Taiwanese architect Arthur Huang, materials expert Seetal Solanki and furniture designer Sebastian Cox have joined the first-ever panel of sustainability experts to judge the Dezeen Awards 2021 sustainability categories.

They will be joined by Nick Shute of Dodds and Shute and co-founder of Nature Squared Lay Koon Tan.

Lead by environmental design writer Katie Treggiden, the panel, made up of eight sustainability professionals from the world of architecture and design, will look for projects that make positive environmental and social contributions.

There are three sustainability categories, which will celebrate the best sustainable building, interiors and design projects from around the world.

Joining Cox, Huang and founder London design studio Ma-tt-er Solanki will be co-founder of Amsterdam design agency Overtreders W Hester van Dijk.

Founder of Design Career Consulting Simon Hamilton will also be on the panel this year.

New sustainability categories

This year, three sustainability categories have been grouped together for the first time to give greater prominence to architecture, interiors and design that strives to lower its impact on people and the planet.

The sustainable building category is open to any building designed with sustainability in mind including zero-carbon or negative-carbon projects, zero-energy projects, circular projects, reversible buildings or buildings that employ environmentally friendly construction techniques, materials and energy sources.

The sustainable interior category is for any interior designed with sustainability in mind including projects that use ethically sourced products, make use of recycled materials or use innovative materials.

The sustainable design category can be entered by products designed with sustainability in mind including products that follow circular principles or that reduce their impact on (or benefit) the environment.

Sponsored by Dodds and Shute, these awards will go to projects that strive to reduce their impact on the planet.

Enter Dezeen Awards 2021 now

Enter Dezeen Awards 2021 before 2 June at the standard entry rate! Click here to start work on your submission.

Besides the sustainability categories, there are five new media categories, 33 project categories as well as six categories for the best studios. See all the categories here.

For more details, visit our how to enter page. You can also subscribe to our newsletters to receive regular updates on Dezeen Awards 2021.