History

Founded in 1995, the non-profit organisation Design Luxembourg brings together design companies and freelancers. Its mission is to serve as a platform for promoting, supporting and fostering dialogue within the sector, both nationally and internationally. A key milestone was its membership, in 2003, of BEDA (the Bureau of European Design Associations), playing a vital role in liaising between EU design associations and the authorities.

In the early 2000s, Design Luxembourg published “Follow Me”, a guide aimed at combating abuses in design competitions. The aim was to provide advice and a model set of terms and conditions for businesses. In a 2007 interview with Paperjam, Tom Gloesener emphasised the importance of raising awareness amongst companies and young designers, actively engaging with schools and universities to protect them from harmful practices.

Since 2015, Design Luxembourg has been organising the Luxembourg Design Awards every two years – an awards ceremony judged by an international jury that showcases excellence in local design. In 2023, the Luxembourg Design Awards were expanded to include an exhibition at Les Rotondes, offering the winners a unique opportunity to showcase their creations to the public.

In 2023, Design Luxembourg organised the European Design Festival, bringing together a wide variety of players from the European design scene over the course of a few days. More than 30 events took place, supported by numerous partners and featuring strong international participation. This momentum has acted as a catalyst: we have come to realise design’s ability to bring together people from very different backgrounds and to foster dialogue.

In Luxembourg, this festival has boosted Design Luxembourg’s profile and raised awareness amongst policy-makers of the challenges faced by designers, contributing in particular to the creation of the City of Luxembourg’s Design Hub.

Buoyed by this momentum, the association envisaged a national event dedicated to design. Despite the richness and diversity of Luxembourg’s creative scene, the sector still lacks visibility. There is a need for a unifying framework to showcase design practices, foster cross-disciplinary exchanges and raise public awareness of design.

And so the Luxembourg Design Festival was born.

Despite its successes, the communications and design sector in Luxembourg faces significant challenges, as highlighted in an open letter published in October 2023 by Design Luxembourg and Markcom. This crisis, which has received little media attention but is a cause for concern, is characterised by questionable practices such as unpaid competitions and short-term partnerships. Local agencies are suffering financial and staff losses, whilst being sidelined in favour of foreign agencies is a major concern.

Furthermore, rapid technological change requires substantial investment, yet this is not always reflected in service fees. To overcome this crisis, widespread awareness and changes in practice – such as the regulation of competitions, fair remuneration and transparent collaboration – are essential to ensure the sector’s survival and prosperity.

The first edition of the Luxembourg Design Festival took place in November 2025. Conceived as an open platform, the Festival offers a programme spanning several days that combines exhibitions, talks, workshops and networking opportunities, whilst also incorporating the Luxembourg Design Awards.

The Festival is aimed at a diverse range of audiences. For designers, it serves as a showcase and a networking opportunity. For students, it offers a hands-on immersion in the professional realities of the sector. Businesses find it a forum for dialogue with the creative world, whilst the general public is invited to discover design through accessible and participatory formats.

In the face of current challenges, Design Luxembourg is returning to its roots by reconnecting with its original mission. The noble mission of defending the interests of all those involved in design remains more relevant than ever. Despite the current crisis, the commitment to supporting the design community, promoting excellence and working towards a prosperous future for design remains steadfast. Solidarity and resilience are the pillars upon which Design Luxembourg is building its path towards a stronger and more collaborative future.