Brussels Metro Digital Totems Win Red Dot Design Award
Brussels’ public transport operator STIB/MIVB has been awarded a Red Dot Award for Product Design 2026 for its new digital information totems installed at metro station entrances, the company announced on Wednesday. The prestigious international design prize recognizes the redesign of the network’s iconic station signage and its successful integration into the urban environment, according to RTBF.
A total of 130 digital totems have been deployed across all 69 metro and pre-metro stations in Brussels over the past two years, as The Brussels Times reported. The project was delivered by Bauer Outdoor Media in partnership with the Belgian design agency Yellow Window, which previously designed STIB’s award-winning M7 metro trains and Tram New Generation (TNG).
Design: Where Art Nouveau Meets Modern Technology
The totems retain the iconic “M” logo created by Jean-Paul Emonds-Alt in 1976, which has been a defining symbol of Brussels public transport for decades. While the original “M” was set within a simple rounded rectangle, the new design places it on an irregular blue surface — described by STIB as “a nod to the natural forms associated with Art Nouveau.”
This Art Nouveau reference is consistent with the design language used in STIB’s newer trams and metro trains, creating visual coherence across the entire network. The Red Dot jury praised the approach, stating: “Art Nouveau meets modern technology: the Brussels Metro guidance system successfully combines cultural heritage with current mobility needs.”
The official Red Dot project page highlights that the system includes two types of interactive totems and a pole that integrate advertising, signage, and mobility services.
Functionality and Features
Below the real-time waiting time display, each totem features two integrated screens:
- A mobility screen: An interactive touchscreen with a journey planner, street map, and timetables for STIB and other transport operators, including shared mobility services such as e-scooters and bike-sharing.
- An advertising screen: Used for STIB campaigns and third-party advertising.
All content is managed remotely by Bauer Outdoor Media. The totems also incorporate sustainability features including smart energy use, recycled steel construction, corrosion resistance, and modular components for easy maintenance and upgrades.
A Growing Design Legacy
This marks STIB’s third Red Dot Award in four years. The organization previously won in 2023 for the M7 metro trains and the TNG trams — both also designed by Yellow Window. This consistent recognition establishes STIB as a leader in transport design and validates its strategy of investing in design as a key element of its brand identity.
The award ceremony took place on July 7, 2026, at the Aalto Theatre in Essen, Germany, home of the Red Dot Design Award. The competition is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious design competitions, with winners selected by an international jury of design experts.
Broader Implications
The totems serve a dual function: improving passenger experience through real-time information and wayfinding while generating advertising revenue through the second screen. This model could be replicated by other transit systems seeking to modernize infrastructure while offsetting costs.
The integration of shared mobility services into the totem’s information system also reflects the growing trend toward Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), where different transport options are unified under a single digital platform.
What’s Next
With 130 totems now installed across the entire Brussels metro network, questions remain about whether STIB will extend this design language to bus stops and other station infrastructure. The success of the project — a collaboration between a public transport operator, a media company, and a design agency — demonstrates the potential of public-private partnerships in urban mobility innovation.
As Brussels continues to modernize its public transport network, the award-winning totems stand as a testament to how cities can honor their cultural heritage while embracing the technologies of tomorrow.