iF Design Foundation
iF Design Foundation is a German nonprofit educational foundation that produces free research publications, digital tools, and workshops to advance design education, serving universities, design educators, design students, and museums worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersHanover, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What iF Design Foundation does
iF Design Foundation is a German nonprofit educational foundation (rechtsfähige Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) registered in Hannover under number 59509, established in 2018 by iF International Forum Design GmbH to advance scientific research and education in design for the public good (Gemeinwohl). The foundation's core project, "Designing Design Education," is a multi-year research initiative that produced the foundational Weißbuch zur Zukunft der Designlehre (Whitebook) in 2021 based on five years of research with over 250 experts from 25 countries, and continues to publish practitioner-oriented outputs including the 75 Impulse playbook and 23 Essays collection in 2025.
The foundation's product portfolio consists of free research publications (PDF downloads), one digital tool (the Studiengangsfinder design-program finder for German students), and a series of in-person events including four international hearings (2019-2020 in Germany, USA, Japan, and South Africa) and the three-year Open Campus joint program with Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum in Munich (2022-2025). It also offers a physical book edition of the Weißbuch for €49. The foundation does not sell technology products; its outputs are research, curriculum resources, and convening platforms.
The foundation is funded institutionally and operates without disclosed commercial revenue. It is governed by a board chaired by Christoph Böninger, with Fritz Frenkler as Vice Chairman and additional members including Prof. Dr. René Spitz (appointed 2021), Annette Diefenthaler (former IDEO Senior Portfolio Director, appointed 2021), and Karenina Schröder (appointed January 2025). Its primary customer segments are design educators and universities, design students, and design museums/cultural institutions, all served through free distribution channels including the foundation's website, free PDF downloads, and event participation.
iF Design Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- iF Design Foundation
- Legal name
- iF Design Foundation
- Website
- https://if-designfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- iF Design Foundation is a German nonprofit educational foundation that produces free research publications, digital tools, and workshops to advance design education, serving universities, design educators, design students, and museums worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
iF Design Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Design Education Research
- NAICS
- Other Specialized Design Services (54149)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)
Keywords
Where iF Design Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hanover
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
iF Design Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Funding: The iF Design Foundation is a nonprofit civil law foundation (rechtsfähige Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) established by iF International Forum Design GmbH. As a charitable foundation dedicated to scientific research and education for the public good, it operates primarily through institutional funding and grants rather than commercial revenue generation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time/ perpetual license | Free educational resources |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
iF Design Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
iF Design Foundation is a nonprofit educational foundation that conducts scientific research and develops publications, curriculum frameworks, and educational programs dedicated to advancing design education. Its core deliverables include the foundational Weißbuch publication, practical playbook and essay collections, a digital Studiengangsfinder tool for prospective design students, and joint campus events with partner institutions. All resources are provided free of charge to support the common good (Gemeinwohl) through evidence-based design pedagogy transformation.
Product overview
iF Design Foundation is an educational foundation focused on scientific research and education in design. Its product portfolio consists of research publications, digital tools, and educational programs rather than commercial software products. The core offering is the "Designing Design Education" initiative, comprising the foundational Weißbuch (Whitebook) published in 2021, the 2025 publications "75 Impulse" (playbook) and "23 Essays," and the ongoing Open Campus joint program with Die Neue Sammlung (2022-2025). Supporting offerings include the Public Value study series examining German design programs, the Studiengangsfinder digital tool for prospective students, and the Hearings event series (2019-2020) that informed the research. The foundation's work focuses on transforming design education through research-based publications and practical workshops rather than technology products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Designing Design Education – Weißbuch zur Zukunft der Designlehre (Whitebook) The foundational research publication documenting five years of scientific research on the future of design education, based on interdisciplinary exchange with over 250 experts from 25 countries. Includes forewords by Ursula von der Leyen and Dieter Rams, and is intended for design educators, curriculum designers, university leadership, and policy makers.
- Designing Design Education, Bd. 2: 75 Impulse (Playbook) A practical playbook containing 75 actionable impulses and activities for design education, developed collaboratively by design educators in workshops and includes videos of impulse lectures across six thematic areas (Learning Sciences, Personal Growth, AI, Leadership, Innovation, and Creativity). Targeted at design educators and curriculum developers.
- Designing Design Education: 23 Essays A collection of theoretical foundations and practical suggestions for design education featuring essays from international experts, companion to the 75 Impulse playbook. Targeted at design educators, researchers, and academic leaders.
- Public Value und Designstudium 2025 Research study examining the contribution of German design programs to public value, investigating for the second time how design studies contribute to public good. Intended for design educators, policy makers, and higher education leadership.
- Studiengangsfinder (Design Study Finder) Online searchable directory of design study programs in Germany, helping prospective students identify suitable design education options. Free digital tool accessible via the foundation's website.
- Open Campus / Designing Design Education Joint Program Three-year joint educational program (2022-2025) between iF Design Foundation and Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum in Munich, developing and discussing prototypes for forward-looking design education through workshops and symposia. Targeted at design educators, design students, and the broader public interested in design pedagogy.
Quantifiable outcome
- Whitebook downloaded thousands of times after initial print run sold out in less than 10 months
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use iF Design Foundation
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
iF Design Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
iF Design Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Die Neue Sammlung – The Design MuseumcoreThree-year joint campus project (2023-2025) to develop and discuss prototypes for forward-looking design education. The Neue Sammlung serves as a public campus for workshops and educational events, while the foundation provides research-based content and curriculum development.
- Greenside Design CentercorePartnership for the fourth international hearing held in Johannesburg, South Africa, focusing on the relationship of design to community and indigenous knowledge.
- Kyoto Institute of TechnologycorePartnership for the third international hearing on design education held in Kyoto, Japan. The hearing addressed design practice as aesthetic expression and the relationship between design and cultural tradition.
- ArtCenter College of DesigncorePartnership for the second international hearing on the future of design education held in Pasadena, USA. The hearing focused on structure and organization of design education with participants from the US and Europe.
- iF International Forum Design GmbHcoreParent organization that established the iF Design Foundation as a civil law foundation dedicated to scientific research and education in design. The foundation operates as the educational and research arm of the iF design awards organization.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
iF Design Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
iF Design Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceiF Design Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
iF Design Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
iF Design Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
iF Design Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about iF Design Foundation
What does iF Design Foundation do?
iF Design Foundation is a nonprofit educational foundation that conducts scientific research and develops publications, curriculum frameworks, and educational programs dedicated to advancing design education. Its core deliverables include the foundational Weißbuch publication, practical playbook and essay collections, a digital Studiengangsfinder tool for prospective design students, and joint campus events with partner institutions. All resources are provided free of charge to support the common good (Gemeinwohl) through evidence-based design pedagogy transformation.
Is iF Design Foundation a public or private company?
iF Design Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was iF Design Foundation founded?
iF Design Foundation was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is iF Design Foundation based?
iF Design Foundation is headquartered in Hanover, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does iF Design Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation Funding.
Does iF Design Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for iF Design Foundation.
What industry is iF Design Foundation in?
iF Design Foundation's product category is Design Education Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAI, Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 54149 and its SIC code is 8700.