{"id":44114,"date":"2026-05-13T15:14:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:14:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/?p=44114"},"modified":"2026-05-13T15:14:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:14:28","slug":"oliwia-snieg-was-named-the-overall-winner-of-best-in-design-2026-for-her-project-focused-on-water-conservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zlindesignweek.com\/2026\/en\/2026\/05\/13\/oliwia-snieg-was-named-the-overall-winner-of-best-in-design-2026-for-her-project-focused-on-water-conservation\/","title":{"rendered":"Oliwia \u015anieg was named the overall winner of Best in Design 2026 for her project focused on water conservation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Zl\u00edn, May 6, 2026 \u2013 The prestigious international Best in Design competition, part of the Zlin Design Week festival, has announced its winners. A jury composed of experts from around the world selected winners from more than 600 submitted projects across four categories: Product & Industrial Design, Communication Design, Fashion Design, and Service Design. The overall winner was Polish designer Oliwia \u015anieg with her project focused on the early detection of oil pollution in water. The awards ceremony took place on May 9 at the Zl\u00edn Congress Center and was open to the public.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The top prize went to the creator of the project FLOW \u2013 Early detection of oil pollution in surface waters, which also won in the Product & Industrial Design category. Her system uses advanced sensors to monitor water quality in real time, enabling a rapid response to environmental accidents and minimizing their impact. Oliwia \u015anieg took home not only the Best in Design 2026 title but also a cash prize of \u20ac1,500 (\u20ac1,000 for the overall victory and \u20ac500 for first place in the category) .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

„Best in Design is raising the bar year after year, and this year\u2019s participation of more than 600 projects from various countries only confirms this. It is not just a competition, but a space where creativity meets the real-world problems of today. The record number of entries shows that young designers want to create work that is meaningful and has a broader impact.“ „This is clear proof to us that the new generation of designers is eager to actively change the world around them,“ said competition director \u0160\u00e1rka Dole\u017ealov\u00e1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top spots in the other categories went to Adele Hamsund (Fashion Design), Anna Luk\u00e1\u0161ov\u00e1 (Communication Design), and Diksha Ashok (Service Design).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Product & Industrial Design Category<\/h3>\n\n

\n Jury: Anna Mare\u0161ov\u00e1, Agnieszka Bujas, Marek Ku\u017ami\u0144ski\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Product & Industrial Design category, the top spot went to the aforementioned Oliwia \u015anieg with her project FLOW \u2013 Early detection of oil pollution in surface waters. Marie-Magdal\u00e9na Kv\u011bch Ji\u0159enov\u00e1 shone in second place with her project \u201cVita Meal Service for Seniors.\u201d This meal service, designed specifically for the needs of seniors, emphasizes ergonomics and ease of use, thereby restoring a sense of independence and dignity to users during daily meals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third place in the category went to a Hungarian team of designers\u2014Balazs Kisgyorgy, Rebeka Csiby-Gindele, Zs\u00f3fia Zala, Blanka Timari, Eszter Hanko, Roberta Wende, Laura Schillinger, Viktoria Dawson-Vadasz, and Flora Lukovics\u2014with their project Fragments. The project focuses on the experimental exploration of material recycling and deconstruction. In it, the designers demonstrate how industrial waste can be transformed into new aesthetic and functional forms, thereby opening a discussion about the circular economy in modern manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fashion Design Category<\/h3>\n\n

\n Jury: Milan Flori\u00e1n Fl\u00ed\u010dek, Daria Dembicka, Zuzana Vr\u00e1be\u013eov\u00e1\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s Fashion Design category was won by Adele Hamsund from Norway with her collection *Aging Gracefully*. The project is a fascinating study of the aging process and the natural transformation of materials over time, celebrating wear and tear as a new aesthetic value. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second place went to Silvia Bereck\u00e1 from Slovakia for her project Spore-gasm. Her work draws inspiration from the fascinating world of fungi and organic growth structures. In her collection, Silvia pushes the boundaries of textile design toward biomimicry, creating visually striking objects that explore the relationship between the human body and nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bronze medal in the fashion section goes to Tilen Gorenjak from Slovenia for his project Ms Crawford Goes Fishing. Tilen focused on narrative design and playfulness, creating a unique visual story built on precise craftsmanship and innovative cut solutions that impressed the jury with their boldness and authenticity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Communication Design Category<\/h3>\n\n

\n Jury: Dan Zucco, Dalibor Itze, Kamila \u0160t\u011bpni\u010dkov\u00e1\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Communication Design category, Anna Luk\u00e1\u0161ov\u00e1 won with her project Visual Identity of the Svitavy City Museum and Gallery. Her comprehensive visual system dynamically connects local history with modern trends and effectively simplifies visitor navigation within the institution\u2019s space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second place went to the trio of Aneta Beranov\u00e1, Dayana Kaska, and Jan Kaska for the Visual Identity of the Endo\u2022Mento project. This project addresses the sensitive topic of raising awareness about endometriosis. The creators have developed a visual language that is accessible, empathetic, and powerful enough to help break down social taboos surrounding women\u2019s health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third place went to Huda Narmouq and Maryam Grich for their concept Mind Map \u2013 Experiencing Dyslexia Through Visual Communication. The project focuses on visualizing the thought processes of people with dyslexia and transforming abstract information into comprehensible graphic structures. The jury particularly highlighted the analytical approach to design and its ability to facilitate the cognitive perception of complex topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Service Design Category<\/h3>\n\n

\n Jury: Mat\u011bj K\u00e1ninsk\u00fd, Janka Csern\u00e1k, Karol\u00edna Menclerov\u00e1\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diksha Ashok triumphed in the Service Design category with her project The Lived Lens Toolkit. This methodological tool is designed to help designers and researchers immerse themselves in authentic user experiences. The toolkit emphasizes empathy and a deep understanding of human needs as the cornerstone of every successful service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second place in Service Design went to the team of Alisa Mahat, Diksha Ashok, Karina Lang, Maria Luisa, and Noora Yasmin with their platform The Red Connect Portal. The project connects menstrual health and education in developing regions through a digital portal and community centers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third place in this category went to the team consisting of Afreen, Jeongeun Yoo, Kate Masters, Eugenia Camargo Hoyos, and Mariam Almuheiri with the project You Belong Here: A project addressing the crisis of absenteeism in UK schools. This service focuses on building an inclusive environment and fostering a sense of belonging within diverse communities. The creators presented a well-thought-out user journey that effectively uses design to address issues of social isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Media Award & Special Prize<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the main categories, other awards were also presented. The Media Award, established in 2022 and decided upon by editors of leading design media outlets, was awarded this year to Barbora Bezd\u011bkov\u00e1. This year\u2019s jury consisted of Veronika Pa\u0159\u00edzkov\u00e1 from EARCH, Michaela Banzetov\u00e1, author of books on the art world, and Jan Kudl\u00e1\u010dek from NEXUSMAG magazine. The Special Prize from the Martin and Martina R\u016f\u017ei\u010dka Foundation, meanwhile, went to the winner of the Communication Design category, Anna Luk\u00e1\u0161ov\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Refresher Art Award<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s Refresher Art Award goes to Silvia Bereck\u00e1. Her project stood out for its striking visual execution and strong concept straddling the line between design and art. Refresher magazine will support her work with media coverage in the form of an article, an Instagram carousel, and an art sculpture by Klimchi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finalists‘ Contacts<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n