- Kia PV5 wins coveted iF Design Award Gold for Automotive Product Design, adding to long list of accolades for Kia’s first PBV
- Kia wins awards across Product Design, Branding & Comm Design, Concept, and User Interface categories
- Panel of 129 leading international design and sustainability experts consider over 10,000 submissions to determine award winners
- Latest accolades take brand’s total iF Design Award wins to 46 since 2010
The Kia PV5 has been awarded the coveted iF Design Award Gold at the 2026 iF Design Awards, recognizing the vehicle’s industry-leading automotive product design.
The Gold award for Kia’s first PBV model leads a total of nine iF Design Award accolades earned by Kia this year, underscoring the brand’s continued commitment to design excellence and innovation across its portfolio.
Which Kia products were recognized at the 2026 iF Design Awards?
- Product Design
Kia PV5 – The Kia PV5 won a prestigious iF Design Award Gold in the Automotive Product Design category, with judges highlighting its “unmatched flexibility and customizability”, “human-centered interior architecture,” and “cohesive, confident and unmistakably future-ready” design.
Kia EV4/EV4 Hatchback – The Kia EV4 and EV4 Hatchback won an iF Design Award in the Automotive Product Design category. A symbol of innovation, the Kia EV4 is a new typology of sedan featuring a low nose and dynamic long tail silhouette combined with a clean, calm and spacious interior.
- Branding & Comm Design
Kia AI Assistant – The Kia AI Assistant was awarded for App/Software Design. Inspired by the concept of “Life in Motion,” the design draws cues from the Kia logo while incorporating 3D motion principles to create depth and presence across various elements, such as the in-vehicle voice assistant and chatbots, visually conveying Kia’s mission to inspire every movement. Unlike typical flat and static AI interfaces, Kia AI Assistant appears as a lifelike, interactive entity fostering intuitive, natural interactions that reflect Kia’s brand philosophy.
Kia PV5 Story (Kia x Playmobil Campaign) – Also in the Branding category, the Kia x Playmobile integrated campaign earned plaudits by turning innovation into relatable human stories. The collaboration during the Seoul Mobility Show 2025 saw the companies partner to create four personas tied to real PV5 use cases—urban delivery, accessible taxi, mobile office, and community hub—making the next-generation PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) tangible across film, exhibition, digital, and merchandise.
Kia PV5 Adventure – Presented at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show, the Kia x Playmobil Campaign enjoyed further success in the Film/Video category thanks to its Kia PV5 Adventure 3D computer animation. Blending childlike wonder with corporate vision, the film extended the on-site ‘PV5 Town’ theme to make a complex tech concept more accessible to audiences.
- Concept
Kia Concept EV2 – A winner in the Product Concepts category, the Kia Concept EV2 is inspired by the idea of a ‘picnic in the city’, resulting in a compact and nimble SUV that expresses a character of new adventure. Unlocking the possibilities of an active, urban lifestyle, the Kia concept EV2 features a spacious cabin and extensive range of modular accessories.
Kia PV5 WKNDR – A “Swiss Army Knife on wheels”, the Kia PV5 WKNDR explores the potential for a rugged electric adventure van that features a high level of functionality. A winner in the Product Concepts category, it is designed to enable the expression of an adventurous lifestyle, whatever that may be.
- User Interface
Kia PV5 Infotainment System – The Kia PV5 Infotainment System is the digital centerpiece of Kia’s next‑generation PBV ecosystem, designed to unify commercial utility with lifestyle‑oriented mobility. Rather than functioning as a traditional in‑vehicle UI, it acts as the operating system of the PV5 platform—connecting drivers, passengers, and business services through a cohesive visual and interaction language. With interface architecture built to adapt fluidly across diverse mobility roles such as taxi, cargo, delivery, and leisure use, it transforms the vehicle into a software‑defined, role‑responsive environment that bridges professional and personal life.
What have Kia representatives said about the brand’s 2026 iF Design Award wins?
“Kia’s continued success at the iF Design Awards is testament to the brand’s ongoing commitment to using innovative design to create products that make a positive difference to our users' lives." said Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design, "Winning an unprecedented nine awards across such a broad range of categories affirms our approach and motivates us to continue placing future-forward design at the center of our everything we do.”
What are the iF Design Awards?
The iF Design Awards are among the world’s most coveted prizes for creative excellence. Adjudicated by an independent panel of 129 leading international design and sustainability experts, over 10,000 submissions from 68 countries are considered each year to identify those which dare to challenge conventions, rethink systems and elevate everyday experiences into meaningful impacts.
An iF Design Award Gold represents a further level of recognition still, with the number of gold awards strictly limited each year. Winners must display an exceptional level of innovation and excellence, often pointing the way towards future design trends.
What iF Design Awards has Kia won previously?
Kia has won multiple iF Design Awards in recent years, having claimed a total of 46 since 2010 following this year’s success.
The brand’s most recent victories came in 2025, with four awards recognizing the Kia EV3, Kia Mobile App and CES booth design and CES concept film.
