Elastique. is Red Dot: Agency of the Year 2026

The independent, interdisciplinary creative agency Elastique. is Red Dot: Agency of the Year 2026. Founded in Cologne, Germany, in 2005 by Prof. Betty Schimmelpfennig and Andreas Schimmelpfennig, the agency has a proven track record in creating striking communication designs that stand out due to its clear stance, experimental approach and bold execution.

Over the years, Elastique. has developed into a creative force that lives up to its name, working with brands such as KUKA, Villeroy & Boch, Deutsche Telekom, BMW, BRABUS and Mitsubishi Electric, among many others. Across this diverse body of work, four core terms have come to define the agency’s creative approach: Simplicity. Clarity. Beauty. Fun.

Success spanning over two decades

First recognised in the Red Dot Award in 2006, the agency has since accumulated an extensive list of distinctions, with work ranging from strategic storytelling, animation and film to interactive installations and immersive environments. Constantly adapting to the circumstances of different times and needs, Elastique. has mastered the art of staying flexible in its approach yet steadfast in its conviction.

The agency has a penchant for finding the surprising and unexpected, using friction to create communication design that opens up a dialogue and leaves a lasting impression. For Professor Betty Schimmelpfennig, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Elastique., this element of friction is essential: “For me, design needs a point of friction. Something that makes you pause for a second, something you cannot simply pass by – something unseen, surprising, irritating, a twist, out of context. I am always looking for the moment where people might pause briefly or even feel a little resistance in their encounter with the work. That small interruption can create a much deeper emotional connection to an idea, an image or a subject.”

The creatives at Elastique. are driven by their desire to experiment with ideas and delve deeply into the brands they work with until they find new and often unexpected angles. As Sarah Jennen, Executive Creative Director at Elastique., puts it: “I am interested in the moment when a brand stops behaving exactly as expected. You do not need to dismiss what is already there, but you do need to loosen the rules long enough to see what else might be possible.”

A culture built on openness and structure

Creativity at Elastique. is built on a culture of mutual trust and respect and on the conviction that openness needs structure. To give creativity free rein, Elastique. takes care to ensure there is a clear framework. “Exceptional creativity needs a precise system of processes and project organisation beneath it. When routines are clear, the creative team is not constantly occupied with operational questions. That creates the freedom to think openly, knowing that a strong team can assess the consequences and implications of an idea at any point,” says Andreas Schimmelpfennig, CEO/CCO at Elastique.

Within the leadership team, Elastique. is viewed as a platform: the creative individuals at the agency influence its growth and transformation. The same spirit shapes the way the team works together, as Andreas Schimmelpfennig explains: “Sarah, Betty and I, together with our strategic and operational lead team and partners around Jutta [Kress, CFO], Christin [Kolaßa, CPO] and Kerstin [Kohle, COO], try to bring this culture of constructive criticism and discourse into the whole team. It needs to be lived in every role at Elastique. Only then, we believe, can complex communication tasks be addressed in genuinely unusual ways.”

Looking ahead, one thing is clear: Elastique. will continue to surprise with experiences that are defined by clarity, complexity and courage. “We still feel there is, hopefully, a long path ahead, with more exciting subjects to explore and even more ambitious work to make. The recognition is both an incentive and a great joy: a reminder that we are allowed to take part in this conversation, and to keep contributing to it,” says Andreas Schimmelpfennig.

Congratulations from Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of Red Dot

“Elastique. stands for design that transcends disciplinary boundaries and opens up new perspectives on brands. The combination of conceptual clarity, a willingness to experiment with design and technological curiosity is what makes their work so special. This gives rise to experiences that surprise people, appeal to them on an emotional level and leave a lasting impression. With the honorary title ‘Red Dot: Agency of the Year 2026’, we are recognising this outstanding creative approach and the courage to continually explore new possibilities in brand communication. I would like to warmly congratulate the entire team at Elastique. on this success!”

Red Dot: Agency of the Year – Hall of Fame

The honorary title “Red Dot: Agency of the Year” is the highest distinction in the Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design and has been awarded since 2008 to agencies whose visionary work has made a lasting impression on the field of communication design. Red Dot is proud to honour these agencies, which are shaping the industry and inspiring creatives around the world.

2026 Elastique.

2025 Accenture Song

2024 PepsiCo Design and Innovation

2023 CLEVER°FRANKE

2022 MetaDesign

2021 denkwerk

2020 Interbrand

2019 KW43 Branddesign by Grey Germany

2018 Banda Agency

2017 thjnk

2016 Serviceplan

2015 Leo Burnett Deutschland

2014 Scholz & Friends

2013 MUTABOR

2012 601BISANG

2011 Beetroot

2010 BBDO

2009 KMS TEAM

2008 Strichpunkt

The Red Dot Design Award is one of the most prestigious design competitions worldwide. Participants can submit entries in three disciplines: products, brands and communication projects, as well as prototypes and design concepts. Each year, a jury convenes for each award category to individually assess the submissions and subsequently decide on the awarding of distinctions.

The Red Dot Design Award has a 70-year history: in 1955, a jury convened for the first time to evaluate the best designs of that era. In the 1990s, Red Dot CEO Professor Dr. Peter Zec developed the name and brand of the award.