This year saw The (Emerging) Designer Awards return to Melbourne for its third iteration, announcing four outstanding Winners and five highly deserving Commended. The exclusive industry event welcomed more than 200 of Australia’s most esteemed architects, designers and industry stakeholders, alongside an exciting cohort of emerging practitioners.
Presented by Artedomus and The Local Project, the proceedings were led by Artedomus’ Managing Director Phil Brenton alongside The Local Project’s Founder and CEO, Aidan Anderson. “At Artedomus, we’ve spent 40 years championing the evolution of Australian design, and these awards are an extension of that commitment. A platform that recognises the emerging visionaries who will shape the next chapter of our industry,” said Phil in his opening address.
“When we first conceived The (Emerging) Designer Awards, our goal was simple: to shine a light on early-career designers demonstrating originality, innovation, and a thoughtful use of materials. But it has evolved into something more. A true celebration of community, mentorship, and opportunity,” he said.
“Each year, the calibre of entries continues to exceed expectations. It’s a reflection of the depth of creativity in Australia today, and a testament to the energy that fuels our design community.”
Artedomus and The Local Project extend special thanks to the Awards’ 2025 Jurors, Yasmine Ghoniem, Director of YSG Studio; Virginia Jen, Editor of The Local Project; Chris Haddad, Founding Director of Archier; Thomas Coward, Creative Director of Artedomus | New Volumes, and Alice Blackwood, Editorial Director at Artedomus.
Huge congratulations this year’s exciting new cohort Winners and Commended. They are as follows.
Residential Architecture
Winner – Dunstan by SSdH
Preston, VIC
The judges praised this project as being “extremely well executed in all aspects – architectural yet inviting, considered yet playful”.
Dunstan by SSdH, photography by Pier Carthew.
Commended – Solara by The Sociable Weaver
Bunurong / Cape Paterson, VIC
Solara by The Sociable Weaver, photography by The Sociable Weaver & Hannah Nowlan.
Commended – Coburg House by CARD
Melbourne, VIC
Coburg House by CARD, photography by Tom Ross.
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Residential Interior
Winner – Townshend by Adyn Kelly
Subiaco, WA
The judges highlighted this project’s “poetic layering of texture, tone, and form,” resulting in a home that’s both expressive and deeply liveable.
Townshend by Adyn Kelly, photography by Timothy Kaye.
Commended – The Peach House by Loopea Design Studio
Hoddles Creek, VIC
The Peach House by Loopea Design Studio, photography by Lucia Braham from Lucia B Creative.
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Commercial Interior
Winner – Mane by Stable, by Studio Manifold
Melbourne, VIC
The Jury were impressed by this retail space which moves beyond the transactional to create a genuine experience of culture and community, while architecturally harmonising modernity with the site’s heritage.
MANE by Stable, designed by Manifold, photography by Traianos Pakioufakis.
Commended – BySang by MOYA & CO
Sydney, NSW
BySang by Moya & Co, photography by Steven Woodburn.
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Product Design, in partnership with New Volumes
Winner – Locki Studio
Melbourne, VIC
Through its partnership with the Product Design category, New Volumes™ continues to support emerging Australian designers, offering a platform to develop, produce and showcase their work on a national stage. The jury recognised Locki’s work as “a seamless merging of innovation and artistry, and a new standard in contemporary design”.
Locki Humphrey, photography CJ Cornish.
Commended – Dutoit
Melbourne, VIC
Dirk du Toit, photography courtesy of the designer.
The (Emerging) Designer Awards, presented by Artedomus and The Local Project, will return in 2026.