Celebrating the Best in Global Sports Design
Launched in 2022 by WDO Promotional Member 3C Awards, the FIT Sport Design Awards recognize the industry’s most innovative sports equipment and apparel from across the globe. With the 2024 winners announced earlier this year and entries now open for its third cycle, the award continues to celebrate the creativity of independent designers and students who are driving the future of sports design.
We spoke with Astrid Hébert, 3C Awards Co-founder and Director, to learn more about what makes for great sport products, emerging trends shaping the global sports market and the future of the sport designer community.
What would you say are some of the key objectives of the FIT Sport Design Awards?
This initiative was born from several critical observations:
- The sports products and apparel industry is growing rapidly, with a strong focus on branding. We asked ourselves, how we could support the talented creatives behind these designs.
- Small, innovative companies specializing in sports are challenging established market leaders. How can we help these companies gain the visibility they need to thrive?
- How can we support emerging designers and students in making a smooth transition from education to their first professional roles?
- Finally, our company is based in Switzerland, a hub for snow sports, mountain activities, climbing, trails and much more. We are surrounded by high-tech sports companies and highly specialized startups that are investing in cutting-edge technology and sustainability. This vibrant and innovative environment is incredibly inspiring and stimulating for us!
Recognizing that 3C Awards runs several other design award programmes, why did you feel it was important to have an award specifically dedicated to innovation in sports design?
We have been managing the Global Footwear Awards for several years, a programme that uniquely recognizes both professional and emerging designers in the sneaker and shoe industry. Previously, there was no global initiative that celebrated individual designers rather than brands. We’ve received remarkable support from the industry, with many submissions being sport shoes, which sparked our interest in the broader sports sector.
“We quickly realized that while there are other programmes doing fantastic work, none focus specifically on the designers rather than the brands, nor are they inclusive of accepting design from companies and independent designers to students. We also noticed that market leaders typically dominated the grand prizes, making it difficult for smaller innovative companies to gain the visibility they deserve. We believe there’s room to bring a fresh perspective to sports design and recognize the talent driving innovation in this field.”
From usability to performance and adaptability, there is a lot to consider when designing impactful sport products. What are some of the key criteria that submissions are being judged on?
Our jury members evaluate multiple aspects of the design, from aesthetics to practicality and functionality. This includes the materials used, ease of maintenance, safety, and durability. Innovation and impact are critical criteria, forming the core of our program. We assess whether the apparel or gear introduces something new to the market and provides genuine benefits to athletes, such as enhanced performance and comfort.
Lastly, ecological compatibility is also a key consideration. We examine the potential environmental and ecological impact of the product, including whether it can be produced locally or if the materials are locally sourced. We also consider if the product has been designed with repairability and recyclability in mind.
The award welcomes concept, prototype and product submissions. Why did you decide to focus on designs across all three stages?
Design knows no boundaries and isn’t confined to a specific format. Many groundbreaking innovations start as concepts, facing technical and production challenges before evolving into prototypes and eventually reaching full-scale production. We don’t want to limit our focus to products that have already been produced, as doing so would overlook the brilliant ideas and innovations emerging in the sports design space.
Our programme is open to companies, independent designers, and students. Typically, large companies submit commercialized products, while independent designers present small-scale productions or concepts. Students might showcase prototypes from their graduation projects or even just design renders, depending on the scope of their work. To foster innovation and inclusivity, we believe it’s crucial to embrace all stages of the design process.
What are some of the benefits of applying to and receiving this award, both from a professional and student perspective?
We offer a comprehensive range of benefits to our winners, including marketing assets such as achievement badges, certificates, and trophies. Winners also gain significant exposure through our extensive media and press network and have a permanent page on our website. Additionally, we generate new content featuring interviews and press releases to highlight their accomplishments.
We collaborate with industry leaders to provide coaching courses for our ‘Emerging Designers of the Year’ and are continuously developing online master courses. These courses facilitate discussions on vibrant topics such as branding, innovation, and sports culture, fostering a community where all our winners can exchange ideas and insights. Moreover, the designs are evaluated by our esteemed jury members. Receiving an award from them signifies the relevance and excellence of their innovation and design vision.
Ranging from urban life to sports gadgets, FIT Sport Design Awards represents an impressive 29 categories. Can you tell us a little bit about this comprehensive approach and how these categories were identified?
We chose to classify our entries into two main sections: Sport Apparel and Sport Equipment. Within these sections, we further categorize based on specific sports, such as Snow Sports and Ball Sports. This approach recognizes that many pieces of equipment and apparel are increasingly used across multiple sports disciplines. Additionally, we have created special categories like Gadgets, Innovation, and Sustainability to spotlight those who are pioneering new solutions and driving the future of the market.
“A standout sports design product should deliver comfort, enhance performance across multiple activities, demonstrate longevity, and consider its “afterlife” with options for recycling and reuse.”
There’s no doubt that design is an ever-evolving industry. Since launching this award, what are some key trends you have seen emerge for sports design?
We observe two major trends shaping the industry:
First, the high-tech space is evolving rapidly, with advancements in AI integration, new applications and connectivity that link sports specialists, the medical field, and consumers.
Second, sustainability is becoming increasingly important. Efforts are focused on enhancing the durability of sportswear, finding ways to reuse components, and designing multi-functional gear that supports various sports activities, reducing the need for consumers to buy multiple pieces of equipment.
The 2024 winners of the FIT Sport Design Awards were recently announced. Can you tell us a little bit about this year’s four recipients and why they stood out?
The evaluation process has been quite challenging, with numerous exceptional sport apparels and gears to consider. In our second round of voting, the Jury members selected two standout designs in the professional categories: BetterGuard, an ankle brace designed for both elite and amateur athletes to enhance performance during recovery and prevent severe ankle injuries; and Imbrace Now, the world’s first snow sport-focused support and compression legging. These winning designs leverage athlete experience to improve performance and reduce injuries by integrating advanced technologies and smart materials.
Among the emerging winners, smart training surface Ezun caught attention as a physical rehabilitation tool and application designed to aid recovery from lower limb injuries, addressing the complex challenges with user-friendly features and customization options guided by physician input.
On the other hand, AquaRevive introduces a sustainable snorkeling range crafted from innovative algae-based materials, offering prototypes of snorkels, fins, masks, and wetsuits that aim to harmonize with nature.
Looking ahead, what do you see for the future of the FIT Sport Design Awards?
The programme is in its early stages and remains somewhat niche, but we are eager to expand our reach and attract sport designers from around the world to foster innovation in sustainable and smart sport apparels. Looking ahead, we anticipate organizing an awards ceremony and gala within the next couple of years. This event will serve to unite people and celebrate the achievements of the FIT Sport Design Awards winners and the broader sport designer community.
Interested in submitting your work for the FIT Sport Design Award 2025?
Visit https://fitdesignawards.com/ for more information.
Originally from France, Astrid Hébert graduated from the University of La Rochelle with a Master’s Degree in Marketing. She is an accomplished entrepreneurial professional with more than fifteen years’ experience in Business Development, Marketing, Events, and Project Management. After living for twelve years in Asia, working as Director of Sales & Marketing in the Hospitality industry, she moved back to Europe. Hébert joined the Farmani Group in 2018 as Vice-President, opening the European office in Budapest and leading the company growth for two years. She is now the co-founder and Director of the 3C GROUP based in Switzerland.
