fourth judges announcement

Karen Millen, Alfredo Häberli and Francine Houben named Dezeen Awards 2024 judges

Architects Francine Houben and Sumaya Dabbagh, designers Alfredo Häberli and Bethan Laura Wood and fashion designer Karen Millen have been announced as Dezeen Awards 2024 judges.

Dezeen Awards 2024 launched last month in partnership with Bentley. Submit your entry by Wednesday 27 March to save 20 per cent on entry fees.

Now in its seventh year, the programme has become the ultimate accolade for architects and designers everywhere, with winners selected by a prestigious panel of international judges.

Read on to learn more about the new names that have joined this year's judging panel:

Karen Millen
Fashion designer Karen Millen is one of this year's interior judges

British fashion designer Millen, co-founder of fashion brand Karen Millen, will be joining artist Justina Blakeney on the interiors judging panel.

Millen expanded into interiors under Room by KM and has worked on numerous residential projects, from Ibiza mansions to English country homes.

After a long absence from the fashion world, Millen launched The Founder collection for Karen Millen last year, which celebrates her 40-year heritage with the brand.

Francine Houben
Francine Houben is the founding partner of architecture studio Mecanoo

Founding partner and creative director of Mecanoo, Houben will be joining French architect Odile Decq on the architecture panel.

The Netherlands-based architect has worked on international projects spanning theatres, museums and libraries informed by local people, culture and climate.

Projects by Mecanoo include a mixed-use development comprised of six buildings connected by outdoor spaces for life science development Amstel Design District in Amsterdam and a green and blue tiled covered house named Villa BW in the Dutch village of Schoorl.

Houben was named Woman Architect of the Year by Architects' Journal and was also awarded the BNA Kubus, a lifetime achievement award from the Royal Institute of Dutch Architects.

Sumaya Dabbagh headshot
Saudi-based Sumaya Dabbagh is the founder of Dabbagh Architects

Joining Houben on the architecture judging panel will be Saudi-based Dabbagh.

Dabbagh's contemporary and innovative approach to architecture addresses themes of identity, place and context across a range of sectors including commercial, residential and education.

The Dubai-based studio has received multiple awards for its projects, including the Mleiha Archaeological Centre and Gargash Mosque.

In 2017, the architect's firm became one of the first RIBA chartered practices in the Gulf region.

Alfredo Häberli
Joining Giles Nartey on the design judging panel will be Swiss-Argentinian designer Alfredo Häberli

Swiss-Argentinian designer Häberli is the founder and principal of Alfredo Häberli Design Development and will sit alongside product designer Lee Broom on the design panel for this year's awards.

The Zurich-based product designer combines technology and materials to create innovative designs, including a scratch-proof watch with hexagonal facets for Swiss watchmaker Rado.

He has worked with international brands including Alias, BD Barcelona, BMW, Kvadrat, Luceplan, Moroso, Schiffini and Vitra.

Häberli was named Designer of the Year by German design magazine Architektur & Wohnen and received the Swiss Grand Prix of Design from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture.

Bethan Lauren Wood headshot
London-based designer and artist Bethan Laura Wood will be an interiors judge

Joining Millen on the interiors judging panel will be British designer and artist Wood.

Wood is the founder of multidisciplinary studio Bethan Laura Wood which specialises in material investigation and artisan collaborations in furniture, lighting and textiles.

The London-based studio works closely with museums and galleries such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, Swiss Institute, Daelim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has also collaborated with international brands including Perrier–Jouët, Rosenthal, Kvadrat, Hermès and Dior.

Recent projects by Wood include a series of colourful bathroom fixtures for manufacturer Kaldewei and a collaborative exhibition with 100 designers and studios featuring hooks for California gallery Blunk Space.

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.