Dezeen Awards China 2023 Designers of the Year shortlist revealed

Dezeen has announced the Designers of the Year shortlist for the inaugural Dezeen Awards China, which includes Mario Tsai, OPEN Architecture and Ziin Life.

The Designers of the Year award rewards the best emerging and established talent or studio across architecture, interiors and design, and recognises those whose innovative work has made a notable impact on the design, interiors and architecture industry in China.

18 studios shortlisted across six categories

The 18 shortlisted names, which are in the running for awards in six different Designers of the Year categories, include Beijing-based Vector Architects, shortlisted for architect of the year, Chengdu-based MUDA Architects, shortlisted for emerging interior designer of the year and Shanghai-based Studio Kae shortlisted for emerging designer of the year.

Other shortlisted studios have designed projects such as a cultural centre with sweeping white-concrete geometries, a modular lighting system informed by scaffolding and a playful fashion boutique which references tailoring motifs.

All Dezeen Awards China 2023 shortlisted projects revealed

The Designers of the Year were nominated and shortlisted by Dezeen Awards China judges and Dezeen's editorial team.

This is the first edition of Dezeen Awards China, which is in partnership with Bentley Motors. This is the final shortlist revealed this week. The architecture, interiors and design shortlists were unveiled earlier this week.

Above: Vector Architects Studio by Vector Architects. Photo by Vector Architects. Top: Shenzhen Fuqiang Elementary School by People's Architecture Office. Photo by People's Architecture Office

All shortlisted Designers of the Year are listed below, each with a link to a dedicated page on the Dezeen Awards China website where you can find an image and more information about the designer.

The winner of each category will be announced at a party in Shanghai in December.

Read on for the full Designers of the Year shortlist:

dezeen-awards-china-architect — Shanfeng Academy by OPEN Architecture. Photo by Jonathan Leijonhufvud

Architect of the year

› OPEN Architecture
› People's Architecture Office
› Vector Architects

Emerging architect of the year

› HCCH Studio
› MUDA Architects
› Roarc Renew Architects

dezeen-awards-china-interior-designer — Ravine by A Work of Substance. Photo by A Work of Substance

Interior designer of the year

› AIM Architecture
› A Work of Substance
› Vermilion Zhou Design Group

Emerging interior designer of the year

› FOG Architecture
› Office AIO
› RooMoo Design Studio

dezeen-awards-china-designer — Building within building series by Ziin Life. Photo by Ziin Life

Designer of the year

› Mario Tsai
› U+
› Ziin Life

dezeen-awards-china-emerging-designer — DONG Series by Restudio. Photo by Restudio

Emerging designer of the year

› MMR Studio
› Restudio
› Studio KAE

Dezeen Awards China 2023

Dezeen Awards China is the first regional edition of Dezeen Awards, to celebrate the best architecture, interiors and design in China. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as part of a wider collaboration that will see the brand work with Dezeen to support and inspire the next generation of design talent in China.