Just days before WWDC 2025, Apple has officially announced the winners and finalists of its 2025 Design Awards. This year’s spotlight is on creative indie apps and startups, many of which stand out for their thoughtful use of Apple’s developer tools.
Interestingly, Apple once again skipped over the rising wave of generative AI apps, marking the second year in a row that AI-focused platforms didn’t take center stage. However, apps that include AI-powered features did receive recognition. For example, Speechify, which uses AI to turn text into speech, won under the Inclusivity category. Moises, a music editing app with AI tools, also gained attention.
Apple emphasized apps that offer polished design, great interaction, and purpose-driven features. A total of 12 winners were selected — with one app and one game chosen for each of the six categories: Delight and Fun, Innovation, Interaction, Inclusivity, Social Impact, and one other.
Among the notable winners, Watch Duty earned praise in the Social Impact category for helping California residents stay informed during wildfires. In the Innovation category, Play — a tool for building interactive app prototypes — stood out and received top recognition.
Finalists from across the globe were also recognized, especially from smaller developers who used Apple’s ecosystem to build unique user experiences. Apple continues to value creativity, user-first design, and meaningful impact over trending tech like AI alone.
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