Apple Announces 2025 Design Awards Winners

Apple Announces 2025 Design Award Winners

Prior to the commencement of its 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple has revealed the recipients and finalists of its 2025 Design Awards, recognizing excellence in app design.

Focus on Indie Developers and a Notable Absence

The majority of this year’s honorees consist of independent applications and emerging startups. Interestingly, applications heavily reliant on generative AI are conspicuously absent from the list. This marks the second consecutive year that Apple has chosen not to feature AI-focused apps among its award winners.

AI Features Acknowledged, But Not Prioritized

Despite the overall trend, Apple did acknowledge several applications incorporating AI functionalities. Speechify, a winner in the Inclusivity category, and Moises, a music creation and editing application, were specifically highlighted; both are backed by venture capital.

Emphasis on Developer Tool Utilization

Apple’s primary focus appears to be on how developers have effectively leveraged its tools to create enhanced user experiences.

Award Categories and Winners

Twelve winners were selected – one application and one game per category – spanning six distinct areas: Delight and Fun, Innovation, Interaction, Inclusivity, Social Impact, and Visuals and Graphics. The list of finalists also showcased a significant number of apps and games originating from smaller development teams globally.

Notable Winning Applications

Watch Duty, an application instrumental in disseminating information during the California wildfires, received the award within the Social Impact category. Furthermore, Play, a developer prototyping tool supported by M13, was recognized as the best application in the Innovation category.

Complete List of 2025 Design Award Winners

Here is a comprehensive listing of the winning applications and games:

Delight and Fun

• CapWords
• Balatro

Inclusivity

• Speechify
• Art of Fauna

Innovation

• Play
• PBJ — The Musical

Interaction

• Taobao
• DREDGE

Social Impact

• Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps
• Neva

Visuals and Graphics

• Feather: Draw in 3D
• Infinity Nikki