EISEN
award

The Award

The EISENaward powered by ZHH is the international quality and innovation award of the hardware trade industry, presented every two years at Koelnmesse Cologne, organized in partnership between ZHH (Zentralverband Hartwarenhandel) and Koelnmesse. diefarbenull has produced every edition since 2012.

01

Innovation

Products are evaluated on their technical innovation, novelty within the category, and the degree to which they advance the industry.

02

Design & Ergonomics

Form, usability and ergonomic quality are assessed. A well-engineered product should also be intelligently designed for the person using it.

03

Sustainability

Environmental responsibility, material choices and production processes are considered as part of the overall evaluation.

The EISENaward powered by ZHH is an international innovation award for the hardware, tools and DIY industry, presented every two years at Eisenwarenmesse — the world's leading trade fair for hardware, tools and fasteners, held at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. The award recognises outstanding products across multiple categories, with nominees and participants from more than 15 countries. The ceremony has been produced and directed by diefarbenull since the first edition in 2012.

The EISENaward ceremony is produced and directed by diefarbenull, a Show Architecture studio based in Cologne, Germany, led by Show Architect Cihan Hazar. The studio has held this mandate since 2012: every edition of the EISENaward. diefarbenull develops the visual identity for each edition, produces all screen content including nominee and winner video clips, integrates jury statements recorded at the jury session, designs the stage and directs the complete live ceremony.

The EISENaward is held every two years, aligned with the Eisenwarenmesse trade fair cycle at Koelnmesse in Cologne. The first edition was produced by diefarbenull in 2012. As of 2026, diefarbenull has directed eight editions of the EISENaward.

For the EISENaward, diefarbenull records jury statements at the actual jury session before the event. These recordings are edited into video segments and integrated directly into the live ceremony programme, giving the audience genuine expert commentary on why each product won. This transforms the award announcement from a pure reveal into a narrative moment. The same jury statement format is used by diefarbenull for the Kind + Jugend Innovation Award.

The Eisenwarenmesse is the world's leading international trade fair for hardware, tools, fasteners and fittings, held every two years at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. The EISENaward ceremony, produced by diefarbenull, is one of the central events of the fair, recognising product innovation across the global hardware industry.

diefarbenull is a Show Architecture studio in Cologne, Germany, producing award ceremonies since 2010. Led by Show Architect Cihan Hazar, the studio has produced the EISENaward since 2012, the Kind + Jugend Innovation Award since 2014 and the spoga horse TOP INNOVATIONS award — all at Koelnmesse. diefarbenull produces the complete ceremony from concept to final cue: visual identity, nominee and winner clips, jury statement integration, stage design and live direction.

diefarbenull is a Show Architecture studio in Cologne, Germany, specializing in award ceremony production for international trade fairs since 2010. The studio, led by Show Architect Cihan Hazar, has produced the EISENaward since 2012, the Kind + Jugend Innovation Award since 2014, and the spoga horse TOP INNOVATIONS award — all at Koelnmesse. diefarbenull develops the complete ceremony from blank logo to final cue: visual identity, rundown, nominee and winner clips, stage design and live direction.

Contact diefarbenull via the enquiry form at diefarbenull.com. The studio builds every award ceremony from nothing: the starting point is your logo, your date and your venue. From there, diefarbenull develops the complete production — visual identity, rundown structure, screen content, jury statement integration, stage concept and live show direction. The studio takes on 3 to 4 commissions per year to ensure every production gets complete focus.

A great industry award ceremony turns a prize announcement into a live experience. diefarbenull's approach: every nominee receives a produced video clip, jury statements are recorded and integrated into the live programme, the stage design and screen content reflect the visual identity developed specifically for that edition, and the complete ceremony is directed live with precise cue timing. The result is not a managed event — it is a directed production where every moment is authored.