Dezeen Awards categories

Architecture project categories

Urban house

New category! Any individual dwelling in a densely built-up setting (includes conjoined developments of up to two houses).

Rural house

New category! Any individual dwelling in a low-density or non-urban setting (includes conjoined developments of up to two houses).

Housing project

Any multi-dwelling development consisting of two or more homes.

Residential rebirth project

New category! Any refurbishment or renovation of an existing residential building (includes extensions).

Civic building

New category! Any project used by the public or that serves the community including schools, university buildings, hospitals, medical centres, infrastructure, stations, airports, sports halls, community centres, police stations, city/town halls, courthouses, embassies and all other government buildings.

Cultural building

New category! Any project where people go to experience culture including museums, art galleries, religious buildings, visitor centres, libraries, theatres, concert halls, stadiums, arenas and all other entertainment venues.

Business building

Any private commercial building serving as a workplace or where services are provided including offices, co-working spaces, headquarters, shops, shopping centres, factories, doctors’ surgeries, dentists, banks, gyms etc.

Hospitality building

Any project where people primarily go to eat, sleep or drink including hotels, restaurants and bars.

Rebirth project

Any refurbishment or adaptive reuse of an existing building or space (excluding residential projects).

Small building

Any project that is relatively small in size or cost, including pavilions, shelters, cabins, open-air structures, temporary structures, micro-housing, modular housing, boutiques, kiosks and classrooms.

Interiors project categories

House interior

Any individual dwelling interior project.

Apartment interior

New category! Any individual apartment or multi-dwelling development interior project.

Restaurant and bar interior

New category! Any interior project where people go to eat or drink including restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs and event venues.

Hotel and short stay interior

New category! Any hospitality interior project where people stay short-term for business or leisure, including hotels, guesthouses and guestrooms.

Large workspace interior

New category! Any space more than 1000 square metres that is primarily dedicated to work including offices, studios and co-working spaces. This award is sponsored by Clippings.

Small workspace interior

New category! Any space less than 1000 square metres that is primarily dedicated to work including offices, studios and co-working spaces. This award is sponsored by Clippings.

Retail interior

Any space where retail is the primary activity including shops, shopping centres, boutiques, opticians, bakeries, showrooms and sales centres.

Leisure and wellness interior

Any interior project for leisure, health or wellbeing including spas, nail salons, gyms, pharmacies, hair salons, doctors surgeries, dentists, hospitals and medical centres.

Civic and cultural interior

Any interior project that is used by the public including museums, art galleries, educational spaces, religious spaces, libraries, theatres, concert halls, stations, city/town halls and courthouses.

Small interior

Any interior project that is less than 150 square metres.

Design project categories

Furniture design

Any item or collection of furniture for indoors or outdoors (excluding seating and office furniture).

Seating design

New category! Any item or collection of seating for indoors or outdoors (excluding office seating).

Lighting design

Any product or collection of lighting for indoors or outdoors (excluding office lighting).

Homeware design

Any product for the domestic interior that is not furniture or lighting including tableware, surfaces, textiles, fittings and appliances.

Workplace design

Any product designed for the workplace including office furniture and systems, lighting, stationary, equipment, clothing etc.

Wearable design

Any product worn on the body including clothing, footwear, eyewear, watches and wearable tech.

Product design

New category! Any mass produced product including mobile phones, televisions, cameras, laptops, tablets, drones, gadgets, robotics, beauty equipment, water bottles, sports and exercise equipment, luggage, medical devices, bicycles, cars, motorcycles and transport-related accessories.

Sustainable design

New category! Any product which has been designed with sustainability in mind including products made from recycled materials, vegan design, innovative new materials, sustainable fashion, reduced-waste design, wind turbines, ecological packaging and sustainable initiatives and services etc.

Graphic design

New category! Any visual communication design including typography and illustration.

Installation design

New category! Any installation project for an interior or exterior space, including exhibitions, set design, fashion shows, art and design installations and light installations. These can be temporary or permanent.

Studio categories

Architect of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by an architect or architecture practice that has been in business for more than ten years. This award is sponsored by Delta Light.

Emerging architect of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by an architect or architecture practice that has been in business for ten years or less.

Interior designer of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by an interior designer or studio that has been in business for more than ten years. This award is sponsored by Roca. 

Emerging interior designer of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by an interior designer or studio that has been in business for ten years or less. This award is sponsored by USM.

Designer of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by a designer or design studio that has been in business for more than ten years. This award is sponsored by Sancal.

Emerging designer of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by a designer or design studio that has been in business for ten years or less. This award is sponsored by Herman Miller.

Architecture project

Urban house

New category! Any individual dwelling in a densely built-up setting (includes conjoined developments of up to two houses).

Rural house

New category! Any individual dwelling in a low-density or non-urban setting (includes conjoined developments of up to two houses).

Housing project

Any multi-dwelling development consisting of two or more homes.

Residential rebirth project

New category! Any refurbishment or renovation of an existing residential building (includes extensions).

Civic building

New category! Any project used by the public or that serves the community including schools, university buildings, hospitals, medical centres, infrastructure, stations, airports, sports halls, community centres, police stations, city/town halls, courthouses, embassies and all other government buildings.

Cultural building

New category! Any project where people go to experience culture including museums, art galleries, religious buildings, visitor centres, libraries, theatres, concert halls, stadiums, arenas and all other entertainment venues.

Business building

Any private commercial building serving as a workplace or where services are provided including offices, co-working spaces, headquarters, shops, shopping centres, factories, doctors’ surgeries, dentists, banks, gyms etc.

Hospitality building

Any project where people primarily go to eat, sleep or drink including hotels, restaurants and bars.

Rebirth project

Any refurbishment or adaptive reuse of an existing building or space (excluding residential projects).

Small building

Any project that is relatively small in size or cost, including pavilions, shelters, cabins, open-air structures, temporary structures, micro-housing, modular housing, boutiques, kiosks and classrooms.

Interiors project

House interior

Any individual dwelling interior project.

Apartment interior

New category! Any individual apartment or multi-dwelling development interior project.

Restaurant and bar interior

New category! Any interior project where people go to eat or drink including restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs and event venues.

Hotel and short stay interior

New category! Any hospitality interior project where people stay short-term for business or leisure, including hotels, guesthouses and guestrooms.

Large workspace interior

New category! Any space more than 1000 square metres that is primarily dedicated to work including offices, studios and co-working spaces. This award is sponsored by Clippings.

Small workspace interior

New category! Any space less than 1000 square metres that is primarily dedicated to work including offices, studios and co-working spaces. This award is sponsored by Clippings.

Retail interior

Any space where retail is the primary activity including shops, shopping centres, boutiques, opticians, bakeries, showrooms and sales centres.

Leisure and wellness interior

Any interior project for leisure, health or wellbeing including spas, nail salons, gyms, pharmacies, hair salons, doctors surgeries, dentists, hospitals and medical centres.

Civic and cultural interior

Any interior project that is used by the public including museums, art galleries, educational spaces, religious spaces, libraries, theatres, concert halls, stations, city/town halls and courthouses.

Small interior

Any interior project that is less than 150 square metres.

Design project

Furniture design

Any item or collection of furniture for indoors or outdoors (excluding seating and office furniture).

Seating design

New category! Any item or collection of seating for indoors or outdoors (excluding office seating).

Lighting design

Any product or collection of lighting for indoors or outdoors (excluding office lighting).

Homeware design

Any product for the domestic interior that is not furniture or lighting including tableware, surfaces, textiles, fittings and appliances.

Workplace design

Any product designed for the workplace including office furniture and systems, lighting, stationary, equipment, clothing etc.

Wearable design

Any product worn on the body including clothing, footwear, eyewear, watches and wearable tech.

Product design

New category! Any mass produced product including mobile phones, televisions, cameras, laptops, tablets, drones, gadgets, robotics, beauty equipment, water bottles, sports and exercise equipment, luggage, medical devices, bicycles, cars, motorcycles and transport-related accessories.

Sustainable design

New category! Any product which has been designed with sustainability in mind including products made from recycled materials, vegan design, innovative new materials, sustainable fashion, reduced-waste design, wind turbines, ecological packaging and sustainable initiatives and services etc.

Graphic design

New category! Any visual communication design including typography and illustration.

Installation design

New category! Any installation project for an interior or exterior space, including exhibitions, set design, fashion shows, art and design installations and light installations. These can be temporary or permanent.

Studio

Architect of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by an architect or architecture practice that has been in business for more than ten years. This award is sponsored by Delta Light.

Emerging architect of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by an architect or architecture practice that has been in business for ten years or less.

Interior designer of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by an interior designer or studio that has been in business for more than ten years. This award is sponsored by Roca. 

Emerging interior designer of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by an interior designer or studio that has been in business for ten years or less. This award is sponsored by USM.

Designer of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by a designer or design studio that has been in business for more than ten years. This award is sponsored by Sancal.

Emerging designer of the year

All-round design excellence over a body of work by a designer or design studio that has been in business for ten years or less. This award is sponsored by Herman Miller.