The A+Awards Jury

The A+Awards are bigger than just the architectural community. Our 250+ member jury academy is comprised of leaders who are actively shaping the world we live in, representing a sought-after segment of design-savvy professionals including distinguished luminaries from fields as diverse as fashion, publishing, product design, real estate development and tech. Finalists and winners get their work in front of the people who matter and gain recognition as the year’s most influential visionaries.

Become a juror →

Featured Jury

Carlo Ratti

Founder, Carlo Ratti Associati

An architect and engineer by training, Carlo Ratti works on the future of cities and the built environment. He is a Professor of the Practice of Urban Technologies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, where he directs the Senseable City Lab, and is a Full Professor in the Department of Architecture, Built Environment, and Construction Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano. He is a founding partner of the international architecture and innovation office CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and has established several tech start-ups in the United States and Europe. Ratti graduated from the Politecnico di Torino and the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris and later carried out his MPhil and Ph.D. work at the University of Cambridge - completing his Ph.D. thesis as a Fulbright Scholar at MIT. In December 2023, he was named as Curator of the Venice Biennale Architettura 2025.Read less

Nicole Hollis

Founder, Nicole Hollis

Founded by Nicole Hollis in 2002, NICOLEHOLLIS is a San Francisco based interior design studio working across the United States and Europe. The studio designs environments that reflect how people live, feel, and gather. Each project is grounded in research into site, culture, and architectural precedent, and delivered with a deep respect for material integrity and place. A collective of interior designers, interior architects, and furniture designers, the team draws from fine art, fashion, and nature, and works collaboratively with architects, builders, artists, and artisans.
Spanning residential, hospitality, and product design, the firm is guided by quiet rigor and a belief in design that elevates the human spirit. NICOLEHOLLIS has been consistently ranked in Architectural Digest’s AD100, Elle Décor’s A-List, 1stDibs 50, and Interior Design’s Top 100 Giants. Its work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The World of Interiors, Wallpaper*, and more. Recent honors include the ASID and Hospitality Design Designer of the Year awards.
In 2025, Nicole Hollis launched The NICOLEHOLLIS Collection, a line of limited-edition artist- and artisan-made pieces for the home that embody the studio’s design philosophy.Read less

Andres Jaque

Founder, OFFPOLINN; Dean, GSAPP

Andrés Jaque is an architect, researcher and curator. His work explores architecture as the entanglement of bodies, technologies and environments. He is the founder of the New York/Madrid-based practice Office for Political Innovation, and the Dean and Professor of Columbia University GSAPP. He has been awarded with the Fredrick Kiesler Prize, the Unesco Global Sustainable Award , among many others ,and his work is part of the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, MoMA, and of the Art Institute of Chicago.Read less

Carson Chan

Director, Ambasz Institute - MoMA

Carson Chan is an architecture curator and writer. Most recently he served as the inaugural Director of the Emilio Ambasz Institute for the Joint Study of the Built and Natural Environment at the Museum of Modern Art (NYC), where he was also a Curator of architecture and design. At MoMA he developed, led, and implemented the Ambasz Institute’s manifold research initiatives through a range of programs, including exhibitions, public lectures, conferences, seminars, and publications. In 2006 he cofounded PROGRAM, a project space and residency program in Berlin that tested the disciplinary boundaries of architecture through exhibition making. Chan co-curated the 4th Marrakech Biennale in 2012, and the year after he served as Executive Curator of the Biennial of the Americas in Denver. Chan’s writing frequently appears in journals and periodicals including Frieze, Texte zur Kunst, and 032c where he was formerly Editor-at-Large. His doctoral research at Princeton University tracks the architecture of public aquariums in the postwar United States against the rise of environmentalism as a social and intellectual movement.Read less

Bryan Young

Founding Principal, Young Projects

Originally from Los Angeles California, Bryan Young graduated with distinction from Harvard’s GSD in 2003 and was awarded the AIA Henry Adams Medal and James Templeton Kelley Thesis Prize for his analysis of Donkey Kong and Pac-Man. He received his B.A. in Architecture with Highest Honors from UC Berkeley in 1997.
In 2010, Young founded the architecture and design studio Young Projects. Completing several projects ranging from buildings and interiors to furniture and prototypes, the studio was named Architectural Digest’s AD100 2025, Architectural Record’s Design Vanguard 2020, the Architectural League Emerging Voices 2020 and League Prize 2013, and AIANY’s New Practices New York 2014. The studio’s work has been featured in publications including Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Dwell, Architectural Record, Architect, Domus, Azure, Metropolis, and Wallpaper* among others. Young Projects’ first monograph Figure, Cast, Frame was published in 2022 by Monacelli. Young has given numerous lectures internationally and taught studios at MIT, Cornell, The Cooper Union, Parsons, and Syracuse.
In 2022, Young cofounded the furniture and design gallery VERSO with Amauri Aguari. The gallery focuses on the narratives that bridge designers’ concepts, artisan techniques and final objects. Collections include bespoke, limited edition and open series furniture and art pieces from a curated group of international designers.Read less

Llisa Demetrios

Chief Curator, Eames Institute

Llisa Demetrios is the youngest granddaughter of Ray and Charles Eames and serves as Chief Curator of the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing her grandparents’ design-driven approach to problem-solving. As a third-generation maker, she draws on a lifetime of creative immersion to steward one of the world’s most comprehensive design archives, housed at the Eames Archives in Richmond, California.
Since 2018, Llisa has curated ten acclaimed exhibitions, examining subjects from iconic table designs to the Eameses’ collection of toys and games, along with their collaborations with Saul Steinberg. Her most recent show, Past as Prologue: The Last Decade of Furniture Design by Ray and Charles Eames (1968–1978), debuted during San Francisco Design Week at the Transamerica Pyramid Center–marking the Institute’s first public exhibition beyond the Archives–and runs through Fall 2025.
Aside from her role as Chief Curator, Llisa has been a bronze sculptor for over two decades. Her work blends organic abstraction with architectural forms, beginning her practice with hand-carved wooden marquettes before scaling works into bronze pieces that reflect her focus on materiality and craftsmanship. She is additionally an active member of the art and design community, having previously held archival roles at MoMA and the Eames Office, and serving on the Board of Directors of the Petaluma Arts Center.
A sought-after speaker, judge, and voice, Llisa was a juror for AN Interior’s 2024 Best of Products Awards and Dezeen’s 2024 Awards. She has also been featured in publications such as The Architect’s Newspaper, Business of Home, and Interior Design, among others. She also appeared on podcasts such as AIGA’s Design Adjacent podcast and Clever with Amy Devers.Read less

Pablo Bofill

CEO, Bofill Taller de Arquitectura

Pablo’s approach at the Taller de Arquitectura balances a respect for its history with an openness to new ideas. As the group has expanded in recent years, it has also returned to a structure more in line with its original emphasis on interdisciplinary and collaborative design. In building the team, Pablo values personal insight alongside professional experience, encouraging diverse contributions across projects. His ongoing focus on craftsmanship helps ensure that quality remains integral to the work.Read less

Sonia Gagné

Design VP, Principal Partner, Architect, Provencher_Roy

A partner at Provencher_Roy since 2010, Sonia Gagné has acquired thirty-some years of experience as an architect, including 17 years with the firm. A seasoned, visionary, and top-notch designer, she has been part of the team of directors managing the firm since 2021. Sonia has been rewarded on several occasions for her leadership excellence, particularly at the 2021 Female Frontier Awards, and through numerous winning architectural competition proposals for which she has led the design team, like Port of Montréal Tower.
In addition to being at the helm of different civic and urban projects of varying scales, including the revitalization of Sainte-Catherine Street West in Montréal, Sonia pushes the limits of an innovative approach and interdisciplinary reflection attuned to a continually evolving social and urban context. Her expertise spans the health care (Hôpital Pierre-Le Gardeur), cultural (Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion expansion at the MMFA), education (Giant Steps School for autistic students), transportation (Vendôme metro Aedicule) and Port of Montréal Tower), commercial/office space (lg2 offices), and sporting infrastructures (Colisée Vidéotron) fields.
Regardless of the type and scale of her interventions, Sonia envisions architecture as a powerful tool functioning as a catalyst for conveying nuanced realities and reinforcing the identity of a place, while stimulating dynamic and enduring citizen appropriation. Actively involved in her field, she joined the honorary committee for the annual Gala of La rue des Femmes in 2021, and currently sits on the boards of directors of Montréal centre-ville and Chambre de commerce de l’Est de Montréal. Sonia is also regularly invited as a jury member for architectural competitions within Québec and elsewhere, and participates as a guest panellist at various university conferences and round table events.Read less

Song Yehao

Founder & Principal, SUP Atelier

Prof. Dr. Song Yehao is a tenured professor and the Director of the Institute of Architecture and Technology at the School of Architecture at Tsinghua University, and he is the principle and co-founder of SUP Atelier, Deputy Chief Architect of THAD . He also serves as secretary-general of the Green Building’s theoretical and practical group, Chinese Green Building committee. He has been selected as Chair of AHA National Alliances Council.
For the past 30 years, Prof. Song has focused on sustainable theory and design. He believes in a holistic sustainable design approach that fully utilizes natural and social conditions, including nature and resources, cultural diversity, and social responsibility. To achieve this, it’s crucial to have a deep understanding of regional and local contexts, as this enables the initiation of innovative designs that incorporate the latest technical measures or traditional climate adaptation design strategies. Additionally, contemporary translations of traditional design strategies, rooted in specific climate regions, can inspire innovative and sustainable design.
With over 20 completed projects, his practice is renowned for its holistic sustainable approach, integrating building complexity with appropriate vernacular building materials and techniques in China. Read less

Julia Watson

Landscape Designer, Author and Educator; Lo—TEK Office for Intercultural Urbanism and Lo—TEK Institute

Julia Watson, Australian-born and of Greco-Egyptian descent, is a bestselling author, award-winning educator, and leading expert in Indigenous, nature-based technologies for climate-resilient design. She is the author of Lo—TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism (Taschen, 2019), which showcases low-impact, earth-based technologies developed by Indigenous peoples worldwide, and the forthcoming Lo—TEK Water: A Fieldguide for TEKnologists (2025). Watson has traveled extensively to engage with Indigenous communities, sharing their ecological wisdom with respect and care.
A Harvard-trained landscape architect, Julia has taught at Columbia University, Harvard, and RISD. She co-leads the Lo—TEK Office for Intercultural Urbanism, a design studio that centers ancestral knowledge and reciprocity to envision culturally grounded, climate-resilient futures. She is also co-founder of the Lo—TEK Institute, which advances Indigenous knowledge through education and advocacy, including the development of the Living Earth curriculum, embedding traditional ecological knowledge in STEM education.Read less

Marcio Kogan

Founder, Studio MK27

Marcio Kogan is the founding architect and mentor of the entire Studio MK27 team. Born in São Paulo’s vibrant chaos, he graduated from FAU-Mackenzie in 1976. He is a guest professor at the Politecnico di Milano and Escola da Cidade, where he earned a master’s degree in “Education, Society, and Culture.” Initially working as a film director, after completing his first feature film in 1988, he went bankrupt and had to “settle” for a career in architecture. Kogan is the author of all Studio MK27’s projects and an honorary member of the AIA, as well as a board member of MASP and MUBE. He is firmly convinced that a good cotoletta alla Milanese is more important than architecture.
Studio MK27 located in the chaotic city of São Paulo was founded in the late 70’s by architect Marcio Kogan and today is comprised of 50 architects and various collaborators worldwide. The team, deeply inspired by the Brazilian modernist generation, is committed to rethinking and continuing this iconic architectural movement. Studio MK27’s projects are defined by their formal simplicity, executed with meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship.
Kogan is an honorary member of the AIA (American Institute of Architecture), Professor at Politecnico di Milano and on the board of Museum Of Art of São Paulo (MASP) and the Brazilian Museum of Sculpture and Ecology (MUBE). He was considered by Época magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential persons in Brazil, is part of “Wallpaper’s 150 Famous for 15 Years”, and came in 39th in Dezeen’s Hot List 2017. He leads a team of architects who, for the most part, have been working with him for over a decade.
Since 2001, when a system of co-creation and collaborative work was introduced, at the Studio MK27 has won more than 250 national and international awards, such as the IAB (Institute of Brazilian Architects), São Paulo Architectural Biennial, WAF, Architectural Review, Dedalo Minosse, Record House, Leaf, D&AD, Spark, Barbara Cappochin, Iconic, AZ, Buenos Aires Ibero-american Architectural Biennial, Wallpaper Design Award and Prix Versailles. In 2012, Studio MK27 proudly represented Brazil at the Venice Biennale.
The team has lectured and conducted workshops at prestigious institutions including the the Royal Academy of Arts, AIA, Société Française des Architectes, Clubovka, FAUUSP, FAU Mackenzie, FAAP, Politecnico di Milano, Mantova, Porto Academy, Verona, Valencia, South Florida, Rice, Texas, Cornell and Yale, among others. Read less

Avinash Rajagopal

Editor in Chief, Metropolis

Avinash Rajagopal is the editor-in-chief of Metropolis magazine. He is an advocate for sustainable architecture and design, leading Metropolis's initiatives and programs for decarbonization and equity in architecture and interior design, including the Climate Toolkit for Interior Design, the Interior Design Pledge for Positive Impact, and the Planet Positive Awards. Rajagopal is the author of Hacking Design (Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2013), has contributed to numerous volumes on architecture and design, and has lectured at the National Institute of Design in India; the University of Texas at Austin; the School of Visual Arts in New York; the New York School of Interior Design; and Parsons School of Design. He was one of the jurors for the AIA COTE Top Ten Awards 2023.Read less

Peter Braithwaite

Principal, Peter Braithwaite Studio

Peter Braithwaite is the owner and operator of Peter Braithwaite Studio, an architecture and construction firm that operates in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Trained as a carpenter and cabinetmaker prior to attending architecture school, Peter believes that a dedication to craft and the act of making facilitates the production of buildings that are both environmentally and culturally sustainable. Following the completion of Master of Architecture at Dalhousie School of Architecture, Peter received the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Student Medal for achieving the highest level of academic excellence in his graduating class.
Since its establishment in 2014, Peter Braithwaite Studio has been published widely and received many honours including the Emerging Talent distinction by Canadian Architect, Early Design Achievement presented by the Canadian Council for the Arts, inclusion in the Wallpaper* Architects' Directory in 2019, and the Royal Architectural Institute of Architecture (RAIC) Emerging Architectural Practice Award in 2024.
Peter’s interest in ecological systems and how they relate to the built environment has remained prominent in the firm’s work and ethos. Peter was awarded a Killiam Doctoral Scholarship to complete PhD studies within Interdisciplinary Studies department at Dalhousie University that explores collaborative design approaches between architects and natural scientists. Peter is also completing a Doctor of Design at University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape that explores refined construction logistics that diminish habitat fragmentation and encourages greater ecological connectivity within built environments.Read less

Julie Payette

Founding Partner, v2com newswire

With 30 years of leadership in international media relations, Julie Payette is a Founding Partner of v2com newswire, the first and preeminent international architecture and design newswire service for promoting projects to the world’s largest specialized media network. Julie remains focused on the highest standards of design and leads v2com’s relentless pursuit of quality projects and the most promising young talent from around the world. In recognition of her extensive industry experience and expertise, Julie has been selected as a jury member for prestigious international competitions, including the Frame Awards, Architecture Hunter Awards, Architecture MasterPrize, LOOP Design Awards, and Rethinking The Future. In 2021, Julie received the prestigious Ambassador of Quality in Architecture award, a distinction of the Order of Architects of Quebec (OAQ).Read less

Jie Guo

Founder, ENJOYDESIGN

Jie Guo graduated from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. He is a founding member of the China Luxury Residential Designers Club, Vice President of the Guangdong Environment Association, and a guest lecturer at Guangdong University of Technology. In 2019, he received the national-level DDF Award – Top 10 Outstanding Youths in China's Interior Decoration Design Industry, and was also listed in the 2019 – 2020 40 UNDER 40 Outstanding Young Chinese Designers.
He advocates the philosophy that aesthetics bring life back to its essence, and is committed to integrating spatial design with business logic. As early as 2020, he foresaw the relationship between community building and real estate sales, pioneering the application of operational thinking in real estate development and creating a design-driven community commercial model that has attracted wide attention across the industry.
He has also invested in and built three commercial brands:‘S tea house, niconi cafe, and Joyous · Hunan Cuisine. Through a comprehensive approach that integrates spatial design, brand strategy, and business operations, he collaborates with brands to build a sustainable and evolving experiential ecosystem. Always upholding the principle of experience first, he adopts systematic operational thinking to break the boundaries of traditional business models, fostering a symbiotic relationship between brands, consumers, and spaces.
Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Guangzhou, ENJOYDESIGN is a professional architectural and interior space design company. Positioned as a “builder of high-quality and inspiring lifestyles,” ENJOYDESIGN offers integrated and customized design services across experience centers, urban showrooms, turnkey residences, model homes, project IP development, office and educational spaces, and urban revitalization. It also provides comprehensive R&D for standardized interior solutions tailored for real estate developers.
ENJOYDESIGN adheres to the design philosophy of“Design for the user, design for the future.” Starting from user insights, feelings, and real-life experiences, the firm uses a distinctive design language to craft contemporary spaces where functionality meets aesthetics—faithfully restoring the essence of “aesthetics bringing life back to its origin.”Read less

Andy Fisher

Founder, AFW

Andy Fisher is an architect with over 30 years of international experience across Europe and Asia. Since founding AFW in 2004, he has guided the studio into a respected design-led consultancy, known for delivering distinctive, contextually sensitive solutions across hospitality, mixed-use, residential, commercial, and retail sectors. His portfolio includes major hotel and resort developments for leading international brands, alongside large-scale urban projects.
Andy’s work is rooted in a commitment to design excellence, environmental responsiveness, and cultural sensitivity—particularly in diverse regional contexts. Under his leadership, AFW has grown into a collaborative, boutique practice that combines global insight with local relevance.
In addition to practice, Andy is an active contributor to the international design discourse. He has spoken at the Design Perspective Conference in Bangalore and was featured in Buildner’s webinar series on global design firms. He also lectures regularly at universities in Singapore on topics such as sustaining an architectural practice abroad.
Andy is also a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Society of Interior Designers Singapore.Read less

Mitchell Joachim

Co-Founder, Terreform ONE; Professor, NYU

Mitchell Joachim is Co-Founder of Terreform ONE and Full Professor of Practice at NYU, where he also serves as Co-Chair of Global Design. He previously worked as an architect with Frank Gehry, Moshe Safdie, and I.M. Pei.
His honors include the Fulbright, NEA Arts Grant, LafargeHolcim Prize, Fast Company Design of the Year, AIA New York Urban Design Merit Award, and Time Magazine Best Invention with MIT Smart Cities. A TED Senior Fellow, he has been profiled in Rolling Stone (“100 People Changing America”), Wired (“The Smart List”), and Dwell (“The NOW 99”).
Joachim has co-authored four books on ecological design and biotechnology in architecture, with work exhibited at MoMA, MASS MoCA, Venice Biennale, Seoul Biennale, and other international venues. He earned a Ph.D. from MIT, and advanced degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and the University at Buffalo with honors.Read less

Emanuele Naboni

Distinguished Professor, University of Sevilla, Royal Danish Academy, Norman Foster Institute

Emanuele Naboni is a Professor, Researcher, and Urban/Architectural Technologist. He is a Distinguished Professor at the University of Seville, focusing on architecture for climate change, and since 2010 has taught Building Technology at the Royal Danish Academy. He is also a faculty member at the Norman Foster Institute (with MIT Media Lab) and was an Adjunct Professor at UNSW Sydney with Mat Santamouris.
He has held visiting positions at UC Berkeley, ETH Zurich – Future Cities Lab Singapore, EPFL Lausanne, NTNU Norway, Southeast University Nanjing, and the Architectural Association London.
Previously, he worked at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) San Francisco as Design Leader of the Performance Design Studio. He has collaborated with NASA, BIG, CITA, Ladybug Tools, Stanford University, Renzo Piano, Kengo Kuma, William McDonough, Mario Cucinella, Google, Velux, and Autodesk.
He has authored books with Routledge and Elsevier, and serves as editor of Energy and Buildings.Read less

Bill Bensley

Creative Director, BENSLEY

Bill Bensley is an American-born, Bangkok-based architect, landscape designer, and interior designer whose flamboyant, highly imaginative approach has redefined the world of luxury hospitality. Since founding Bensley Design Studios in 1989, he has been the creative force behind more than 200 hotels, resorts, and private residences across 30 countries, earning a reputation for crafting experiences that are as theatrical as they are thoughtful.
Bensley’s designs are instantly recognisable: layered with narrative, steeped in local culture, and often infused with a touch of irreverent humor. His projects range from the refined grandeur of The Siam in Bangkok, to the jungle fantasy of Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia—an eco-conservation project that combines luxury with a mission to protect endangered forest. He is also the designer behind Capella Ubud in Bali, celebrated for its tented jungle retreat that balances bold aesthetics with sensitivity to the landscape.
Deeply committed to sustainability, Bensley often uses his work to champion environmental causes. He has spearheaded conservation initiatives, campaigned against animal exploitation in tourism, and developed design models that support both local communities and fragile ecosystems. His design philosophy is rooted in the belief that hospitality can be a force for good—providing joy and wonder while safeguarding nature.
Outside of his professional life, Bensley is known for his exuberant personality, love of painting, and a restless curiosity that fuels his boundless creativity. Equal parts designer, storyteller, and conservationist, he continues to challenge conventions of luxury and inspire the hospitality industry to think more boldly and responsibly about the future.Read less

Miles Smith

Senior Industry Growth & Strategy Manager, Graphisoft

Miles Smith is the Senior Industry Growth & Strategy Manager at Graphisoft, where he brings more than 14 years of experience in the architecture industry. In his role, Miles consults with fellow architects on evolving software solutions that optimize all varieties of design. Miles holds a B.A. In Architecture from Appalachian State University and an M.A. In Architecture from Boston Architectural College.Read less

Index of Jury