IFI Announces Judges for Inaugural Global Awards Program

Washington, DC, June 11, 2019-The International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers has announced the jury members who will determine the winners of its inaugural Global Awards Program (IFI GAP). The 2019 juror names include some of the most celebrated practicing interior architects, designers and thinkers of today from eleven different countries.

IFI’s new Global Awards Program (IFI GAP) recognizes and awards design excellence at the world level. Comprising four of the highest honors achievable in the interior architecture/design profession, it will identify and award both the contributions of individual luminaries and the best-of-the-best of built environments.

Jurors representing major design institutions will consider nominations for IFI’s highest honor, the IFI Prize and the Design Journalism Award (IFI DJA), both of which recognize the exemplary contribution of individuals in strengthening and progressing Interior Architecture/Design.

Jurors for the IFI Prize and the Design Journalism Award (IFI DJA) are Steve Leung, IFI president/founder of Steve Leung Design Group (Hong Kong) (jury chair); Arturo Dell’Acqua Bellavitis, professor of industrial design at Politecnico di Milano and former director of Milan Triennale Museum (Italy); Maya Dvash, chief curator of the Design Museum Holon (Israel); Ashley Hall, professor of design innovation at The Royal College of Art (RCA) (UK); and Rosanne Somerson, president, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) (USA).

In the form of a global design competition, IFI’s Design Distinction Awards (IFI DDA) jurors will be charged with selecting the best-built projects from around the world. Featuring a stellar selection of international interior architecture and design practitioners, the IFI DDA jury will consider entries across eight different categories.

Selecting winners of the IFI Design Distinction Awards (IFI DDA) are Leung; Robert Backhouse, chairman at HASSELL (Australia); Soo K. Chan, founder and principal of SCDA Architects (Singapore); Tony Chi, principal and founder of tonychi studio (USA); Renata Furlanetto, director at Studio MK27 (Brazil); Randy Howder, managing director and principal at Gensler (USA); Marcio Kogan, founder of Studio MK27 (Brazil); Piero Lissoni, founder of Lissoni Associati (Italy); Ellen van Loon, partner at OMA (Netherlands); Paul Tange, senior principal architect and chairman of Tange Associates (Japan); Woody Yao, director, Zaha Hadid Design (ZHD) (UK); and representatives from Yabu Pushelberg (Canada).

Award winners will be presented at a special ceremony and Gala Dinner as part of the IFI Congress-IFI’s biennial global convening of industry representatives and invited keynote speakers to share progressive ideas, knowledge, and developments in Interior Architecture/Design worldwide. The 2019 IFI Congress takes place in the City of Dubai, U.A.E from November 13 to 16.

The deadline for project entries and individual nominations to the IFI Global Awards Program is July 31. Visit www.ifiworld.org/GAP for more details.