, and spaces that define contemporary living and industrial heritage.
For participating creators and forward-thinking brands alike, selection in the Compasso d’Oro secures a permanent, highly coveted place within the esteemed ADI Compasso d’Oro Historical Collection. This inclusion establishes each recognized project as an enduring reference point for future generations of designers, historians, and the public. Over the decades, the collection has become synonymous with design excellence, housing iconic masterpieces that have fundamentally altered how society interacts with manufactured objects—from groundbreaking domestic electronics to revolutionary furniture systems. By welcoming new entries under the banner of play, the institution continues its historic mission of recognizing design that responds deeply to human needs and cultural evolution.
Nine Pathways Shaping Connection, Spaces, and Human Experiences
Operating directly within the overarching framework of Expo 2027 Belgrade, which is dedicated to the theme “Play for Humanity — Sport and Music for All,” the competition deliberately repositions play from a passive form of entertainment into a serious, transformative tool for human connection and collective wellbeing. Rather than restricting the concept to toys or recreational items, the scope of the award is remarkably broad, welcoming realized work across nine diverse fields of human endeavor.
Submissions are open across nine distinct pathways: Lighting, Living, Work, Mobility, Food, Individual Goods, Communication, Exhibition, and Social Systems. This expansive categorization ensures that everything from large-scale, zero-emission urban transit solutions to reconfigurable communal furniture and innovative communication systems can compete on a level playing field. Whether a project involves rethinking public mobility or designing intimate domestic objects, participating works must convincingly demonstrate how intentional, human-centric design can successfully turn the fundamental instinct of play into lasting, measurable social impact.
To evaluate this diverse array of global entries, an independent international jury of renowned design experts, architects, and cultural figures will be assembled. This panel will ultimately select 20 official Compasso d’Oro winners, alongside up to 50 Honourable Mentions and three prestigious International Career Awards celebrating lifetime contributions to the field.
The highly anticipated results will be unveiled live at Expo 2027 Belgrade on May 24, 2027, marking the grand opening of an extensive exhibition that will run continuously through August 15. Spanning nearly three months, the dedicated pavilion will serve as a dynamic cultural hub, staging six thematic weeks filled with engaging talks, collaborative workshops, and public events designed to keep the shortlisted and winning projects in active, ongoing dialogue with international visitors, industry leaders, and design enthusiasts from around the world.
