Just days ahead of its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2025, Apple announced the winners of its highly coveted 2025 Design Awards. This year, the company recognized a total of twelve outstanding apps and games spanning six distinct categories.
Significantly, this year’s selection focused almost exclusively on independent apps and startups, noticeably steering clear of the generative AI applications that have increasingly dominated tech headlines. This is the second consecutive year that Apple’s prestigious awards have bypassed explicitly AI-centric apps, although several winners and finalists incorporate AI-driven features into their experiences.
Among these AI-enhanced winners is Speechify, which took top honors in the Inclusivity category for its innovative use of text-to-speech technology, making everyday experiences more accessible. Apple praised the app’s positive impact, describing Speechify not simply as a powerful technological tool but as an essential resource “that helps people live their lives.” Also featured prominently was Moises, an app designed for editing and creating music, celebrated for its intuitive use of AI features.
In the Social Impact category, Watch Duty, an app instrumental in distributing critical information during California’s wildfire season, received accolades for its community-driven approach and practical value. In the Innovation category, the app Play, supported by M13, secured recognition as an outstanding prototyping tool, empowering developers and designers to create interactive product experiences seamlessly and quickly.
Apple’s awards spotlighted developers who leveraged its platform and technologies creatively to deliver exceptional user experiences. Beyond the award-winning innovations, Apple highlighted a strong presence from small developers and independent creators across the globe in the broader lineup of finalists.
Here is the complete list of the Apple Design Awards 2025 winners by category:
Delight and Fun:
– App: Capwords
– Game: Balatro
Inclusivity:
– App: Speechify
– Game: Art of Fauna
Innovation:
– App: Play
– Game: PBJ — The Musical
Interaction:
– App: Taobao
– Game: DREDGE
Social Impact:
– App: Watch Duty: Wildfire Maps
– Game: Neva
Visuals and Graphics:
– App: Feather: Draw in 3D
– Game: Infinity Nikki
