The Dezeen Awards 2026 has assembled a panel of four prominent design voices to judge the competition. Architects Sharon Johnston and Kulapat Yantrasast join fellow architect Ben Cross and designer Alexie Sommer on the judging board for the annual awards, presented in partnership with Trimble.
The competition seeks submissions across architecture, interiors, and design categories. Entries close May 27 at 23:59 London time, giving practitioners a final window to submit their projects for consideration.
Johnston co-founded Johnston Marklee with Mark Lee in Los Angeles, building a reputation for refined institutional and residential work. Yantrasast leads Kulapat Yantrasast Studio, known for spatially inventive designs that blend craft with contemporary aesthetics. Cross and Sommer bring additional curatorial perspective to a judging framework that reflects the breadth of contemporary practice.
The Dezeen Awards carry weight within the design press and industry. Dezeen itself functions as the architecture and design world's most trafficked publication, making its awards platform influential for emerging and established practitioners alike. The panel composition signals what Dezeen deems worthy of recognition in 2026. The inclusion of architects who prioritize material nuance and spatial complexity suggests the awards will value thoughtful design practice over trend-driven work.
Trimble's partnership emphasizes the integration of digital tools into architectural and design processes. The collaboration positions the awards within conversations about how technology shapes contemporary practice, from project conceptualization through documentation.
For practitioners, the May 27 deadline represents a concrete submission moment. Dezeen Awards shortlists and winners often gain substantial visibility through the publication's design coverage and social platforms, translating into professional opportunities, media attention, and peer recognition. The quality of judges typically influences which projects resonate with the broader industry.