Taobao Wins Apple Design Award, Marking First Victory for a Chinese Internet Platform

CNBC AI News – In a landmark moment for global app innovation, Apple has unveiled the winners of its prestigious 2025 Apple Design Awards (ADA). This year, the coveted accolades were bestowed upon applications developed by 12 exceptional teams hailing from across the globe, including China, the United States, Canada, and Germany, highlighting the international scope of cutting-edge app development.

This year’s awards also marked a watershed moment for Chinese developers. Notably, Taobao secured the “Interaction” award for its groundbreaking application on the Apple Vision Pro platform.

This victory represents a significant milestone; it’s the first time a Chinese internet platform has claimed top honors since the inception of the ADA. This win follows the success of the globally acclaimed game, “Genshin Impact,” furthering China’s presence on the ADA winners’ list.

In addition to Taobao, other notable winners included the language-learning app CapWords and the game “Infinity Nikki.”

Apple’s citation for Taobao lauded its “immersive experience” that offers realistic, 3D product simulations, adding that it provided an “exemplary response” to the challenges of designing and utilizing 3D elements on Apple Vision Pro.

The Apple Design Awards are an annual initiative by Apple, dedicated to honoring outstanding applications and games that excel in design and innovation.

The awards are grouped into six categories: Inclusive, Delightful, Interaction, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and Innovation. Each category recognizes one app and one game respectively.

Widely regarded as the “Oscars” of the app world, the Apple Design Awards, though not always dominating headlines, hold immense significance for industry insiders and those deeply involved in product innovation and application development.

The awards’ stature and impact within the industry are undeniable, positioning them as one of the highest honors in the design and innovation space. The winning entries consistently showcase works that push the boundaries of design and artistic expression.