All-Star Judging Panel Revealed as INDEX Design Awards Extend Entry Deadline

An exclusive pool of Dubai’s most inspired design minds has been gathered to judge the 2017 INDEX Architecture & Design Awards (IADA).

Isabel Pintado, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Wilson Associates; Laura Bielecki, Senior Manager of Interior Design at Ellington; George Kahler, founder of KAHLER Design; and Christopher Seymour, Regional Development Director at Mott MacDonald, make up half of the chic table of expert designers.

Sharon Jutla, Middle East Design Director at Harrison International; Rob Canning, General Manager at SunCoast; Massimo Imparato, Assistant Professor, School of Architecture & Interior Design at the Canadian University in Dubai; and Annamaria Lambri, Associate Professor of Interior Design at the American University of Dubai, complete the specialist judging panel.Between them, the eight renowned industry influencers will choose the most pioneering, profound and creative design submissions from across 15 distinct categories, the winners of which will be announced at the glittering IADA ceremony on May 23, 2017.

Hosted by the UAE’s biggest interior design exhibition – the INDEX Design Series – the awards gather more than 300 of the industry’s elite professionals for a night of celebration at the Cavalli Club, Dubai, on the second evening of the four day interiors festival.

Event director Samantha Kane-Macdonald said:

“For five years now INDEX has celebrated the incredible feats of design and architecture coming out of the UAE; first through the Middle East Interior Awards (MEIDA) and now the INDEX Architecture and Design Awards (IADA). Every year we are flooded with truly extraordinary entries incorporating all forms of design and 2017 has been no different. The quality of submissions so far has been truly mind-blowing, as the notoriously bold ambitions of our ever-expanding design community continue to shape the region into an inspiring design environment rivalling anywhere in the world.”

In the face of overwhelming demand, the entry deadline, which was due to close on March 31, has been extended by 10 days – allowing potential winners until April 10 to submit their designs for full review by the panel.

IADA judge Sharon Jutla said:

“The INDEX Architecture & Design Awards are unique in the way they shine the spotlight on every aspect of design, from individual products in the likes of residential design to full scale commercial developments. Being a judge is hugely exciting. To be able to examine the finest design innovations from across the UAE and reward those responsible is an incredible honour.”

 

 

Christian Merieau is Managing Director and partner at MMAC Design Associates, who picked-up two awards at last year’s ceremony. He commented;

“Every year the INDEX awards is an amazing event representative of the growing health of our industry, allowing for younger firms like ours to shine alongside major Middle Eastern design firms. Winning two awards last year seriously increased our market visibility and has been an important factor in this year’s commercial success.”

For further information and to enter the awards, visit www.indexdesignseries.com/whats-on/enter-now/.