With just over one week until Dezeen Awards entries close, last year's sustainability winners explain how winning reinforced their belief in their work and helped them gain recognition.

One studio said winning a Dezeen Award led to a "significant rise in enquiries" while another said it was "a reminder that good work can prevail".

"Winning a Dezeen Award gave us credibility, which is extremely important for a start-up business," said the studio that won sustainable design of the year.

Sustainability key across categories

Dezeen Awards 2023, in partnership with Bentley Motors, is open for entries. Submit your project before the entry deadline next Thursday 1 June at midnight London time.

Our categories have been revised for 2023, and there are now 39 project categories to enter across architecture, interiors, design and sustainability.

This includes nine new awards, three of which are within our sustainability categories and will reward sustainable renovations, sustainable building products and material innovations.

See what last year's sustainability winners had to say:

Design and build studio Localworks won sustainable building of the year for its Mustardseed Junior School in Uganda, which was built from natural and locally sourced materials.

"Having designed and supervised many eco-friendly projects over the years, Mustardseed is our first fully completed project as designers and builders, and receiving this award definitely motivates us to push further into this direction," Kampala-based Localworks told Dezeen.

"Green contextual architecture is what Localworks is all about," it continued. "Therefore, winning the sustainability category is a great endorsement of our efforts. We were touched by the words of the jury who had clearly looked into the project beyond what the photos transmit."

Studio Localworks has a number of projects in progress, including the Bidi Bidi Music & Arts Centre at a refugee camp in Yumbe, Uganda. The centre developed in collaboration with firms Hassell and Arup was designed as a sheltered open-air theatre that can double as a performance venue or a community space.

Indian practice Multitude of Sins won sustainable interior of the year last year for The Circus Canteen, a restaurant in Bangalore made from discarded materials. The local office described a feeling of "disbelief" when receiving the news about winning.

"Being honoured by a publication like Dezeen is something beyond what words can explain " said Multitude of Sins. "The entire experience since winning has felt a bit karmic and is a reminder that good work can prevail."

"The impact has been massive ever since we were longlisted for the awards," it added. "As a studio, we've received appreciation both within the country and internationally,"

"Being recognised by Dezeen has helped restore faith in ourselves," Multitude of Sins continued. "Don’t let the fear of being new to the field burden you from applying to the awards as the platform is one that appreciates design in its truest form."

Scottish startup Kenoteq won sustainable design of the year in 2022 for its building brick K-Briq, made of 90 per cent construction waste. The tech firm described feeling "absolutely elated" when receiving the award.

"The PR around the award and the Dezeen platform has definitely given us exposure to our target market that we couldn't have imagined and a significant rise in enquiries, in the UK and internationally," Kenoteq told Dezeen.

"The interest generated internationally also gives kudos and opportunity to our forthcoming investment raises and will guide us to determine where best to roll out our international manufacturing operations," the studio added.

"Elation, confidence-builder, opportunity and collaboration provider! We can't wait to showcase our future projects through Dezeen."

As a result of the awards, Kenoteq collaborated with Object Space Place, another Dezeen Awards shortlisted studio, to create a coffee shop interior featuring K-Briq bricks. Kenoteq is also expecting the final certification for the K-Briq in the early summer of this year.

Submit your project today!

Remember to check out our new categories awarding sustainable renovations and retrofits, as well as sustainable building products to reward cutting-edge products where the innovation delivers carbon reduction or improved climate resilience.

Click here to find out more information about Dezeen Awards and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news updates. Plus you can always drop us a line at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Dezeen Awards 2023

Dezeen Awards celebrates the world's best architecture, interiors and design. Now in its sixth year, it has become the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across the globe. 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.