TESLA OWNERS WON’T BE in the least surprised to learn the Tesla Model Y has been awarded a major accolade in the Australian Good Design Awards, one of the world’s longest-running international design award programs.
This year’s theme, “Design for Better”, underscores the vital role design plays in shaping a more balanced, inclusive, and sustainable world. From reimagining products and services to reshaping cities and systems, the Awards showcase how design has the power to drive positive change for people, planet, and prosperity.
Among the Winners was Tesla Model Y, recognised with a prestigious Australian Good Design Award Gold Winner accolade in the Product Design category.
Australian Good Design Award Gold Winners represent the top projects in each sub-category – these projects have gone beyond the criteria for good design, and demonstrate outstanding design quality, innovation and positive impact in their category.
Project Title: Tesla Model Y
Designed in: United States of America
Designed by: Tesla Inc.
Franz Von Holzhausen.
Lars Moravy, VP, Vehicle Engineering
Commissioned by: Tesla Inc.
The jury commented, “The Tesla Model Y, is a well thought through re-design of the biggest success story in recent automotive design. The design update is clearly all about marginal gains throughout the whole vehicle that add up to a more refined overall design and experience. Improves safely on the bestselling outgoing model, with brand alignment to the Cybertruck with its front and rear updates, and commendable updates to tech, interior and exterior. Tesla is clearly a trailblazer in the world of EVs and expedited the acceptance of electrification. The attention to detail and meticulous design in every part of this car is very evident. Incredible technology coupled with world-class design and engineering. Smart, innovative and impactful design at its very best and deserves to be Awarded the Australian Good Design Award Gold accolade. Well done to the Tesla Design Team.”
The 2025 Australian Good Design Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday 17 October, at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney, where more than 1000 distinguished guests from design, architecture, engineering, and business sectors will come together to celebrate the transformational power of good design.
At the Ceremony, Winners will receive their official Good Design Tick Trophy. Gold Winners also become contenders for the Good Design Award Best in Class accolade. The Best in Class Winners, along with recipients of the Special Accolades, the Good Design Award for Sustainability, and the Australian Good Design Award of the Year – the nation’s highest design honour, will all be announced exclusively at the Awards Ceremony.
Record-Breaking Year for Design Excellence
Rachel Wye, Managing Director of Good Design Australia, reflects on the calibre of this year’s entries, “The standard of Award Winners in this year’s Australian Good Design Awards was the highest we’ve seen, with game-changing projects that push the envelope of good design, design innovation and design impact. These Awards clearly demonstrate the transformational power of design to create a better and more sustainable future.”
She added, “The projects awarded this year show how thoughtful design can drive meaningful change – from the way we live and work to how we care for our planet. The Australian Good Design Awards are proud to recognise these world-class examples of design excellence, which not only enhance human experience, but also make a profound contribution to creating a more balanced and sustainable world.”
About the Australian Good Design Awards
The Awards recognise design excellence from around the world, across 13 Design Disciplines and more than 35 categories, spanning the built environment, product design, engineering, digital, social impact, policy design and many more categories.
Each entry undergoes a rigorous evaluation by over 80 international Jurors, assessed against three core criteria: Good Design, Design Innovation, and Design Impact.
With a proud heritage dating back to 1958, the Australian Good Design Awards remain the nation’s oldest and most prestigious international design accolade, continuing to champion the critical role of design in shaping a brighter, fairer, and more sustainable future.