aespa wins an international design award
aespa’s physical single Dirty Work has won a Red Dot Award in the product design category at the 2026 Red Dot Design Award. The competition, organized by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Germany, is considered one of the world’s leading design awards. It is often mentioned alongside the iF Design Award and the IDEA. The Red Dot distinction is given to works that prove high design quality through elements such as form, function, and innovation. This new recognition places aespa and their team among the crews whose physical releases stand out not only in music but also in design.
Dirty Work turns the group’s concept into a physical object
The winning version, called Dirty Work (Dirty Case Ver.), was recognized for turning aespa’s futuristic brand into a real object. The packaging uses blackletter typography and cross-shaped graphic details to create a clear visual style. These aesthetic choices reflect ideas of independence, unity, and determination. At the center of the design is a tin case that goes beyond standard album packaging. Instead of looking like a regular CD case, this one presents the album as a lasting object connected to the group’s image and artistic direction. This is thanks to its “artifact” appearance, making it the group’s most-praised physical edition to date.
See the winning album version below:
#에스파 #DirtyWork, 2026 레드닷 디자인 어워드 본상 수상
“#에스파 의 미래 지향적 브랜드 정체성, 물리적 오브젝트로 확장”https://t.co/AR4rQ55Q85#aespa #æspa #에스파#DirtyWork #aespaDirtyWork pic.twitter.com/ebW8Y2Fvgj— aespa (@aespa_official) April 16, 2026
The group prepares a new album for May 29, 2026
This is not the first time aespa has been congratulated for design. In 2022, the group won at the iF Design Award when their first EP, Savage (P.O.S. Ver.), was recognized in the packaging user experience category. Now, the quartet is preparing their next music release. On April 19, 2026, aespa announced their second full-length album, Lemonade, would be released on May 29, 2026. Along with the announcement, the group shared an intro video titled “aespa 에스파 ‘LEMONADE’ INTRO P.O.S: Singularity,” which showed the album title with futuristic visuals and the sound of lemonade flowing. More details about the album, including concept photos, snippets, and more trailers, are expected soon.
Watch the teaser below:
