Dezeen has assembled its judging panel for the 2026 awards cycle, tapping architects Ben Addy and Dominique Petit-Frère alongside designers James Melia and Nada Debs. The competition, now in its ninth year and partnered with Trimble, hunts for excellence across architecture, interiors, and design. Submissions close May 27, with late fees kicking in after that date.
The names signal where design discourse lives right now. Petit-Frère's Brooklyn practice has built a reputation for thoughtful spatial work. Melia runs one of London's most talked-about design studios, known for maximalist interiors that reject corporate blandness. Addy and Debs bring complementary sensibilities to the table, expanding what the awards consider serious design work.
This is the annual moment when the design world submits its best shots. The judges will sift through projects claiming to represent where the field is headed. Dezeen's reach means the shortlist and winners shape conversations far beyond the industry itself. Which projects land on the long list, which ones take prizes, those decisions ripple through Instagram, design schools, and client conversations for months.
For designers and architects watching the calendar, May 27 arrives fast.