A single red line loops and curves smoothly on a light gray background, forming a large loop near the center before continuing off the right edge.
A man with glasses and a light-colored shirt holds a framed Red Dot Award certificate in his hand while standing in front of a backdrop with the Red Dot Award 2023 logo.

Photo: © Red Dot Award Ceremony

  • Eine einfache rote Sternform mit ungleichmäßigen, handgezeichneten Linien auf weißem Hintergrund. Creatives

Philip Reitsperger wins the Red Dot Design Award with his Identitylab

Everyone in the design world has certainly come across the Red Dot Design Award, but only a few can call themselves winners. Philip Reitsperger, founder of Identitylab, has brought one of the most prestigious prizes for design to Vienna with his website.

The Identitylab: A creative journey to exciting stories

The Identitylab is the impressive result of an extraordinary interplay between two of Philip Reitsperger’s educational paths: communication design and innovation management. Philip, the creator behind the Identitylab, has made it his mission not only to tell and show captivating stories, but also to seek them out and create them.

For Reitsperger, visual design has always been a search for deeper content rather than just focusing on form. Because only when content, narrative tempo and space are in harmony does a story gain meaning and can connect with others. It creates resonance.

This unique approach resulted in the simple and clearly structured design of the identitylab.at website. You could describe it as a controlled growth process. Reitsperger did not try to invent something, but let it emerge organically from itself. A single thought led to an animation, which in turn led to a story, from which a new thought emerged – and the result is the fascinating Identitylab website.

A display table with various open books and magazines featuring graphic design and illustrations, set in a bright room with artwork and posters on the wall above the table.
Photo: © Philip Reitsperger

Unique ways: Identity Lab and their unconventional way of working

Philip Reitsperger has brought a breath of fresh air to the often standardized design industry with his Identitylab. He is firmly convinced that with Identitylab he is even closer to clients and projects than other agencies. He emphasizes the close collaboration with clients, which is at the heart of his work. Instead of relying on external staff, the Identitylab team consists of a mix of in-house and external experts who are brought in for each project. This agile structure enables them to deliver projects at the highest level.

Their unconventional way of working also enables them to look at projects from a completely new angle and develop innovative solutions. They are not people of the norm, but pioneers of design who fulfill every customer request with passion and commitment. Philip and his team have proven that it pays to go your own way and follow your own vision.

“For me, the award is confirmation that the path I’ve taken so far has been the right one… once you’ve won something like this… then you can do something new. The next award won’t be so important and it’s very nice to start with the Red Dot.”

A desktop computer screen displays a dark-themed website featuring navigation menus, a grayscale portrait, the Adidas logo, a Black Lives Matter graphic, and a circular image of a plant on a white background.
Photo: © Philip Reitsperger
Three smartphones display different screens: the left shows a design companys website in German with abstract graphics, the center shows product images and a logo, and the right features colorful 3D art with German text about clear brand identity.
Photo: © Philip Reitsperger

One of the world’s biggest design awards

The Red Dot Design Award is one of the most prestigious design competitions in the world. It was launched in 1955 and has been awarded by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen ever since. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in various design categories, including product design, communication design and design concepts.

“This award for us – it really shouldn’t have happened like this – because our studio doesn’t work like a conventional agency. We work in flexible teams that are put together depending on the project context. The fact that our approach and way of working is now seen as relevant in the context of international competition is a special distinction for us,” says Philip Reitsperger.

The website is the centerpiece of Identitylab’s digital presence and the studio’s calling card. It not only shows all of Identitylab’s work, but also its thoughts and approach. Created with a clear vision and philosophy on content, design and technical realization:

Philip Reitsperger (concept, creative direction, editorial work, web design, photography, programming, animation),

Gregor Kleczkowski (film production) and

Lawrence Blankenbyl (Animation)

were involved in the final product and were therefore able to win the Red Dot Design Award.

Congratulations to the Identitylab team for this outstanding achievement!

Black and white photo of a modern office with two people working at desks, computers, and office equipment. One person sits facing a screen; another stands blurred in motion. Large windows and wooden parquet floor visible.
Photo: © Philip Reitsperger
Black and white photo of tall brick buildings with many windows and a metal fire escape zigzagging up the side. Sunlight casts shadows, highlighting the building’s texture and architectural details.
A black skateboard with white wheels leans against a white wall beside a metal stool with a colorful geometric-patterned blanket draped over it. The scene is brightly lit and minimalistic.
A weathered, retro motel sign with large block letters and an old TV antenna on top stands against a blue sky with wispy clouds.
A grassy trail leads up a sunlit green mountain slope, with rocky peaks and scattered shrubs under a cloudy sky. Shadows and sunlight create contrast across the rolling landscape.
Close-up of vibrant orange flowers with yellow centers and long stamens, softly lit with a warm, gentle glow. The background is blurred, highlighting the delicate petals and natural beauty of the blooms.
A man stands and speaks to a group of people seated on couches and chairs in a modern office space, with a presentation displayed on a large screen beside him.
A collage of four images: a woman working at a desk with painting utensils and paintings, two people in an alley covered in graffiti, a woman typing on a laptop and a man operating a 3D printer in an office.
Four women in business attire pose together outdoors around a white metal table, smiling at the camera. Trees and greenery are visible in the background. One woman sits with a blue tablet on the table.
A person sketches in a spiral notebook at a cluttered desk, surrounded by markers, pens, paint jars, books, a cookie, a teacup, art tools, and a tipped-over glass jar. The person wears a maroon shirt with an abstract design.
A person sketches in a spiral notebook at a cluttered desk, surrounded by markers, pens, paint jars, books, a cookie, a teacup, art tools, and a tipped-over glass jar. The person wears a maroon shirt with an abstract design.
Black and white photo of tall brick buildings with many windows and a metal fire escape zigzagging up the side. Sunlight casts shadows, highlighting the building’s texture and architectural details.
A black skateboard with white wheels leans against a white wall beside a metal stool with a colorful geometric-patterned blanket draped over it. The scene is brightly lit and minimalistic.
A grassy trail leads up a sunlit green mountain slope, with rocky peaks and scattered shrubs under a cloudy sky. Shadows and sunlight create contrast across the rolling landscape.
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