Nate Berkus, Brigette Romanek and Neville Brody are Dezeen Awards 2024 judges

By: Jessica Smee 

Interior designers Nate Berkus and Brigette Romanek, designers Neville Brody and Rio Kobayashi and architect Nikoline Dyrup Carlsen have been named Dezeen Awards 2024 judges.

Dezeen Awards 2024, in partnership with Bentley, is open for entries. Submit your entry by midnight London time on 30 May to avoid late 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 latest judges that have joined this year’s judging panel:

American interior designer Berkus has collaborated on a variety of homeware collections

American interior designer Berkus will join curator Betsy Smith on this year’s interior judging panel.

Since appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show over two decades ago, Berkus has become a household name in the US offering design expertise on shows including American Dream Builders, The Nate Berkus Show and more recently his new series alongside partner Jeremiah Brent, The Nate & Jeremiah Home Project.

Recent home collaborations include a sleep collection for bed manufacturer Beautyrest, a furniture line for Living Spaces, and a fabric line with furniture retailer Kravet.

In 2023 the Chicago-based designer launched Nate Home, a homeware collection comprised of bedding, bath and organising essentials in collaboration with mDesign.

Interior designer Romanek works in commercial and residential interiors for celebrity clients

Joining Berkus on the interior judging panel is Los Angeles-based interior designer Romanek. Romanek designs bespoke residential interiors for musicians and actors including Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Joe Jonas, Christian Bale, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z.

Her practice Romanek Design Studio was recognised on the AD100 list in the studio’s founding year and has since been featured on Elle Decor’s A-List, among many other accolades.

Last year Romanek released her first book Livable Luxe with Chronicle Chroma, offering an insider glimpse into her residential portfolio.

Graphic designer Brody specialises in identity, typography, and creative direction

Joining this year’s design panel will be English graphic designer Brody. The designer’s practice Brody Associates specialises in identity, typography and creative direction in both digital and print.

Brody has worked with major fashion brands including Supreme, Christian Dior and Issey Miyake. He is currently collaborating with beauty brand Shiseido, technology giant Samsung, Japanese optics Nikon, watch store Longines, and record label Sony Music Masterworks.

His work is held in permanent collections in museums such as the Museum of Modern Art, V&A, Design Museum, M+ Museum, and Museum für Gestaltung Zürich.

Danish architect Carlsen is the co-founder of architecture and design practice Spacon & X

Danish architect Carlsen is the co-founder of the firm Spacon & X and will sit alongside Italian architect Gaetano Pesce on this year’s architecture panel.

The Copenhagen-based practice crafts unconventional spaces and experiences for clients including bakery Hart Bageri, jewellery company Georg Jensen and IKEA’s design innovation lab Space 10.

Recent projects by Spacon & X include a runway installation featuring six towers of sand for fashion brand Stine Goya, a 400-square-metre showroom for car dealer Lynk & Co and a brewery for tea brand Folk Kombucha in Copenhagen.

The studio was awarded Emerging Interior Designer of the Year and Hospitality Interior of the Year for Dezeen Awards 2018.

Japanese-born Kobayashi runs a studio and workshop in East London

London-based maker and designer Kobayashi will join product designer Lee Broom on this year’s design judging panel.

The Japanese-born designer trained as a cabinet maker in Austria and developed a craft underpinned by his cultural heritage. Before founding his East London studio, he gained experience working with international practises and artists in Milan, Tokyo, Paris and Berlin.

Kobayashi has since exhibited his playful designs at several design fairs including London Design Festival and Milan Design Week, and featured collections at galleries including the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The designer recently exhibited his first solo exhibition for 2023 London Design Festival which featured a multi-coloured sofa and Tuna table at Cromwell Place.

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.