A model for the design of efficient dyes for p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is presented. As an example, a novel and efficient org. dye contg. a triphenylamine chromophore was synthesized and applied in a p-type DSSC. An incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 18% in the visible region was obtained - the highest value so far in p-type DSSCs. This is remarkable, considering that only 600 nm thin NiO mesoporous films were used as p-type DSSC electrodes.