The Cologne thumper

With the «Cologne thumper» students of the Köln International School of Design award the world’s best designer. With this prize they appreciate outstanding individuals or groups, who have made themselves earning this title through innovative design.

A special kind of design award

Every year the students of the Köln International School of Design suggest designers for the Cologne thumper in the audience in front of all students. Subsequently after the presentation the students elect secretly the winner of the award. The Cologne thumper is world wide the only design prize which is awarded only by students.

The only condition is that laureate has to appear in person to the award show. The stylized rabbit figure made of gilded silicon (design: Sandra Maßelter) refers back with a standing out similarity to its birthplace – the Cologne cathedral.

Former laureates

2009: Ingo Maurer | 2008: Stefan Sagmeister | Cologne Thumper 2005: Heinz Bähr | 2002: James Auger | 2001: John Maeda | 2000: Motoko Ishii | 1999: Anna Castelli Ferrieri | 1998: Droog Design | 1997: Prof. Axel Kufus | 1996: Erik Spiekermann