Last week we launched our public nomination for the Designers of the Year awards at Dezeen Awards 2024. Here, we round up last year's winners.
Designers of the Year rewards the best emerging and established talent across architecture, interiors and design and recognises those whose innovative work has made a notable impact on the industry in their field.
Public nomination is new for this year, and we are asking readers to put forward designers for consideration, which will then be shortlisted by Dezeen's editorial team.
Nomination will be open until Wednesday 1 May. You have less than three weeks left to submit your nominations using this voting form.
Read on to find out more about last year's Designers of the Year winner or click here to nominate.
Architect of the year: White Arkitekter
Scandinavian practice White Arkitekter was named architect of the year in last year's programme. The firm is a design cooperative owned by its employees and presently headed by CEO Alexandra Hagen.
From timber constructions to urban planning, White Arkitekter's projects are all underscored by its commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and human-centred design.
Together with local practice K2S Architects, the studio is set to transform a harbour in Helsinki into a cultural precinct that will integrate historic buildings after winning a competition to revitalise the city's South Harbor.
Read more about White Arkitekter ›
Emerging architect of the year: Sumayya Vally, Counterspace
South African architect Sumayya Vally took home the emerging architect of the year award. Vally is the founder and principal of Counterspace, an architecture and research firm rooted in South Africa, with operations spanning between Johannesburg and London.
She was named one of Time magazine's future leaders and served as artistic director for the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale, which took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last year.
Projects by Vally include a symbolic boat-like pedestrian bridge in Belgium and a pavilion for Serpentine Gallery in London which nods to the city's diverse migrant communities.
Read more about Sumayya Vally ›
Interior designer of the year: Patricia Urquiola
Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola clinched the title of interior designer of the year in last year's programme. Urquiola's eponymous studio envisions objects and architecture with an eye on future trends in mobility, workplace, and production cycles.
Urquiola is also the art director at leading Italian manufacturer Cassina, a position she has held since 2015. She also collaborates extensively with design brands such as Moroso, Kvadrat, Boffi, and Flos.
Recent notable projects include the transformation of a historic Roman palazzo into the Six Senses Rome hotel, also earning her the hotel and short-stay interior category award for Dezeen Awards 2023.
Read more about Patricia Urquiola ›
Emerging interior designer of the year: Uchronia
Paris-based Uchronia was crowned emerging interior designer of the year. Founded by architect Julien Sebban, the studio's work celebrates playful colours, forms, and textures.
Specialising in immersive and experiential design, the Parisian office has a portfolio of projects ranging from restaurants and apartments to fashion shows.
Recently founder Sebban designed his own home, an eclectic 1970s-style Paris apartment named Univers Uchronia, adored with glossy walls, ruched curtains, and oversized flower-shaped cushions.
Designer of the year: Pearson Lloyd
London design duo Luke Pearson and Tom Lloyd of Pearson Lloyd were awarded designer of the year. Established in 1997, the studio specialises in industrial design, furniture, and interiors, addressing global economic and environmental challenges.
With a cross-sector approach, Pearson Lloyd integrates comprehensive research and insights to develop products and experiences that balance user needs, manufacturing constraints, and environmental considerations.
Recent projects include CoLab, a furniture collection designed for modern classrooms promoting active and social learning among students and educators and a collaboration with office brand Bene to produce bFRIENDS, 3D-printed desk accessories made from recycled bioplastic waste.
Read more about Pearson Lloyd ›
Emerging designer of the year: Audrey Large
Parisian interdisciplinary artist Audrey Large won emerging designer of the year for Dezeen Awards 2023. Working at the intersection of art and design, Large's work explores the application of digital rendering techniques to real-world 3D objects.
Exhibitions by Large include Some Vibrant Things at Nilufar Gallery in Milan, which showcased a series of iridescent sculptures based on digital shapes.
Other work by the Rotterdam-based designer includes Dusky Waters of Dripping Disasters, a digitally sculpted water fountain with evolving surfaces reflecting shades of blue as inked water flows.
Read more about Audrey Large ›
Submit your projects!
As well as nominating your Designer of the Year, remember you can also submit your own projects to Dezeen Awards 2024. The entry deadline is 30 May.
Dezeen Awards 2024 in partnership with Bentley
Dezeen Awards is the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across the globe. The seventh edition of the annual awards programme is in partnership with Bentley as part of a wider collaboration to inspire, support and champion design excellence and showcase innovation that creates a better and more sustainable world. This ambition complements Bentley's architecture and design business initiatives, including the Bentley Home range of furnishings and real estate projects around the world.