Designed for Surface: Announcing Winners of the 2025 Partner Awards

For more than a decade, the Designed for Surface (DfS) program has worked closely with trusted partners to deliver certified, purpose-built accessories that meet Microsoft standards, ensure compatibility, and enhance the Surface experience across a wide range of real-world use cases.

Today, the DfS Team is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Designed for Surface Partner Awards, recognizing Partner of the Year, Product of the Year, and Innovative Solution of the Year.

These annual awards celebrate the creativity, technical excellence, and collaboration that DfS partners bring to the Surface ecosystem. This year’s award recipients exemplify that commitment, delivering thoughtful, high-quality solutions through dynamic engagement and strong collaboration.

The Joy Factory has been named the 2025 Designed for Surface Partner of the Year for its long-standing engagement in the program and continued dedication to growing alongside Surface. The team has remained highly involved in Surface initiatives, including community sessions and events, while consistently delivering rugged solutions designed for demanding environments.

In 2025, The Joy Factory expanded their DfS lineup with the launch of the aXtion Go MP for Surface Pro, 12-inch, extending its series of military-grade, weatherproof cases to support one of the latest additions to the Surface lineup. Built with frontline workers in mind, this solution reflects The Joy Factory’s focus on durability, reliability, and real-world usability, allowing this new Surface form factor to go further.

“This recognition from Microsoft reinforces our mission to support the evolving needs of the connected workforce,” said Miranda Su, Executive Vice President at The Joy Factory. “Together with the [Designed for Surface] team, we are delivering innovative rugged and custom solutions that help organizations deploy advanced computing, including AI-enabled devices, wherever the job requires.”

The 2025 Designed for Surface Product of the Year award goes to the STM Dux Rugged Case for Surface Laptop, 13-inch, recognized for its balance of protection, usability, and design. The case’s sleek yet rugged construction protects the device while preserving the premium look and feel of Surface Laptop.

Designed for easy installation and to complement the device itself, the Dux Case encases the Surface Laptop in a sleek yet protective solution, making it highly usable across a variety of roles and environments. STM also worked closely with the DfS Team to ensure the case was available to Surface customers on Day One of launch.

“This accessory extends the Surface Laptop experience without compromise,” said Allison Cargill, Director of Surface Accessories. “It’s a great example of how our partners can respond to customer feedback and help deliver protection and confidence, all while maintaining the integrity of the Surface experience.”

JCPal has been awarded the 2025 Innovative Solution of the Year for its Verskin Language Keyboard Covers for Surface Laptop, a simple yet impactful solution that reflects the DfS program’s focus on empowering Surface users. Available for French, Spanish, and German, these keyboard covers provide protection from dust and spills and enable users to personalize how they interact with their Surface devices, layering a different language on top of a US English keyboard.

“JCPal’s language keyboard covers show how much thoughtful innovation can have a meaningful impact,” said Allison Cargill. “It’s an elegant solution that enables users to expand the use of a Surface device, making the experience more inclusive, personal, and accessible.”

Congratulations again to The Joy Factory, STM, and JCPal on this well-deserved recognition. We look forward to another year of strong collaboration and innovative solutions that continue to empower Surface customers!