The Designblok Awards (formerly the Editors’ Awards) are given out every year as part of the festival proceedings. A jury composed of independent international journalists, designers, curators and other professionals from the field of architecture and design award the best concepts and innovations, product launches and presentations.
The aim of the Designblok Awards is to select exceptional product launches and their presentations from hundreds of exhibiting projects, and most importantly to spread awareness of innovative and environmentally sound approaches and ideas with society-wide impact among the expert and general public. Since 2023, the winners have been chosen by an international jury composed of five members and directed by the Designblok Awards President. In 2023, the President was the Dutch designer and professor Ineke Hans.
The selection and proceedings of the Designblok Awards 2024 will be headed by Benedict Hobson, journalist and co-CEO of Dezeen, the British media platform.
The Designblok Awards 2024 will be awarded in the following categories: Best Launched Product by Designer, Best Launched Product by Producer, Best School Presentation, Best Designer Presentation, Best Producer Presentation, Impact Award and the Grand Prix (Prize for Outstanding Contribution).
These will be awarded as part of a creative gala dinner on Thursday, 3 October 2024 at Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle. The nominations will be announced on the morning of Thursday, 3 October 2024 on this website.
President of the Designblok Awards Jury 2023, Designer and Teacher (NL)
Ineke Hans is a Dutch critical designer of furniture, products, exhibitions, and spaces with content. She explores new design strategies and works for clients and leading international manufacturers on product typologies to fit our future social context. Ineke has a studio in Arnhem (NL), a small workshop in Berlin, and is a teacher of Design & Social Context at the Berlin University of the Arts.
Architect, Editor, Curator, Founder of Alcova and Space Caviar, Creative Director of Design Academy Eindhoven (UK)
Joseph Grima is the founder of Space Caviar in Genoa, a research collective that operates at the point where architecture, technology, design, and politics all intersect. Graduating from the Architectural Association in 2003, he broadened his international experience as a curator, publisher, and writer, most notably as editor-in-chief of Italian magazine Domus.
Creative Director, Designer and Strategist (DE)
Focusing on cultural context and strategic thinking, Birgitta Homburger has built up an impressive portfolio of work that spans the international stage, taking in collaboration with brands such as Mattiazzi, Wästberg, Volkswagen, and Laufen Bathroom. Her contributions to the development of creative direction and product design have been recognised by visiting professorships at Kunsthochschule Kassel and several other institutions, such as Universität der Künste in Berlin and Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Stuttgart. In 2023, her dedication to her craft led her to become creative director of and partner to Analog, an innovative glass brand based in Berlin.
Journalist, co-CEO of Dezeen (UK)
From 2012 to 2018, Benedict led Dezeen's in-house creative team, Dezeen Studio, which produces the online magazine's original video content and delivers projects as diverse as print publications, exhibitions, talks, and events for prestigious clients all around the world. He held the position of Chief Content Officer from 2018 to 2022, which saw him oversee Dezeen's editorial, video, and social media output and spearhead Dezeen's digital development strategy. Benedict is an experienced public speaker and digital media consultant and has spoken at events in cities that include London, Beijing, and Sao Paulo. He has hosted talks and panel discussions, organised workshops, and been a member of panels of judges all around the world. Benedict was appointed co-CEO at Dezeen together with Wai Shin Li in 2022.
Multidisciplinary Designer (NL)
Simone Post, based in Rotterdam, is a Dutch multidisciplinary designer whose roots lie in textiles. She graduated with honours from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2015 and has since won numerous national and international awards. Her work has been recognised and exhibited worldwide, some works having become part of renowned collections such as those at Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Centraal Museum in Utrecht, MAD in Paris, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), and Cooper Hewitt in New York. Her clients include Hermès, Vlisco, Kvadrat, and Adidas.