The much anticipated and highly popular Surface Design Awards are now open for entries. Now in their 11th year, the Awards recognise excellence in material innovation from around the world.

Organised by, and a key part of Surface Design Show, the Awards attracted 180 projects from 24 different countries in 2022, reflecting the desire for international recognition for projects and the architects and designers responsible for them.

The Awards are judged by an expert panel, co-chaired by Jonathan Hagos, Director of Freehaus and Nasim Koerting, Head of Design, The Office Group. The judges are made up of architects and interior designers who have made a name for themselves amongst their peers. They include Charlotte McCarthy, Head of Interiors at Heatherwick Studio, Fiona MacDonald, Head of Learning at the Design Museum and Nimi Attanayake, Director & co-founder, NimTim Architects.

Together they will determine the winners of the Awards. There are six categories for projects: Commercial Building, Housing, Landscape + Public Realm, Light + Surface, Public Building and Temporary Structure plus an Architectural Photography Award. From the individual category winners, the judges will then decide on a Supreme Award.

Last year’s Supreme Winner, the BAFTA Headquarters in London by Benedetti Architects, was described as being ‘truly impressive’ by the judges. Other past Supreme Winners include Squire and Partners, India’s IMK Architects and Steven Holl Architects, headquartered in New York. Sustainability will once again be a leading criteria for every entry and applicants must produce a statement and calculation for the carbon footprint of the cladding/materials used

There is no charge for entering the Awards as the organisers want to welcome entries from practices both large and small and for both bigger and smaller projects. Every shortlisted and winning entry will benefit from vast company recognition, exposure to the judging panel, presence on the Surface Design Show website, via social media, in the press, and to the Show’s huge community of architects and designers.

The closing date for Surface Design Award entries is Friday 23 September 2022. Judging will take place at the start of November 2022 and finalists will be notified by mid- November. The eventual winners will be announced on the final day of the Surface Design Show at London’s Business Design Centre on 9th February 2023.