Kumho Tire has added another international design accolade to its growing list of achievements, winning a Bronze Award at the 2026 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) for its future-oriented modular tire concept, ‘Omni Ring.’
The company announced on Sept. 1 that Omni Ring was recognized in the ‘Concepts & Speculative Design’ category at this year’s IDEA awards.
Organized by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), IDEA is regarded as one of the world’s three major design awards alongside Germany’s iF Design Award and Red Dot Design Award. Entries are evaluated not only on visual appeal but also on design innovation, user benefits and potential social impact.
Omni Ring was developed as a modular tire concept designed for future mobility systems. Its key feature is multidirectional movement, allowing mobility platforms to move in various directions rather than being limited to conventional forward and backward motion.
The concept also incorporates different tread patterns designed to optimize performance according to driving conditions and intended use. The number of tires can be adjusted depending on the size and configuration of the mobility platform, giving the system greater flexibility in application.
The IDEA recognition follows awards received earlier this year. Kumho Tire’s Omni Ring won awards at both the iF Design Award and Red Dot Design Award, meaning the company has now secured recognition for the same concept at all three major global design awards.
The latest achievement also marks Kumho Tire’s second consecutive year of winning honors across the world’s three major design competitions. The company said the results demonstrate its ability to combine tire technology with innovative design concepts tailored to emerging mobility environments.
Kumho Tire has been expanding its design and research capabilities in preparation for changes in the mobility industry. Rather than focusing solely on improving conventional tire performance, the company is exploring new product concepts designed around the evolving forms and functions of future mobility.
Kim Young-jin, executive vice president and head of Kumho Tire’s R&D Division, said the IDEA award recognizes the company’s efforts to anticipate changes in future mobility and translate those ideas into innovative design.
“We will continue developing products and designs that reflect changing mobility environments and customer needs, while strengthening our global brand competitiveness,” he said.
In addition to IDEA, Kumho Tire has received recognition at major international design competitions including the German Design Award, iF Design Award and Red Dot Design Award. The company plans to continue investing in design innovation and future mobility concepts to strengthen its position in the global tire market.
