THE COMPASSO D’ORO

Since 1954, the most prestigious award in the design world

Established in 1954 from an idea by Gio Ponti, its image was conceived and designed by Albe Steiner, inspired by Adalbert Goeringer’s compass and the golden ratio, while the award itself was later designed by architects Marco Zanuso and Alberto Rosselli. Initially sponsored by the La Rinascente department stores, in 1958 the award was entrusted to ADI, which has since organised the event and managed the Historical Collection through its Foundation, established in 2001.

In an unprecedented initiative in the field of international design, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage – Regional Directorate for Lombardy, by Decree of 22 April 2004, declared the ADI Compasso d’Oro Award Historical Collection to be of “exceptional artistic and historical interest”, officially recognising it as part of the national heritage.

The Compasso d’Oro Collection comprises a repertoire of products and projects that over the years have been awarded this prize, as well as those that have received Honourable Mentions. It is the oldest and most institutionalised design award in the world, aimed at highlighting the quality of Made in Italy products, but more importantly, recognising the value-based process that design imparts to production and society across various fields.

THE COMPASSO D’ORO INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Since 2014, ADI – Associazione per il Disegno Industriale has established the Compasso d’Oro International Design Award, launching a series of thematic editions open to international participation. Each edition focuses on a specific theme, exploring emerging and significant aspects of design in its ongoing evolution.

In February 2026, ADI and the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) formalised a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a structural collaboration lasting ten years, with the aim of organising the Compasso d’Oro International Design Award on the occasion of the main Universal Expositions through to 2035.
With the fourth edition, ADI brings this tradition to the stage of Expo 2027 Belgrade, in collaboration with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). The edition’s theme — “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All” — poses a concrete question to designers worldwide: how does design contribute to building a culture of play in the broadest sense?

THE INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS

Four editions, four global themes.

EDITION I — 2015 Expo 2015 Milano | Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life Theme: Design for Food and Nutrition
EDITION II — 2017 Milan / Hangzhou | Sport — Performance and Innovation Ceremony: CIDA, Hangzhou
EDITION III — 2025 Expo 2025 Osaka | Designing Future Society for Our Lives 20 Compasso d’Oro · 35 Honourable Mentions
EDITION IV — 2027 Expo 2027 Belgrade | Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All Open for entries: 22 May 2026 — 20 January 2027