United States, China, and Japan Earn Top Spots in the World Design Rankings

Written by Sponsored Post
Published on January 06, 2020

While we wait for summer 2020 and another chance to watch the medal counts climb and cheer on our home countries in the next Olympics, a different type of international contest has tallied its scores and the United States has taken the gold in the World Design Rankings, with China and Japan following for second and third place respectively. Sponsored by the international A’ Design Award and Competition, the world’s largest and most diverse design accolade, the World Design Rankings are compiled based on the number of designers from each country granted an A’ Design Award.

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Countries are ranked based on the level of each award their designers have received and given a corresponding number of points (from 2 points for each Iron Design Award up to 6 points for each Platinum Design Award). A country is not able to individually join the ranking, but is added based on participating designers’ countries or nationalities. Drilling down beyond the overall rankings, however, the World Design Rankings offer a multitude of possibilities for further discovery.

Countries are ranked for their aggregate design skill, regardless of in which category the A’ Design Award was granted. Viewers of the rankings can also see which countries are leading in any design sector and even see leading designers within that sector (from a specific country or globally). For example, the rankings can show which country has won the most awards in Graphic Design, or which Industrial Designers are the most well-recognized in Japan. Also listed for each country are “Design Strengths,” “Design Weaknesses,” and “Design Opportunities” for additional insight.

Continue reading for a selection of past A’ Design Award winners that contributed to the top three countries’ rankings.

Japan: Yukyu En Hofu City Crematorium / Shunmyo Masuno